Does a lavender tree come back every year?
If you have lavender plants that are hardy in your growing zone (see our Lavender 101 post for more information on this), it is likely that they will return year after year for a decade or two. But even the toughest perennials may still look quite grisly after their long winter dormancy. Revitalising Through Soil and Nutrient Management. Proper soil and nutrient management is really important when it comes to reviving a dying lavender plant. This involves improving the soil quality with compost and other amendments and optimising fertilisation to meet the plant’s specific needs.Left to their own devices, lavender can become woody and ungainly, so to keep plants compact and attractive, it’s best to trim them annually in late summer, just after flowering has finished. Remove any spent flower stalks and about 2.Lavender needs full sun and good drainage. It is more likely to die from excess moisture than from cold in winter. A pot is an excellent way to provide drainage, though the plant will be more vulnerable to cold temperatures than it would be in the ground.Because lavender is a semi-woody shrub, it has a tendency to develop elongated, woody stems if plants aren’t pruned regularly. Not only do these scraggly stems produce fewer blooms, they eventually sprawl outward, leaving an ugly hole in the middle of your plant.
Where should you plant a lavender tree?
Once you have found the right variety, you should choose a warm, sunny spot for your lavender tree with well-drained soil that tends to be low in nutrients. You can mix heavy soils with a little sand, if necessary. While deadheading undoubtedly has its benefits, it’s not an absolute necessity for the health and well-being of your lavender plants. Lavenders are hardy and resilient, and they generally handle their old blooms easily. Over time, these faded flowers tend to fall off naturally, usually within a couple of months.The biggest mistake with lavender is not pruning it straight after flowering to keep it in check. Not pruning equals Woody stems, a messy form and potentially even less flowers follow these simple instructions to have beautiful lavender year on year.Although lavender can propagate quite easily, the plant doesn’t spread very often or very quickly.What is the secret to growing lavender? Lavender needs full sun and good drainage. It is more likely to die from excess moisture than from cold in winter. A pot is an excellent way to provide drainage, though the plant will be more vulnerable to cold temperatures than it would be in the ground.
Is there a difference between a lavender plant and a lavender tree?
Lavender typically refers to the herbaceous plant that grows in a bushy or shrub-like form, while a lavender tree is a variety of lavender that has been trained or pruned to grow with a tree-like appearance. If you forget to prune or chose not to prune, the plant will be just fine. They are very forgiving plants — in fact, many people kill their lavender by pruning too much or at the wrong time of year. In colder climates, we recommend pruning anytime in the month of May — never in the fall.The best way to set your lavender up for an stress-free winter is to start early. In the first weeks of fall, (before the first frost) give your plants a trim — cutting them back by about one-third. This simple step helps keep lavender from splitting, becoming too woody, or toppling under the weight of snow.Depending on the variety of lavender, winter protection, and the amount of sunlight and water it receives, your lavender plant can last up to 15 years in a container. Yes, it’s true! Just be sure to prune every fall to avoid lanky growth, and regularly water when the soil dries.Depending on your zone and climate, lavender can grow back every year. Lavender is typically known as a perennial, but it can also be grown as an annual.
How to maintain a lavender tree?
Providing the Right Growing Conditions Lavender thrives best in full sunlight and well-drained soil. Amend the soil with compost or gravel to improve drainage before planting if needed. Lavenders prefer slightly alkaline soil and do poorly in very acidic conditions. Test soil pH and amend as needed to reach pH 6. For indoor growing, lavender should receive as much light as possible. It will do best in a south-facing window or where it can get a minimum of three to four hours of direct sunlight. Even better — use an LED grow light to get consistent, full spectrum light year-round.It grows primarily in well-drained sites in high limestone mountains – Provence is a good place to find it! It can take cold temperatures and snow; what it can’t take is wet, boggy soil and shade! So make sure you plant lavender in a good well-drained soil in a sunny position.So, it is best to find a sunny, well-draining location in the garden, or a pot, for your lavender. Temperatures are 15 degrees colder above the ground than in the ground. With this in mind, protect the pots by wrapping them or covering the plants when the temperatures are below freezing.TIP 1: Lavender needs full sun; a minimum of 6 to 8 hours. TIP 2: Lavender does not like “wet” feet, so give it a good soak and then let the plant go dry. If your soil is heavy and slow to drain, create a hospitable place for lavenders by amending your beds with plenty of organic matter.Light: Lavender needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow best. In hot summer climates, afternoon shade may help them thrive. Soil: Lavender grows best in low to moderately-fertile soils, so don’t amend the soil with organic matter before planting. Lavender performs best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils.
