What Lavender grows best in Texas?

English Lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia) are actually from the Mediterranean. They are called English Lavender because they are the variety that grows best in England’s climate (and in Central Texas, too)! They are quite cold-hardy and bloom in late spring/early summer in Central Texas.

How do you care for lavender in Texas?

Lavender needs regular watering the first few months, but once established, it should be watered sparingly. It may need occasional supplemental water during summer heat or drought, but don’t panic and flood it. Even during hot weather, excess moisture is not kind to lavender.

Is Lavender easy to grow?

Growing lavender is easy and rewarding. Lavender can be grown in garden beds or in pots. To grow lavender successfully it needs well-drained soil and full sun. In arid climates lavender grows well as a perennial, but in humid climates it is often grown as an annual.

Does Lavender need full sun?

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.

Can lavender grow in pots?

Start with large pots, as lavender plants can grow to the size of small shrubs. Twelve- to 16-inch containers do the job nicely. Fill the bottom inch or two of the container with Styrofoam peanuts or gravel to facilitate swift drainage. Add a tablespoon of lime to the potting mix after filling the container.

Does lavender grow back every year?

Lavender is a perennial herb that continues to grow each year. Lavender is a woody perennial, so it does continue to grow from year to year, but the stems remain upright through the winter in preparation for new spring growth. With proper care and pruning, lavender will survive in the garden for years to come.

Which lavender smells the most?

The most fragrant Lavender plants are the Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia). Several cultivars of English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) are also prized for their delightful scent. Lavandula x intermedia, also called Lavandin, is a hybrid cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia.

What happens if you don’t prune lavender?

An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan.

Should I deadhead lavender?

Deadheading. Cut off spent blooms to encourage more to form. However, you can leave them in place towards the end of the flowering season as food for seed-eating birds such as goldfinches.

How long do lavender plants last?

Lavenders are not long-lived plants. Expect tender varieties to live for about five years. If pruned correctly, hardy types can live for about 15 years (as many as 20 years, in some cases).

How do I keep my lavender blooming?

Keep lavender foliage as dry as possible. Position the lavender plants with plenty of space between them to encourage drying air circulation. Remove, or deadhead, spent blooms regularly for the entire blooming season. This prolongs the overall blooming duration and promotes bushier growth.

How do you maintain lavender?

Lavender Care

Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil (add organic matter to improve heavy soils). Starting with the proper conditions is essential for successfully growing lavender. Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry. Prune every year immediately after bloom.

How often should lavender be watered?

How to Care for Lavender
  1. Water once or twice a week after planting until plants are established. Water mature plants every two to three weeks until buds form, then once or twice weekly until harvest.
  2. In colder growing areas, plants may need extra winter protection.

Why does my lavender keep dying?

The most common reasons for a Lavender plant dying are improper watering, over-fertilization, acidic soil pH, diseases, pests, or inadequate sunlight. Careful inspection of the plant and growing conditions are essential to help identify and fix the issue.

What is the best fertilizer for lavender?

The best (and only) time for fertilizing lavender is in the springtime at the start of the growing season. The easiest and best thing to do is to put down an inch (2.5 cm.) of good compost around the plant. This should provide plenty of nutrients for the year to come.

Are coffee grounds good for lavender plants?

Coffee grounds are very high in acid and plants such as lavender and aloe do not benefit from them. Only use fresh grounds on acid loving plants and even then, do so sparingly.

Are eggshells good for lavender plants?

One good potting mix for lavender contains equal parts by volume of soil, sand, perlite, and compost. Some add a few crushed egg shells to help keep a higher pH (alkaline soil) as they decompose. Fertilize sparingly.

Is Miracle Gro good for lavender?

Plant lavender in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.3. For the very best results—think lots of beautiful, fragrant blooms—it’s also important to feed lavender regularly with a premium plant food like Miracle–Gro® Performance Organics® Blooms Plant Nutrition.

Is Lavender poisonous to dogs?

Lavender, the plant, does contain a small amount of a compound called linalool, which is toxic to both dogs and cats. The linalool is found in such small concentrations, however, that this is rarely an issue. Problems arise only if a dog ingests a very large quantity of lavender.

What months does lavender bloom?

While Lavender is usually regarded as a summer-blooming flower, some Lavender plants are early bloomers with their magnificent blooms appearing early in spring. Others are late bloomers with blooms opening up in midsummer and lasting until late summer. Some bloom almost continuously from spring to summer’s end.