All you need to know about growing lavender, including our pick of the best lavenders to grow.
Lavender is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub, grown for its fragrant leaves and bee-friendly flowers. There are hardy, half-hardy and tender species of lavender to choose from, but most grown by gardeners will be hardy varieties.
Lavenders work in a variety of situations, from wildlife gardens to cottage gardens and even formal gardens, where they can be planted beneath shrub roses or used as a low-growing lavender hedge. Many lavenders thrive in pots.
Lavender is one of the most popular herbs grown in gardens, prized for its attractive flowers and fragrant foliage With its silver-gray leaves and vibrant purple blooms, lavender makes a beautiful addition to flower beds, borders, and containers However, getting lavender to thrive can be tricky if your soil conditions are less than ideal.
Lavender prefers neutral to alkaline soils with a pH between 6.5-7.5. So what happens if you try to grow lavender in acidic soil? Let’s take an in-depth look at lavender’s soil requirements and solutions for success when the dirt is not quite right.
Why Lavender Dislikes Acidic Soil
While lavender can tolerate mildly acidic soils down to pH 6.5, anything more acidic than that will cause the plant stress. Growth will be stunted, flowering reduced, and the plant likely won’t survive for long.
The reason lavender dislikes acidic soil is that it naturally grows in the alkaline, calcareous soils of the Mediterranean region. Therefore, to replicate its preferred native conditions, lavender does best in light, well-draining, slightly sandy soil with a neutral to mildly alkaline pH.
Acidic soils below pH 6.5 inhibit lavender’s ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, resulting in poor health and performance. So if your soil is acidic, what can you do? Fortunately, there are solutions for successfully growing lavender even when the dirt is not ideal.
Solutions for Growing Lavender in Acidic Soil
If your soil pH is lower than the 6.5 to 7.5 range lavender prefers, don’t despair. Here are some effective tips to help lavender thrive in less than perfect soil conditions:
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Test Soil pH – First, use an inexpensive soil test kit to determine exactly how acidic your soil is This takes the guesswork out of knowing whether amendments are needed.
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Grow in Containers – Give yourself control over the soil environment by growing lavender in pots or raised beds filled with an ideal potting mix amended with lime to raise pH.
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Amend Garden Soil – Thoroughly incorporate lime or wood ash into native soil to increase alkalinity. Do this well in advance of planting and retest periodically.
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Improve Drainage – Ensure adequate drainage by planting lavender on slopes or raised mounds. Incorporate sand or gravel to prevent waterlogging.
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Mulch – Use lime, eggshells, or crushed oyster shell mulch. This gradually adds alkaline matter to the soil as it decomposes.
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Fertilize – Choose organic acidic gardening fertilizers like cottonseed meal which provide nutrients without lowering pH.
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Water Sparingly – Lavender hates wet feet. Allow soil to dry out between waterings and improve drainage.
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Protect Roots in Winter – Insulate lavender roots from excessive winter moisture with evergreen bough mulch. Avoid fertilizing late in the season.
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Choose Adapted Varieties – Opt for English lavenders like Munstead and Hidcote which tolerate more acidity than tender French or Spanish types.
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Monitor Soil pH – Test soil each season and amend as needed to maintain proper pH for healthy lavender.
Growing Lavender in Clay Soil
Heavy clay soil that drains poorly is another challenge for lavender. Constant moisture around the roots leads to rot and plant decline. However, clay soil can be modified to help lavender succeed.
Here are tips to improve clay soils:
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Incorporate organic matter like compost to lighten texture
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Add sand, perlite or gravel to improve drainage
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Plant lavender on mounds or raised beds for improved airflow and drainage
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Mulch around plants to prevent mud and surface crusting
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Test and amend soil as needed to reach the ideal pH range
Achieving Lavender Growing Success
While lavender performs best in well-drained alkaline soils, with some simple soil preparation and care, gardeners can have beautiful, thriving lavender even in less than ideal conditions.
The keys are improving drainage, monitoring pH, providing sunlight, proper spacing, and avoiding overwatering. With initial soil amendments and ongoing care, you can tailor your dirt to keep your lavender happy and growing for years to come.
So don’t let your native soil conditions deter you from including lovely lavender in your landscape. With a little effort to enhance the soil environment, lavender can flourish and fill your garden with mesmerizing color and fragrance even in imperfect dirt!
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Lullaby Blue’
Lavandula angustifolia Lullaby Blue has rich, purple-blue flowers. Reaching around 60cm in height, its a good choice if youre after a more substantial lavender hedge. Like all lavenders, its great for pollinating insects.
How to grow lavender
Grow lavender in full sun, in free-draining soil. Half-hardy lavenders such as Lavendula stoechas should be grown in a sheltered spot. Cut back after flowering to keep the plant compact and to stop it from becoming too woody.
More on growing lavender:
What Soil Is Best For Lavender Cuttings? – The Plant Enthusiast
FAQ
What happens to lavender in acidic soil?
Lavender plants and rosemary plants require well-drained neutral to alkaline soil, although Lavandula stoechas subsp. stoechas (which always grows in acid soil in the wild) and to a lesser extent Lavandula x intermedia, can thrive in slightly acid soil.
What should not be planted next to lavender?
Heavy feeders: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, and other vegetables or flowers that need rich soil won’t benefit from the soil that lavender needs—and can leave lavender competing for nutrients. Acid-loving plants: Lavender prefers a slightly alkaline to neutral soil pH (around 6.5 to 7.5).
Are coffee grounds good for lavender plants?
Yes, you can use coffee grounds as a fertilizer for your indoor lavender plant, but it’s important to use them in moderation.
Does lavender like baking soda?
A: Lavender really likes a sandy soil, and does not like a lot of water. They also do better without fertilizer. After established, I give them a little baking soda (1 teaspoon per gallon of water) and let them flourish.
Do lavender plants need acidic soil?
Lavender plants prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. A pH level above 7.0 can lead to nutrient deficiencies and poor growth. If your soil is too alkaline, you can add elemental sulfur or peat moss to lower the pH. On the other hand, if your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH.
Can lavender grow in alkaline soil?
Don’t add too much lime in one go as the soil may then be too alkaline even for lavender and then you will need to balance the alkalinity with sulfur to stabilize the pH. Lavender can only grow in mildly acidic soil (pH 6.5) but prefers to grow in alkaline soils up to pH 8.
What soil do lavender plants need?
However, there are a few things you need to know about the soil requirements of lavender plants to ensure their success. First, lavender plants prefer slightly alkaline soil with a six- and eight pH. If your soil is too acidic, you should add lime to it to raise the pH.
What is a good soil pH for lavender?
Slightly alkaline: Lavender prefers a slightly alkaline soil with a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5. Acidic soils with a pH below 6 can inhibit the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, leading to stunted growth and poor health.
Do lavender plants need a lot of lime?
Over time, you may need to add more lime to maintain the ideal pH levels for your lavender plants. In addition to soil pH, lavender plants require well-drained soil. They will not thrive in heavy clay soil or any soil that becomes waterlogged over winter.
How does lavender grow?
The plants have developed deep roots that are well-suited to searching for moisture and nutrients in less-than-ideal soil conditions. Unlike plants that prefer moist, rich soil, lavender thrives in lean, well-draining soil that mimics its native environment.