Lavender has the botanical name Lavandula Angustifolia and grows as a subshrub. It is a relatively easy to care for herbal plant, but it is dependent on very specific conditions in terms of location and soil quality.
Sun and warmth
Lavender originally comes from the warm regions around the Mediterranean, the plant is particularly widespread in the south of France. In its homeland, the plant prefers sunny and dry locations on south-facing slopes. Although Lavandula Angustifolia and some other lavender varieties are quite hardy in this country, the plant thrives best under the conditions at home. It can adapt to compromise solutions, but then the growth and flowering are not so abundant. In the case of very cool and shady site conditions, in extreme cases the blooming phase may even be completely absent. Therefore, the right lighting conditions at the location are extremely important, so that a careful selection must be made.
- Feels most comfortable in a sunny location
- South-facing locations with high levels of sunlight are ideal
- Can even manage completely without shadows
- Tolerates high heat without any problems
- Partially shaded places are possible, but not ideal
- Shady and cool locations are not at all suitable
Tip: Based on the local weather conditions, only the hardy lavender varieties are recommended for cultivation in the garden.
Extra protection
The lavender prefers not only sunny, but also protected locations. The plant dislikes both strong winds and heavy rains. Therefore, open locations are not suitable as locations where the plants are exposed to weather conditions without protection. If you cannot offer the right conditions for the lavender in the garden, you should take certain preparations in hand before planting. This can be done by components in the immediate vicinity that have capacities for heat storage. If the location is in high mountain areas with cool temperatures, cultivation in the conservatory or greenhouse is better than outside in the open air.
- Protected locations have a greater supply of heat
- House walls and walls offer protection
- Exterior walls of garages and retaining walls as well
- Garden houses and closed fences are possible
- Protect lavender from rain as well
- A slightly protruding roof works well for this
Soil condition
From its Mediterranean home, lavender is used to dry and nutrient-poor soil quality. There the plant has adapted very well to the difficult conditions. Thanks to the extremely long-growing tap roots, the plant can still get enough water and the necessary nutrients from the soil even from a depth of several meters. That is why the lavender needs similar properties in the substrate in the home gardens. Too much rain can cause problems if it doesn't drain properly. This is particularly the case in autumn and winter, when the soil becomes permanently wet due to the persistent rainfall. So the plant feels very uncomfortable, in the worst case the roots start to rot. In addition, the lavender cannot cope with heavy clay and peat soils. The solution is to work the soil before planting in order to create suitable conditions.
- Bare and dry soil is ideal
- Prefers nutrient-poor soils
- The substrate should also be sandy or gravelly
- Lavender does not tolerate waterlogging at all
- Pay attention to the slope when planting
- Otherwise, create drainage on moist soils
- Loosen the soil beforehand and enrich it with sand or gravel
Wintering at the site
Many of the lavender varieties are quite frost-hardy and can remain in the garden bed in winter. However, it can happen that the plants are sunny and cold
Weather conditions dry up without rain. This is also possible if the plant is under a thick blanket of snow. A location under a roof overhang and in front of a warming wall is also ideal for this time of year. In addition, non-hardy varieties need winter quarters and should therefore only be planted in pots.- Cover the plants in the bed with brushwood or fir branches
- Protects the earth from freezing temperatures and drying out
- Place the bucket on protective styrofoam sheets
- Wrap all around with plant fleece
- A frost-free garage with a window is ideal for wintering
- Alternatively, move to a bright basement or attic
- A sunny window sill is also possible in cooler living spaces
Note: Natural stone walls store some of the sun's heat even on cool winter days and give it off at night as protection for the heat-loving plant.
Locations for keeping buckets
Lavender can also be grown well in a tub. In this way, the supply of nutrients and the ability to drain can be better controlled. By laying gravel or potsherds over the drainage hole, waterlogging can be prevented. The planter can also be moved, which is a great advantage for non-winter-hardy varieties.
- Can be kept in pots on the balcony and terrace
- Pay attention to places protected from rain and wind
- The location should always have a lot of sun
- Year-round indoor location is also possible
- Full sun window sills are ideal in the kitchen and living room
- Ventilate frequently, but do not expose the plant to drafts
- Put on the balcony on warm days
- Dark corridors and cool bedrooms are not suitable
