Lavender is a popular choice for window box herb gardens due to its beautiful flowers and fragrant aroma. With proper care lavender can thrive in an outdoor container and provide a soothing Mediterranean flair. In this complete guide, we’ll cover how to successfully grow healthy lavender in window boxes.
Choosing the Right Lavender Variety
When selecting lavender for container growing, choose a compact cultivar suited to life in a pot:
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English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – One of the most popular kinds that handles confinement well. Grows 12-18 inches tall.
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Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) – Neat, tidy growth habit. Tolerates some drought. Grows 12-24 inches tall.
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French lavender (Lavandula dentata) – Low-growing cushions good for edges. Grows 6-12 inches tall.
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Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) – A sterile hybrid that won’t self-seed. Grows 18-36 inches tall.
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Dwarf varieties like ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote Blue’ – Bred for pot culture. Grow 8-12 inches tall.
Avoid large lavender species that can become oversized for containers Stick to petite varieties under 2 feet tall
Providing Optimal Growing Conditions
Lavender thrives best with
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Full sun – At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
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Well-drained soil – Add sand, gravel, or perlite to potting mix
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Moderate temperatures – Above 20°F
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Low humidity – Avoid wet foliage
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Infrequent watering – Allow soil to dry out between waterings
Here are some tips for giving lavender what it needs in a window box:
Location: Place the window box in a south-facing spot receiving maximum sunlight. Lavender requires full sun to flower properly.
Soil: Use a lightweight potting mix amended with sand, gravel, perlite or vermiculite to improve drainage. You can also add horticultural charcoal to absorb excess moisture.
Watering: Water only when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Allow the soil to dry out fully between waterings. Ensure containers have drainage holes at the bottom.
Overwintering: Move window boxes with lavender to a sheltered location or indoors if temperatures outside drop below 20°F. Keep indoor temperatures cool, around 55°F, to provide the required winter dormancy period.
Feeding and Pruning Lavender in Containers
To keep lavender healthy and producing abundant flowers in window boxes, follow these tips:
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Fertilize every 2-3 weeks during spring and summer using a balanced organic fertilizer. Avoid overusing nitrogen.
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Prune lightly in spring to shape plants, cutting 1-2 inches above old wood. Never cut into woody portions.
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After flowering finishes, prune more aggressively, cutting back up to 1/3 of the plant’s height to promote bushy regrowth.
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Deadhead spent blooms during summer to encourage continual new flowering.
Overwintering Lavender Indoors
Lavender grown in window boxes can be overwintered indoors near a sunny window:
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Prune lavender back by 1/3 and move containers inside before the first fall frost. Provide as much natural light as possible.
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Water sparingly over winter, allowing the potting mix to partially dry out between waterings.
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Keep temperatures around 55°F for proper winter dormancy. Avoid warm rooms.
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Check for common indoor pests like whiteflies and treat with neem oil if found.
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Transition plants back outside after the danger of frost has passed in spring once temperatures climb.
Troubleshooting Common Lavender Problems
Here are some common challenges growing lavender in containers and how to fix them:
Leggy growth: Insufficient sunlight causes lanky, stretched growth. Move to the sunniest location possible.
Rotting roots: Excess moisture leads to root rot. Repot in a mix with more sand and gravel to improve drainage.
Fewer flowers: Lavender flowers less as it ages. Replace overgrown plants with new ones every 3-4 years.
Pest problems: Spider mites cause speckling and discoloration. Dislodge with strong spray of water and apply neem oil.
Declining health: Overwatering damages roots and causes foliage to yellow. Allow more time between waterings and amend soil to drain better.
Enjoying Lavender in Window Boxes
Growing lavender in containers by windows allows you to fully appreciate its ornamental beauty and soothing fragrance. Brush against the foliage and flowers to release its lovely scent. Clip sprigs for use drying or in crafts. With proper care, lavender can thrive for years in window boxes, providing sensory delight right outside your window.
