Watering lavender: When & how much is needed?

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Lavender is adapted to the Mediterranean climate and requires little water. You can find out here what you should still bear in mind when watering lavender.

Lavender in the garden
When lavender is watered properly, its scent and purple flowers are an asset to any garden [Photo: Jeanette Dietl/ Shutterstock.com]

lavender (Lavandula) is relatively undemanding in cultivation and easy to care for. However, the Mediterranean herb does not tolerate cold and moisture well. In the worst case, waterlogging can cause the roots to rot and other parts of the plant to go moldy. Nevertheless, your lavender naturally needs sufficient water in order to be able to grow well and thrive. So the trick is to find the right amount for your darling when watering.

When, how much and how often you have to water your lavender depends primarily on the external conditions and the form of cultivation. In the following, we will explain to you what needs to be observed.

Water lavender in summer

Thanks to its long taproot and a well-developed root network, lavender is planted in the Beet able to provide itself with sufficient water and nutrients from deeper layers of the earth supply. When cultivating in the garden bed, you only have to water lavender during long dry periods. Flowers and leaves should come into contact with the irrigation water as little as possible. It is best to water early in the morning, as this allows the water to evaporate throughout the day.

Lavender in the bed
In the garden bed, lavender hardly needs to be watered [Photo: hraska/ Shutterstock.com]

Tip from the pro: Water close to the ground so that the flowers and leaves are not wetted with water. Otherwise, if the plants don't dry off quickly, fungus can occur.

Water lavender in winter

In a pot cultivation, the lavender needs to be watered more regularly than outdoors. pour potted lavender in the cold months, however, only in moderation and make sure that excess water can drain off. In the garden bed, you should only water your lavender when necessary in winter if the soil is frost-free and permeable. Otherwise, the roots could be damaged when the water in the soil freezes again due to the cold temperatures. More tips and tricks for the successful Overwintering lavender can be found in our special article.

Tip from the pro: You should avoid mulching lavender, because organic material stores water and can promote mold growth. A layer of pebbles or sand is more suitable, which keeps the soil dry and at the same time provides additional heat.

Water the lavender in the pot

As already mentioned, pot cultivation requires regular but careful watering. It is best to ensure optimal pot drainage when planting by laying a layer Put drainage material - such as pebbles - in the pot and then the soil on top to distribute. A drainage hole on the underside and a matching saucer also allow excess water to drain away.

Pot lavender
Sufficient drainage material helps to avoid waterlogging in the pot [Photo: Robert Przybysz/ Shutterstock.com]

The substrate should be kept moist for pot cultivation, but never wet. It is best to only water when the top layer of soil has dried and make sure that no water runs into the saucer. If this happens, you should remove the water from it as quickly as possible, because the Mediterranean subshrub tends to root rot when waterlogged.

More information about Pruning, fertilizing and watering lavender can be found in our care special article.