How to Grow Lavender You Love

March 13, 2021 by Ann 31 Comments

Lavender is a popular and attractive herb to grow in your garden. If you are not sure how to grow it, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow lavender and some ways you can use it.

I LOVE lavender! I have some in sachels around our apartment, as well as dried bunches hanging around.

I even use lavender oil in various beauty and health products. I love the smell of lavender. It also has great medicinal uses that you can check out for those who are interested.

Table of Contents

Types of Lavender

There are several types of lavender that grow here in Southern California. These are also grown in other places around the world with similar names. There are thirteen different types of lavender and six of these are grown here.

These are:

English Lavender
French Lavender
Spanish Lavender
Sweet Lavender
Fern Lavender
Munstead Lavender
Lavanda

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If there is a place attached to the lavender, then that means that lavender was grown for perfumes, etc., to be sold in that country. English lavender here may go by another name in another country. To keep it simple, these are different types with different looks and smells.

Growing Lavender

Growing lavender is best accomplished in full sun, which is at least six (or more) hours of sunlight. Lavender does not like wet feet, so try not to go overboard when watering. Prune lavender in the spring, just after the first bloom. Only prune back a third to a half of the growth.

Lavender grows best in well-draining soil. Soil made for cactus works well since it is free draining. Remember to use potting soil if growing lavender in containers or a 50/50 mix of native and planting mix if growing lavender in the ground soil.

Lavender does well both grown in the ground and in a flowerbed. I currently have some growing in a pot. The leaves already smell like lavender and I can’t wait to see little purple flowers bloom on them!

Once you know how to grow lavender, you can start growing this herb with other plants.

How to Plant Lavender

Lavender can grow alone or with other plants. These plants are also waterwise and attract pollinators to enjoy in your garden. Companion plants for lavender include:

Herbs, such as basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and sage
Sedum
Yarrow
Aster
Echinacea
Lantana
Roses
Rudbeckia
Gerbera Daisies

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You can read more about plants to grow with lavender in my post, The Best Lavender Companion Plants.

Planting Lavender Seeds

You can grow lavender from seeds, although it is more difficult than growing other plants from seeds.

Plant your lavender seeds in a seed starter mix. Cover the seeds just a little bit with the seed starter mix.

Seedlings will emerge 14 days to a month after. You may want to place your seeds in a warm area to encourage growth.

Transfer seedlings to a larger pot when they have a few sets of leaves. Transfer outdoors when they are 3 inches high. Enjoy watching your seedlings grow into mature lavender plants!

Now that you know how to grow lavender, you can harvest it to use with recipes.

Harvesting Lavender

When harvesting lavender, you want to do it at different stages of growth, based on what you are planning on using the lavender for. If you plan to use lavender for fresh bouquets, cut the plant when the blooms are half to three-quarters open.

If you are going to use the plant for dried bouquets, Harvest the lavender early enough when there are no or very few blooms open.

For lavender sachets, don’t cut the plants until the flowers have bloomed completely. This will make the seed heads easier to shake off for the sachets.

Make sure you plan out what you want to do with your lavender early enough so that you can pick and choose the different things you can do with it.

Drying Lavender

Dried lavender can be used for so many different things. I have some hanging throughout our apartment to keep it smelling nice. I also have some in sachets to keep the bathroom and other parts of our apartment smelling like lavender.

Cut the lavender to dry as early as you can. Make sure the dew is dried before cutting. Cut stems that are six to eight inches long. Place groups of stems together, no larger than three fourth an inch wide.

Place the stems so that the flower heads are even. Use twine to bind the bunches together near the flower heads. Criss cross the twine tightly down the stems. You can cut the ends so that they are neatly even

The bundles need to be hung in a cool, dry place where there is no direct sunlight and upside down. Make sure there is good air circulation. Once the lavender is try, use as you please!

Bath Scrub Recipe

Do you enjoy a bath scrub? Here is a lavender bath scrub recipe to try!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of dried lavender flowers
1 cup of Epsom salt or organic cane sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil at room temperature
jars that are sterile
Optional: rosemary sprigs, lemon juice

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Directions:

Melt the coconut oil in the microwave for 30 seconds, then mix with sugar.
Add essential oil, dried lavender flowers, and any extra additives to the mix.
Mix the ingredients well.
Store in tightly lidded jars.
Use a palmful once or twice a week while taking a bath or shower.

For more recipes, check out my mini lavender recipe book below!

Mini Lavender Recipe Book