Is a lavender tree indoor or outdoor?
Lavender does not do well indoors, it’s a perennial. Plant it outside where it has well drained soil and full sun. Too much water will rot it. Don’t trim until the spring. Lavender plants may become woody over time, so take care to prune regularly. It is recommended that you trim the hedging of Lavender every year, in late summer, after the flowering season has ended. Deadheading is where you remove any dead or dying flowers or leaves to make a lavender ready to blossom next year.Because lavender is a semi-woody shrub, it has a tendency to develop elongated, woody stems if plants aren’t pruned regularly. Not only do these scraggly stems produce fewer blooms, they eventually sprawl outward, leaving an ugly hole in the middle of your plant.Carry out lavender pruning in late August, just after flowering has finished. Don’t leave it too late, as any re-growth will need time to harden up before the first frosts. You can also trim your lavenders in April, but this will delay flowering slightly.Yes, lavender typically comes back every year in suitable climates. Lavender is a perennial plant, which means it regrows each spring if it’s grown in the appropriate USDA hardiness zones (typically 5 to 9).
Do you cut back a lavender tree?
To keep lavender full and dense it needs pruning twice a year from its early life, otherwise you run the risk of a lot of dead leggy branches. In the future, as soon as it finishes blooming, cut it right back to within 4” of the ground. It will soon send out new healthy growth. Carry out lavender pruning in late August, just after flowering has finished. Don’t leave it too late, as any re-growth will need time to harden up before the first frosts. You can also trim your lavenders in April, but this will delay flowering slightly.Hardy lavenders are best pruned after they have finished flowering in late August or September. Traditional advice used to be that you should never cut into the old wood.The best time to prune is late August to early September, just after the lavender has finished flowering. This gives the plant enough time to heal before the chill of winter sets in – so if you haven’t done it yet, now’s your moment!The real 8:8:8 rule is about pruning English lavender to 8 inches on the 8th day of August, the 8th month. This reminds you to prune Lavender short and early, so the base has time to beef up before Winter, laying the foundation of next year’s tight, bushy, profuse flower display.
How often should I water a lavender tree?
When you water, you want to water thoroughly so that the roots are saturated, then let the soil dry out between watering. For established plants, you only need to water every two weeks. If you have regular rainfall, you may not need to water at all. Lavender only needs a little fertilizer. If the top 2 to 3 inches are dry, you should water the plant. New lavender plants need frequent watering, about every few days until they are established. Older established plants can go considerably longer without moisture since they like to dry out between waterings and can tolerate drought.Make sure that you keep it in a cooler room, with lots of light, and away from drafty windows. As the lavender plant will not be actively growing during the winter, keep your watering to a minimum –letting it dry out between waterings – and do not fertilize until growth starts again in the spring.Every spring, apply a slow-release, microbial, mineral-rich feed such as seaweed/kelp, shellfish, blood meal, or bone meal, which will provide all the fertilization lavender needs. Excess fertilizer can become toxic to the lavender’s root system.If you’re growing potted lavender, you should water when the soil is bone dry. When you water, you want to water thoroughly so that the roots are saturated, then let the soil dry out between watering. For established plants, you only need to water every two weeks.