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How to Grow Lavender You Love

March 13, 2021 by Ann 31 Comments

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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.

how to grow lavender and 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.

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
how to grow lavender, how to use lavender, lavender

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
how to grow lavender, how to use lavender, lavender, roses

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.

lavender-field

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.

how to grow lavender, how to use lavender, 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
how to grow lavender, how to use lavender, lavender bath scrub

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

How to Grow Lavender

Learning how to grow lavender, harvest it, and use it in your own recipes may seem overwhelming, so don’t forget to learn one thing at a time and to have a lot of fun growing your own lavender!

I hope this post gives you a better idea of how to grow lavender. Do you grow lavender? Do you use it for anything? Let me know in the comment section below!

 

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Filed Under: Flowers and Plants Tagged With: container garden, container gardening, gardening, lavender, plants, urban garden, urban gardening

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Comments

  1. Dave says

    August 1, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Some useful tips there. We have some old lavender bushes which we are planning on replacing with young lavender plants, I now have some uses for the old ones once they’ve finished flowering. #MyGloriousGardens

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 2, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      Thank you! I’m glad these tips are useful! I can’t wait to hear what you do with your old lavender plants once they are done flowering!

      Reply
  2. Joshua Johnson says

    August 1, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Thanks for the bath scrub recipe. I grow lots of lavender and think each year I should actually use it for something.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 2, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      You are welcome! I love how there are so many uses for lavender. It is a pretty plant as well. Thank you for visiting!

      Reply
  3. Jane Stephens says

    August 2, 2018 at 1:56 am

    Thanks for this lovely post, especially the recipe for the bath scrub! I am so looking forward to warmer days again and seeing the lavender in full bloom again!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 2, 2018 at 7:03 pm

      You are welcome! I hope it gets warmer where you are soon as well! Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Nic@nipitinthebud says

    August 4, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    I love how your post links in with Sophie’s. Interesting to read your different tips for harvesting lavender depending on what you’re using it for. I made quince and lavender jelly once which was quite a peculiar blend!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 8, 2018 at 5:42 am

      I think it’s funny that we both wrote posts about lavender. That was unplanned! That blend does sound interesting! I once tried lavender tea and it was delicious. Thank you for visiting and for participating in the August #MyGloriousGardens link party!

      Reply
  5. Star Harford says

    August 5, 2018 at 9:38 am

    This is really useful to read, I had no idea how to grow lavender! My next door neighbour has some though, I may ask for a bit to make bath scrub!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 13, 2018 at 12:40 am

      Thank you! You should ask for some! Let me know how the bath scrub turns out! You can also ask for some seeds and grow lavender, then you will have an endless supply to use as you wish!

      Reply
  6. Grandmas House DIY says

    August 7, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    I just planted my first lavender this year and can’t wait to start using it! Thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 13, 2018 at 12:42 am

      Yay, how exciting! You are welcome and thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  7. Green Fingered Blogger says

    August 8, 2018 at 7:05 am

    I actually cut my lavender almost to the ground last autumn and it came back really well. This is a good way of preventing it from getting too tall, woody ad straggly, which it does eventually if left unchecked. I love picking a bunch of lavender flowers and simply hanging them up somewhere so you can smell them. #MyGloriousGardens

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 13, 2018 at 12:44 am

      I love, love, love the smell of lavender, which is why it’s all over our apartment. I’m always afraid of cutting my plants too far back but am noticing that some really thrive after doing so. Thanks for the tip!

      Reply
  8. Terri says

    August 8, 2018 at 1:46 pm

    We just started growing lavender this year and it is absolutely beautiful! I have a hard time cutting and bringing in any flower but I really need to start using these flowers.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 13, 2018 at 12:44 am

      They are beautiful! There are so many types and uses for lavender! You should try drying some and see what you can use it for. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  9. Emma Metson says

    August 13, 2018 at 2:49 pm

    I love lavender! It’s one of my favourite garden smells. Whenever I walk past it and catch a whiff, it makes me smile.
    Thanks for sharing this brilliant post on how to grow it. Even though I love it, I have yet to add it to my garden. I think that will be on my list for next year.
    #MyGloriousGardens

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 18, 2018 at 6:21 am

      I can’t get enough of the smell of lavender! I would love to hear about your lavender growing adventures and what you end up doing with it. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  10. chickenruby says

    August 15, 2018 at 6:00 am

    I’m afraid to say that lavender triggers my migraines so I have to stay far away from it #mygloriousgardens

    Reply
    • Ann says

      August 18, 2018 at 6:22 am

      Oh no! I’m curious… are there plants that help alleviate migraines? I’ve had a few in my lifetime and they were terrible!

      Reply
  11. Christine Ziegler says

    March 31, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    I have a lavendar plant or bush outside.i cut it back last winter.the land keepers that trimmed cut it Monday all the way to the ground.it looked like beige stuck plant.i don’t know about lavendar but will it come back?

    Reply
    • Ann says

      April 1, 2020 at 7:32 am

      If it was cut too close to the stem, it probably won’t come back unfortunately :(. There are sometimes exceptions with plants, so you can wait it out and see if it grows.

      Reply
  12. Crystal says

    April 28, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    I have a variety of laxender. I made candles for house warming gifts and I also use an edible lavender for English lavender cookies. As for migraines I grow Rosemary.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      April 29, 2020 at 7:17 am

      That is great! I love that there are so many uses for lavender! I’ve always wanted to try lavender cookies. I should make some to see how they will taste. Thank you for stopping by!

      Reply
  13. Sheila melchiorre says

    May 12, 2020 at 7:26 pm

    A question, I just bought a lavender tree, it came in a water reservoir planter. This may be a stupid question, but do i just leave it in this comtainer, or do i plant it in the ground, I have searched high & low for an answer, so would luv if someone could help this stupid gal out. Lol!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      May 13, 2020 at 6:49 am

      You can keep it in the container or grow it in the ground. It’s up to you. Make sure it gets plenty of water until it settles into its new home. There is nothing stupid about asking questions. I do it all the time! Thank you for stopping by and enjoy your lavender tree!

      Reply
  14. Caysey says

    October 19, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    These tips are super useful!! Something that I’ve been looking for! Thank you! 💗

    Reply
    • Ann says

      October 20, 2020 at 7:28 am

      You are very welcome!Enjoy your lavender flowers!

      Reply
  15. MomsTreasureChest says

    March 27, 2021 at 3:20 pm

    Great information and tips! I’ll definitely be planting lavender and making bath scrub this year!

    Reply
    • Ann says

      March 28, 2021 at 7:09 am

      Thank you! Lavender is a great plant to add to your garden. Enjoy your bath scrub!

      Reply
  16. Aimsy says

    May 16, 2021 at 8:16 am

    This post has popped up at the best time. I am attempting to propagate some lavender from a few plants well ready have, so keep your fingers crossed they take! Lavender is just one of my favourites, will be taking some of the tips for drying them!
    Thanks for sharing 🙂
    Aimsy xoxo
    Aimsy’s Antics

    Reply

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My name is Ann. I am a lover of God, flowers, cats, beaches, and my family and friends. Stop and smell the roses while you are here. And even learn to grow your own! Welcome to my blog! Read More…

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