Can You Plant Lavender In The Summer And What To Expect

You can plant lavender in the summer, but it's essential to choose a variety that's heat-tolerant and suitable for your climate. Lavender plants prefer well-draining soil and full sun, so make sure your summer planting spot meets these conditions.

Planting lavender in the summer can be a bit more challenging than in the spring, as the heat can cause stress to the young plants. However, with proper care, you can still achieve a beautiful and fragrant lavender garden.

Summer is a great time to plant lavender in regions with mild summers, where the temperature rarely exceeds 85°F (30°C). In areas with extremely hot summers, it's best to wait until the temperature cools down in the fall.

To minimize transplant shock, water your lavender plants thoroughly after planting and keep the soil consistently moist during the first few weeks.

In areas colder than Zone 6, it's best to plant lavender in spring or early summer. If you live in a warmer climate, like Zone 7-10, plant in early fall so the roots can get established during the cool, moist winter weather.

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Avoid planting lavender between May and September in hot summer climates, as it can suffer from brutal desert sun. Instead, plant in late fall or early spring when it's cooler.

If temperatures are above 80 when you plant out, give your lavender some sun protection until it's established. Ideally, plant lavender in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, which can help it thrive.

Planting at the right time is crucial for lavender's success. Don't plant it any deeper than the soil level in the pot, as this can be a sure way to kill it.

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To plant lavender in the summer, start with healthy plants that have developed root systems.

You can prepare a planting hole that's twice as deep and twice as wide as the root ball of your lavender plant. This will give the roots enough room to grow.

If the roots are clinging to the sides of the pot, you can "rough up" the roots to encourage outward growth. This will help the plant establish a strong root system.

Plant your lavender with the top of the root ball even with the soil line, and backfill soil around the plant, pressing firmly all around.

Planting a hedge is a bit more involved than planting a single lavender plant, but it's still a relatively straightforward process. It's best to plant out into soil that is warming up, which is typically in the spring or early summer.

If you're planting multiple lavender plants together, you can amend the soil for each planting hole or amend the whole bed before planting. However, it's worth noting that lavender thrives on fast-draining soil and doesn't prefer to have "wet feet", or standing water, which can cause roots to rot.

You'll want to prepare a planting hole that's twice as deep and twice as wide as the root ball of your lavender plant. This will give the roots plenty of room to grow.

To encourage healthy growth, you can "rough up" the roots if they're clinging to the sides of the pot. This will help the roots grow outward and establish a strong root system.

Plant your lavender with the top of the root ball even with the soil line, and backfill soil around the plant, pressing firmly all around. This will help the soil settle and prevent any air pockets from forming.

Before you start planting, make sure you have a comfortable and clean workspace. This includes preparing a bed by clearing any debris, rocks, or weeds from the area.

A well-prepared bed will help prevent any potential damage to your plants. You'll also want to loosen the soil to a depth of about 8-10 inches, as mentioned in the "Soil Preparation" section.

This will give the roots of your plants enough room to grow. I've found that loosening the soil also helps with drainage, which is especially important for plants that prefer well-draining soil.

The ideal pH level for most plants is between 6.0 and 7.0. You can test the pH level of your soil using a soil testing kit, as discussed in the "Soil Testing" section.

This will help you determine if your soil needs to be adjusted before planting. If your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, it can affect the growth of your plants.

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Lavender prefers a well-drained, slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.3.

Adding builder's sand to the soil before planting can help with drainage, creating a high mound with well-cultivated soil and incorporating sand or pebbles is a good idea.

Lavender can thrive in raised beds, which provide great drainage and more soil for root system development than a container.

A lean soil is best for lavender, as it encourages a higher concentration of oils and should be used sparingly, with minimal organic matter and fertilizer.

Lavender prefers a well-drained, slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.3.

To achieve this, you can add builder's sand to the soil before planting to aid in drainage. Create a high mound with well-cultivated soil and work in sand or pebbles to increase drainage.

Lavender thrives in arid conditions, so it's essential to use light-colored mulch like stone, shells, or pebbles to help keep the plant dry. Hardwood mulch holds in moisture, which can be detrimental to lavender.

Raised beds are ideal for lavender, providing great drainage and more soil for root system development than a container.

High summer humidity is not appreciated, and using rock instead of organic mulch can help combat it when planting lavender.

In areas with high summer humidity, rock mulch can be a good alternative to organic mulch for lavender plants.

The best potting mix for lavender is a loam-based compost like John Innes No 3. This type of compost provides the right balance of nutrients and drainage for healthy lavender growth.

Mixing in some grit, perlite, or sharp sand is also essential, as it helps prevent waterlogging and root rot. A quarter total grit, perlite, or sharp sand is a good starting point.