Lavender makes an excellent choice for window boxes and container herb gardens. Follow this guide for choosing the right variety, giving lavender what it needs to thrive, maintaining plants through pruning and fertilization, troubleshooting problems, and overwintering indoors. With the right growing conditions, lavender will flourish in pots and give years of enjoyment with its flowers and aroma. Window boxes planted with aromatic lavender provide a beautiful Mediterranean flair.
Should you prune potted lavender?
Pruning your potted lavender annually improves flowering and helps keep it compact in its container. It’s suggested to prune your lavender in early spring about one-third of the way down the plant above large emerging buds. If pruning later in the season, do not cut back to the woody growth; instead, about 2 to 3 inches above it on the soft growth. Without pruning, lavender can grow lanky, woody, and split open. Learn more about pruning lavender HERE.
How can I use my potted lavender flowers and cuttings?
Once potted, you can use your lavender cuttings in many different ways! The possibilities for lavender flowers are endless, from an array of DIY dishes like lavender ice cream to infused oils and incense for relaxation. You can also continue to grow your garden by propagating your lavender cuttings in water. To do so, cut unflowered lavender stems close to the bottom, leaving about an inch. Then strip the leaves and add to a glass with a few inches of water to submerge the base of the stems. Replace water until the lavender begins to root, then place in soil and set in a sunny area. Voilà, you have more lavender plants!
Top 5 Draping Flowers and Plants for Window Boxes
FAQ
Can you grow lavender in a window box?
… usually survive the winter outside, but the good thing about growing lavender in a window box is that you can bring your plants inside when it gets cold …Apr 29, 2024
Where should I not plant lavender?
It will not grow well in shade and shaded soils are likely to stay moist too long after rain or watering for lavender’s sensitive roots. They rot easily in steadily moist soil; in this sense it is very unlike most other plants in a garden. Your soil must be fast draining and fast drying to prevent rot.
What flowers do best in window boxes?
Petunias, geraniums, zinnias, nasturtiums, and begonias are good choices for main-theme flowers. Fill in with things like inch plant, ivy, euonymus, heather, or vinca, which will cascade over the edge of the box. Impatiens do well in shady locations. More subtle choices include coleus, heliotrope, and salvia.
Does lavender do well in containers?
The cool, gray-green foliage contrasts nicely with its own flowers, as well as dark green herbs and other plants. Lavender also grows quite well in containers. In the Deep South, it actually does better in pots, as it benefits from improved drainage and air circulation.
How do you grow lavender in a window box?
Lavender loves growing in pots and is a great choice for pretty window box ideas. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes and use a loamy compost such as John Innes No 2 with plenty of grit or perlite mixed in to help with drainage. A good ratio is 25% grit/75% compost.
Are lavender plants good for window boxes?
The low-maintenance shrubs are magnets for bees and butterflies, and the flowers are also edible. Dwarf varieties of lavender are best for window boxes, as they will require less effort keeping to a manageable size. English lavender copes better with a cold winter than French or Spanish varieties. 8. Grow Cut-And-Come-Again Greens
Is lavender a good choice for window sills?
Lavender is a great choice for window sills. When you open the windows in summer you will get a blast of scent in the house Lavender loves growing in pots and is a great choice for pretty window box ideas.
How do you use lavender in a garden?
Because of its vibrant color and calming scent, lavender is a great plant to help guide you through a garden. Line garden paths with it to create a serene and fragrant outdoor area. Plant them on both sides of the pathway for a clean, symmetrical look. Want more gardening tips?
Should you plant lavender in containers?
Lavender helps suppress weed growth and retains moisture in soil, so plant low-growing varieties as a natural mulch alternative. Planting lavender in containers allows you to move the plant around your outdoor area so you can enjoy the plant from many spots in your garden.
What Ivy should I plant in a window box?
Dusty miller and English ivy provide a mix of upright and trailing foliage, adding both structure and softness to the display. Weight is a key consideration when planting up an abundant window box, so ensure the total weight with soil and plants does not exceed the maximum recommended weight for the box and fixings.