Yes, there are clay soils in Western North Carolina, and yes, humidity, and yes, sometimes a lot of rain. Does that mean you can’t grow lavender? Well, while WNC may not be the ideal climate for lavender, with the right preparation and care, yes, you can grow lavender here. Follow these growing tips for success!
Plenty Of Sunlight
Lavender needs six or more hours or direct sunlight a day. The best way to think of it is parking-lot sun—completely unobstructed, no trees around, with 10am-to-4pm full sun. We’re emphasizing strong sunlight because shade is the predominant theme in WNC landscapes, and homeowners try to push the sunlight-to-shade ratio for plants. A little bit of sunlight is often translated as just enough sunlight for a full-sun plant. You’ll save yourself some frustration if you properly assess your sunlight situation. But if you have a deck in full sun, put lavender in containers and take advantage of that; your lavender will do great there, even if your landscape is shady. In fact, it may be better to simply grow your lavender in containers. The natural drainage of containers makes it even easier.
Prep The Soil
Lavender, like most herbs, doesn’t want fussy soil. Lavender does best in lean, well-drained soils. The soil should be easy to dig in, loose, and not compacted. How do you create that when most soils in WNC are heavy, rocky, clay soils?
- Plant in raised beds, raised mounds, on banks, and in containers.
- When planting in heavy, cake-like soils, add PermaTill® or pea-sized gravel to the soil. (Add up to a 50/50 mix of PermaTill® and native soil, depending on the drainage of your soil.) Lavender needs well-drained, but not arid soils.
- Mix 1/2 cup of Daddy Pete’s Soil Conditioner, great for busting up clay soils and loosening soils, to the mix or use as mulch. (Go ahead and buy the big bag—2 CF—and use the remaining product in your perennial beds as a topdress or for plantings.)
- The pH is best at 6.5 to 7.5. Add lime if necessary to neutralize the pH of the soil.
- The goal is to improve the drainage of the soil, not give lavender a nutrient-rich soil. Fertilize lightly when growing lavender—once a year—with a complete fertilizer.
TO TEST YOUR DRAINAGE:
- Dig a hole 12” in diameter and 12” deep with straight edges.
- Fill the hole with water, and let it sit overnight. Saturating the soil before testing gives a more accurate drainage result.
- After 24 hours, refill the hole with water.
- Measure drainage every hour. Lay a stick across the hole and use a measuring tape to determine the water level. Note the number of inches per hour the water drained.
Good drainage is considered around two inches per hour for plants with average drainage needs. If it less than an inch per hour, the drainage rate is too slow and plants have wet feet. If it’s more than four inches per hour, the rate is too fast and plants become parched.
Choose The Right Varieties
Choose cultivars that are hardy to our area and are proven to be more disease resistant. Lavender is good in zones 5 to 8. Ask the B.B. Barns staff for help determining which ones are best suited for your site.
Favorites we’ve carried include:
- ‘Phenomenal’
- ‘Provence’
- ‘Platinum Blonde’
Planting Deep And Wide
Dig holes at least 12” to 18” deep and 4’ to 6’ apart. Lavender roots extend deep and wide (up to a 12” down and 6’ feet wide). Giving plants space between them allows for better air circulation and room to grow. Why is this so important? Lavender grows quickly!
Proper Watering
Lavender is drought tolerant after it’s established. When establishing it though, water deeply and regularly every five to seven days for the first month, and then every seven to ten days for the remaining first season if rain doesn’t reach an inch a week in the garden. After establishing, lavender can handle dry spells and extreme heat.
Prune Annually
Lavender needs annual pruning. When deadheading, also prune and shape, leaving one to two inches of foliage, and removing any dead stems along the bottom of plant. In spring, shape lightly if needed. Lavender is a woody plant that can become heavy as it ages, exposing the center of the plant and causing the main stem to split, which kills the plant. Pruning annually will help keep that in check.
Enjoy the beauty and the fragrance of lavender!