A small dose of slow-release fertiliser in the spring of the second and subsequent years will encourage your lavender to bloom profusely. This limited fertiliser approach means more flowers and less leaf growth.

English lavenders are a great choice for early summer blooms, growing 18-24 inches tall and producing tight, barrel-shaped flower clusters on tiny blue-green foliage.

They're nearly year-round bloomers, experiencing only a few weeks of downtime here and there. I've found them to be quite hardy, performing well even in zone 5 gardens!

If you're looking for a variety to start with, Fern Leaf Lavender is a great option. It's very easy to grow, but it doesn't have a strong lavender smell.

If you want a variety with a great scent, Goodwin Creek or Grosso are good choices. Goodwin Creek has long, slender dark purple flower spikes and is very tolerant of heat, but it needs afternoon shade in a pot.

Grosso is a French hybrid with dark blue flowers and is possibly the most fragrant lavender of all. It's used in the making of essential oils and other fragrance products.

If you're looking for a variety for cooking, English lavenders are a good choice. They contain high-quality and fragrant oils.

Here are some popular lavender varieties to consider:

Heterophylla 'Sweet' is a fast-growing variety that can reach up to 4×6 in size.

It's an old variety, dating back to the 1800s, which suggests it's been a popular choice for gardeners for a long time.

The 'Sweet Lavender' variety is hardier than others, in my experience, making it a great option for gardeners who want a low-maintenance lavender.

It produces a lot of flowers throughout the summer, with some stems reaching up to 20 inches long.

If you're looking for a lavender that will bloom for months, 'Sweet Lavender' is a good choice.

However, the oil in this lavender has a high menthol content, which makes it not the best for cooking.

Growing lavender can be a bit tricky, especially in the summer. If you're planting in native clay, add some lava rock to the planting hole to help with drainage.

You'll want to water your lavender well initially, and then again in 2-3 days. Don't let it dry out completely before it becomes established.

Check the soil to make sure it's slightly damp before watering again. This will help you find the right balance between too little and too much water.

Lavender grown in the summer will need more water than those grown in the Mediterranean, so be prepared to water more frequently. If you're hand watering, soak the soil deep 2-3 times a week, depending on how quickly it dries up.

If you're growing lavender from seed, don't expose the seedlings to full sun while they're still in their nursery pots. Instead, place them in shade and water them as needed until you plant them in the garden.

Lavender thrives off of heat and does well planted alongside heat-retaining objects, such as sidewalks or stone walls.

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Planting lavender in the summer can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've got some insider info to share.

Lavender is susceptible to leaf spot, a common problem that can be caused by too much moisture and poor air circulation.

Root rot is another issue that can affect lavender plants, especially if the soil is not well-drained.

If you live in an area where temperatures can dip below zero degrees in the winter, you'll want to make sure your lavender plants have some protection from the cold, like a layer of snow cover.

In fact, lavender plants may not survive the winter if soils are not well-drained and/or if temperatures drop too low without that protective snow cover.

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You can plant English lavenders in the summer, and they'll thrive in zone 5 gardens, growing up to 24-30 inches tall.

English lavenders are great for cooking, as they contain high-quality and fragrant oils. They're nearly year-round bloomers, experiencing only a few weeks of downtime here and there.

If you're looking for other varieties, consider the following:

Early summer is the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of English lavenders, which begin blooming in June and July.

They're hardy and can thrive even in zone 5 gardens, making them a great choice for many gardeners.

English lavenders are generally smaller and have tight, barrel-shaped flower clusters on tiny blue-green foliage.

They're supposed to grow 18-24 inches tall, but when they're happy, they can reach 24-30 inches.

These plants are nearly year-round bloomers, experiencing only a few weeks of downtime here and there.

If you're looking for high-quality and fragrant oils for cooking, English lavenders are an excellent choice.

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Lavandula Pinnata Buchii is a great choice for your winter garden, as it blooms from December through April and occasionally throughout the rest of the year.

Its fern-like foliage is a striking feature, with soft green-gray color that looks stunning against the deep, dark flowers.

The stems of Jagged Lavender grow quite tall, reaching 25″, and support the candelabra-shaped flowers that bloom on top.

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I've always been a fan of Lavender angustifolia 'Hidcote' for its stunning deep purple/blue flowers.

This variety produces a whopping number of flowers once it becomes established, so be patient and give it a few years to reach its full potential.

English lavender varieties like 'Hidcote' can withstand hot summers better than most, making them a great choice for gardens in warmer climates.

In the winter, English lavender can look a bit bare, but don't worry, it makes up for it in the spring when it's covered in beautiful blooms.

Planting something with year-round beauty nearby can help distract from the English lavender's downtime and keep your garden looking great all the time.

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