Should you water lavender?

Lavender is a fantastic garden plant: beautifully shaped, with gorgeous blooms, evergreen, and wonderfully fragrant!

It's no surprise, of course, that lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most popular garden plants.

Still, not everyone manages to keep lavender healthy in their garden. Often, the bottom of the plant becomes bare, and it quickly loses its attractive appearance. This is often caused by not pruning it at all or pruning it incorrectly. As a result, many people are unsure about how to Pruning Lavender should. Still, there’s another common cause of problems with lavender: watering…

Do you need to water lavender?

When there's a drought, you water your garden plants, of course… Right?

However, you'd be better off skipping the lavender!

Lavender thrives in poor and dry soil. Watering isn't necessary at all. In fact, watering lavender can actually cause problems!

If you water lavender, it will remain damp, especially in the case of densely branched plants. As a result, the inner part of the plant will die off prematurely. This leads to bare, woody lavender, with only the tips still showing beautiful, fresh growth. Rainwater alone is more than enough for lavender that has already taken root.

Also, think about where lavender grows. You’ve probably seen those beautiful lavender fields (in person or in photos). Have you ever noticed how dry and rocky the soil actually is?

What about new plantings?

If you're planning to plant lavender during the summer or in a dry spring, it might still be a good idea to plant lavender to water. During dry spells, moisten the (well-draining) soil before planting the lavender. This is usually enough for the lavender to take root. If you’re still unsure whether your new lavender needs to be watered again during a dry spell, check carefully to see if the plant feels dry to the touch anywhere. If so, you can water it a little more by moistening the soil.

Potted Lavender: To Water or Not to Water?

The exception to the exception is lavender in a pot or container. Because plants in pots and containers Since potted lavender tends to dry out more quickly, it’s important to water it regularly. When watering, make sure to direct the water onto the soil as much as possible.