Lavender is a staple in many English gardens, its delicate foliage making for a pretty addition to flowerbeds and borders. It doesn’t just look good in gardens either; it’s also a great natural deterrent that can help control garden pests, especially ants, while attracting pollinators that are crucial to the ecosystem. But there’s nothing worse than a sad-looking lavender bush, especially if you’ve planted it at the front of your flowerbed.
While lavender is a relatively low-maintenance plant to care for, there are some tasks that are essential to a healthy and full bloom. A Mediterranean plant that thrives in the sun, although it doesn’t require much watering, the plant does need a well-draining soil for healthy growth. In fact, lavender is drought-tolerant, and too much watering can expose it to root rot if it’s not established using the right kind of soil.
If you notice that your plant is still looking slightly leggy despite using well-draining soil, horticulturist @gardening.with.ish has shared two things you can add to your soil that will help lavender thrive.
In the video posted on TikTok, the gardening expert explained that the “two main lavenders you’ll come across are English and French lavender”. While English lavender is “a little bit more hardy”, French lavender generally “flowers for longer”.
Despite their differences, maintaining “free-draining soil is absolutely crucial” to both varieties of lavender. Free or well-draining soil simply refers to soil that allows water to quickly pass through it, helping maintain dry conditions ideal for lavender growth.
Sandy soils are commonly used for plants that require good drainage, but Ash also recommends adding two other items to your soil that will help lavender “absolutely thrive”.
Grit and sand are two materials that can easily be added to soil to help improve its quality and drainage. While these two items will help soil drain, it’s still important to avoid adding too much water.
It’s best to keep lavender in a “lightly moist soil” instead, and Ash explains that most people lose lavender “because they overwater it or water it daily like most of their plants, and it causes root rot”.
While failing to prune your lavender over the summer can result in it looking woody and sparse, poor quality soil and too much water can “cause black foliage and make it go gooey at the top”.
Instead, “your lavender will thank you” if you stick to giving it the occasional water, or even letting rain take care of it, and leaving it to properly dry out in between.