Lavender Care – Page 12 – Gardener Report

Lavenders in pots will only need watering once per week during the growing season in the first 2 years of planting. Once fully established potted lavenders only need watering sparingly once every two weeks if there has been no rainfall. Lavenders are natives of the Mediterranean where they thrive in sandy, nutrient poor soils, in full sun with very little water. The most common reason potted lavenders die is because they are overwatered. One of the first symptoms of an overwatered lavender is a general wilting appearance and the leaves turning brown. It is at this point some gardeners make the mistake that the lavender is not receiving enough water and actually end up compounding the problem with more watering. Always water lavender in the morning which gives the soil a chance to dry during the day so moist conditions do not linger overnight. Keep reading to find out exactly how often you need to water potted lavenders in the first year of planting, how often to water established lavenders, how to avoid overwatering lavenders, and what pot is best for lavenders... How Often to Water Lavenders in Pots When watering lavender it's important to remember the plant is native to the Mediterranean, so it thrives on full sun and little water in fast-draining, nutrient poor, sandy soils. Therefore Lavenders are far more at risk of overwatering than underwatering when cultivated by gardeners. Established lavenders in the ground (at least 2 years old) generally do not need watering in most temperate climates and only very occasionally need water during drought like conditions. Potted lavenders however need a bit more care and attention than lavenders planted in the ground as pots are more susceptible to drying out completely as pots can heat up in the sunshine which accelerates the drying of the soil. Potted lavenders will need to be watered once every two weeks during the growing season with around 35 ounces of water (1 liter) if there has been no rainfall and persistent sunshine. Water in the morning, at the base of the plant, and try to avoid dampening the foliage. If the weather has been partially overcast and there has been some rainfall then potted lavenders will not need any additional watering. This may feel like neglectful gardening but lavenders thrive in droughts and poor soils where other plants would perish thanks to their Mediterranean heritage! The same watering advice applies to all varieties of lavender and their various hybrids. The only significant difference in care between potted English lavenders and potted French or Spanish lavenders is that the English varieties are far more tolerant of frosts and cold winters whereas the more delicate Spanish and French lavenders will need taking inside to a frost-free environment over winter. All varieties are drought tolerant, thrive in pots, and will produce beautiful aromas and stunning flowers if cared for properly. Newly Planted Potted Lavenders Require More Water (but don't overwater) Lavenders that have just been transferred into a pot will need more care and attention in the first year as they settle into their new home. Lavenders can suffer transplant shock when you move them to a significantly different environment, for example, the garden store to your home garden in a different pot. This generally happens a week or so after planting. Transplant shock may manifest itself as drooping leaves and stems which superficially look like an underwatered plant, however, this is just a stress reaction to its new environment and will likely only last a week or so. Water the soil before planting and water around the base of the lavender after you have planted it in the pot and place it in a sunny spot. Do not be tempted to water it again during the first week of planting and give it time to adjust to its new environment and the symptoms of shock will pass. Whilst the roots are established on a newly planted pot lavender it is a good idea to water about once per week for the first four weeks after planting. After four weeks you can reduce watering down to once every two weeks during the hot weather of summer, but if it has rained significantly then you will not need to water. More water will do them more harm than good. Water new lavenders in their first season, every two weeks (depending on the rainfall) up until September when the temperature decreases and the soil doesn't dry out as quickly lavenders are preparing for a period of winter dormancy. During winter if you have an English Lavender variety you can leave the potted lavender outdoors and it will receive enough moisture to sustain itself comfortably. French or Spanish lavenders on the other hand need to be taken in over winter as they do not tolerate frosts. They do not need much water over winter but they will need some, so give them a good drink once every 6 weeks, until the return of Spring. Remember...Lavenders always put on their best display of flowers after the first year of growth, so it pays to be patient! Choosing the Right Pot for Watering Lavenders Choosing the right pot for lavenders is crucial from a watering perspective. The ideal pot for lavenders must have several holes in the base to allow water to drain as freely as possible. The lavender roots will benefit if you layer the bottom of the pot with about 1 inch of gravel to provide air pockets so that soil does not become compacted at the bottom and slows the drainage of water out of the pot. If the lavender roots are exposed to damp soil for any length of time then you are risking root rot which will kill the plant. The pot needs to have enough drainage and be 16 inches in width and a depth of at least 12 inches to accommodate a mature lavender. If you can keep the pot off the ground with some pot feet (available from garden stores) or propped up with stones then this will ensure that water can escape freely and drain away properly rather than pooling underneath. Avoid this mistake! A common mistake with potted lavenders, particularly if the plant is indoors is to have a saucer or plate at the bottom of the pot to stop water spilling out. Collecting water in the pot can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot will take place and kill the lavender. How to Avoid Overwatering Lavenders in Pots Overwatering is the biggest threat to your lavender. Lavender in damp soil will develop root rot and unfortunately die. However, there are steps you can take to minimize this risk: Lavenders need to be potted in a well-draining medium that contains 1-third compost and 2-thirds sand or grit. This replicates the soil drainage conditions of the Mediterranean where they thrive in their natural environment. You need to make sure that your pot has drainage holes in the base, with a layer of gravel at the bottom to ensure they do not become blocked with compacted soil. Ideally, the pot should be propped up so that water does not collect underneath. Lavenders need full sun (preferably more than 6 hours per day during summer). This will help dry out significant moisture from the soil and keep conditions perfect for the plant. Do not water lavenders more than twice per week and skip watering if there has been significant rainfall and overcast days. If you follow these four steps your lavender should put on a good display of flowers and exude its distinctive summery fragrance. Key Takeaways: Water established potted lavenders twice per week during summer if it's dry and skip watering if there have been overcast days with significant rainfall during the spring and summer. Newly planted lavenders will need watering twice per week in the first four weeks of planting then just once per week in the first year in the pot. Once established water once every two weeks during the growing season. If it's an English lavender that is left outdoors you will not need to water at all during the winter as they are frost tolerant and will receive enough water to live comfortably. Overwatering lavender is always a bigger problem than underwatering as lavenders are drought resistant and do not like moist soils. Spanish and French varieties need to be brought in over winter to avoid frost and will require a modest amount of water every 6 weeks. Make sure your lavender is planted in sandy soil with good drainage and lives in a sunny location.