Key Points
To get lavender ready for winter, avoid heavy pruning and cut back on watering.If you plan to move lavender container plants indoors, ensure they receive sunlight.Garden lavender plants can be protected by using lightweight mulch, fabric, or wind barriers.
One rule of thumb many gardeners live by is choosing perennials suitable for their local hardiness zones, which ensures their plants survive the winter weather and return spring after spring. And while it’s best to choose perennials that will safely and successfully make it through colder temperatures, there is something to be said about adding perennials that sit just on the edge of cold hardiness and require extra winter protection. Lavender is one such perennial that fits squarely into this category, and while it does require extra care in the winter, the beloved plant is well worth the extra winterizing effort.
Growing zone recommendations for lavender (Lavandula) vary depending on variety. English lavenders are generally more cold hardy than French and Spanish varieties, for example. But because these plants originate in mild temperate zones, winterizing them for protection from harsh weather conditions is always a good idea. Below, we gathered the best tips for protecting lavender from hard frost, prolonged periods of extreme cold, and/or strong winds.
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When to Winterize Lavender
The best time to winterize your lavender plants is before the first hard frost date. You can find out when this will be by checking sites like the Old Farmer’s Almanac, as well as keeping an eye on your local weather forecast. Since hard frost can sometimes come unexpectedly early, preparing your plants for cold weather should happen in early autumn.
If the first hard frost happens before you have a chance to winterize, don’t worry, you can still protect your lavender plants. These plants are fairly sturdy and should be fine as long as you take steps to protect them as soon as you can over the longer winter season.
How to Overwinter Lavender
There are a few different ways you can help protect lavender plants over the winter, whether they’re in your garden beds or in containers. The main things to remember are to reduce watering for several weeks before winter, and to make sure the plants keep receiving sunlight.
Avoid Heavy Pruning
Unless your plant has damaged stems, which you should cut to avoid further injury, it’s best not to do any major pruning just before the winter dormancy season. Pruning can leave the woody stems vulnerable to ice or frost damage, so it’s always best to wait until spring to prune lavender. However, you can do a bit of light pruning in early autumn, avoiding the woody stems, to neaten up the plant.
Cut Back on Watering
As winter approaches, cut back on the frequency of watering. Your lavender plants won’t need water during the dormant winter season, and too much moisture has the potential to cause root rot to occur, especially if wet soil freezes.
Move Containers Indoors
If your lavender plants are in containers, moving them into a sheltered place like the garage or into a garden shed will help protect them from harsh winter conditions. Avoid placing them near a drafty door or window, and place the containers near a window so they receive sunlight. If you don’t have an indoor spot with windows, you can substitute a grow light to give lavender plants light exposure.
Wrap Plants
Many gardeners use fabric to loosely wrap their lavender plants to protect them. Lightweight, open-weave fabrics—burlap, woven cotton, or linen—work best to let light in and ensure good air circulation.
Add a Layer of Mulch
Adding a light layer of mulch around the base of your lavender plants will help protect the roots from freezing and rot. Use a lightweight mulch like pine straw or shredded leaves to allow for some air circulation and continued soil drainage during periods of wet winter weather.
Use Wind Barriers
If your lavender plants are in a spot that is exposed to harsh winds, you can place wind barriers to protect them. Use lattice barriers that allow sunlight to pass through and that allow for air circulation. You can also place container plants behind hedges or taller plants to provide a windbreak.
What Temperature Is Too Cool for Lavender?
Because different varieties of lavender have different cold hardiness, their tolerance of cold differs depending on the cultivar. In general, lavender likes a temperate zone that is not too hot or too cold. English lavender is cold hardy to USDA Zone 5, but a bit of extra winter protection (mulch, fabric, wind barriers) can’t hurt.
French and Spanish lavenders, however, are only hardy to USDA Zone 8. During the dormant winter season, temperatures between 40-60F should be fine, but if your winter temperatures frequently dip below freezing, bring your plants indoors.
FAQ
Do you need to cut back lavender for winter?
It’s best not to cut back lavender until spring. Winter is its dormant season, so allow it to naturally wind down and wait until spring for pruning, when it will stimulate fresh growth.
How do you wrap lavender to prepare it for winter?
Wrap lavender loosely with lightweight fabric (like burlap), and don’t tie it too tightly so it has good air circulation.
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