Q&A for How to Grow Lavender

Lavender does not tolerate shade, in fact a lavender plant needs full sun exposure.

Yes lavender can be grown very well indoors. This would be done with containers.

The best time of year to plant lavender is mid autumn, usually sometime in October.

Depending on the growing climate, different varieties of lavender are considered annual and perennial.

Lavender prefers sun over shade. Plant it or place the pot in a hot location that receives at least 8 hours of sun per day.

Yes, you can mix various kinds of dried lavender together. If you are using lavender for potpourri or scented sachet packet, mixing them will only make the smell intense and sweeter.

Seasol or a liquid fertilizer that will say on the label that it's a fish emulsion.

It is but you do need to be careful about the soil -- lavender does not cope well with waterlogged soil, so if you get a lot of rain, you'd need to grow the lavender under a cover, in a container or ensure that the soil drains rapidly. English lavender can tolerate warmth quite well. Truly, your best bet is to have it in a container that can be moved around in order to ensure it is in the right spot, especially if there is heavy or monsoonal rain.

According to online research, many gardeners have reported that gophers leave all of their lavender plants well alone. They may well dislike the fragrance. Give it a try!

The best time of year to grow lavender is fall. Lavender requires low to moderate rainfall and moderate sunlight to thrive when planted, so October's less intense sun and moderate rainfall make it an optimal season for planting lavender. Also, make sure you use well-draining soil when planting lavender.

If your plant is still young, don't worry. This is natural to have young plants that don't bloom. If your plant is old, though, too much water or too little sunshine can be a problem.

Yes, you can. Prepare a shallow container (such as an eggshell carton or milk carton chopped in half) with potting soil first. Then, take cuttings from a healthy plant. Cut the stem of the plant below a node on the stem. Take off lower leaves, at least a few, if not all. Dip the cutting into some rooting hormone. Ensure that the soil is moist and keep it in a warm place. The roots will begin to form over the coming days and weeks. When the roots form, the lavender can be transplanted to a container to grow strong. When strong, place in the garden as desired.

It will be just fine left out uncovered. It spreads and makes new plants like crazy so be prepared; not much can kill it.

Cut back the dead stems and use grid support to keep the stems upright.

There is nothing to repair. Lavender plants should be pruned back every year, to half of their size. This stimulates the new growth needed for the new growing season. You should find it grows back vigorously next season, provided it has been well cared for.

English lavender is hardy to zone 5. It can be grown in most areas but not in high mountain areas or high area regions with intense cold.

Certainly! The division of lavender is akin to other hardy 'take-over-your-garden' plants, like spearmint, oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary, are just a few that'll encompass your whole garden if allowed to free-roam! So to divide a mass planting area becomes almost a necessity! Just take a handful of healthy plants and dig them up gently & replant! Many herbs utilize a rhizome technique of multiplying themselves. Very similar to grass, they have creeping underground tendrils of themselves, then after some small amount of travel for the right soil conditions, start rising from the ground, just like suckers off the Sumac tree.

It is possible, however lavenders need quite a lot of space to grow. Use a very large pot and ample light for it to bloom.

Yes. Be sure not to overwater. Plant in light soil with manure, lime, and small stones for drainage, then place the pot in a sunny location.

You should prune every 1/3 - 1/2 of the plant when it show new spring growth.

Yes, you should prune in the spring as new growth forms. Prune 1/3 to 1/2 of the new growth in a rounded cutting pattern with pruning shears or bypass pruners.

Yes. Cut a healthy portion off, prune it if needed, dip it into a root stimuli, and transplant it to its new home.

Yes, lavender does attract bees.

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.