Bald Butte Lavender Farm

Post-Planting Lavender Care

Once established, lavender plants require little care or maintenance. However, lavender can live 10-15 years or longer by providing timely post-planting care to maintain plant health and vigor. In particular, good lavender care should address watering, fertilizing, weeding, harvesting, and pruning throughout life. Click on Lavender Care for a PDF copy of this page.
 

Watering

During their first growing season young lavender plants should be well watered to encourage good root development prior to winter dormancy. In the hot summer months water several times per week based on plant and garden conditions. For example, in the Palouse region of southeastern Washington we water every 2nd or 3rd day during our long hot dry summers. You should always water from below. Our farm uses a drip tape irrigation system. Watering from above can lead to fungal disease, plants that splay open in the center, and greater weed growth. Once lavender is more established in the 2nd or 3rd year the plants are fairly drought tolerant and don’t need frequent watering. Plants, however, should be deeply watered once every week or two weeks depending on dryness, when flowering to increase quality and yield, and following harvest to increase shoot growth and stimulate more flowering stems for next season. Remember, lavender thrive in well-drained soils and do not like their roots in standing water which can cause root rot.

The Bald Butte Lavender Farm's drip tape irrigation system in west lavender field.
Drip tape irrigation system in west lavender field.
The Bald Butte Lavender Farm's drip tape supplying water to Caty Blanc lavender.
Drip tape supplying water to Caty Blanc lavender.

Fertilizing

Lavender thrives in low to moderately fertile soils, and therefore, should require little or no fertilization. However, closely monitor your plant’s health, and if needed, fertilize following the manufacturer’s instructions. Over-fertilized lavender tend to have fewer flower blooms and greater vegetative growth. In addition, lavender that is over-fertilized and over-watered has less intense fragrance, reduced oil quality, and diminished plant health. Both watering and fertilizing should be stopped in September to promote lavender hardening prior to the onset of winter, which will lessen the occurrence of winter damage and mortality.

Weeding

Weed management is a necessary evil for ensuring lavender’s growth and survival. Therefore, weed competition must be diligently controlled repeatedly throughout the growing season. Weeds growing through holes in the weed fabric and near the planting hole are removed by hand. Weeds growing alongside the edge of the weed fabric covering the raised beds are either mechanically tilled or removed by hand.

Harvesting

Lavender should be harvested between mid-morning and early afternoon, and not when the plants are wet from morning dew, rain, or during the hottest part of the day. A harvest early in the growing season promotes air circulation, new branch growth and a second bloom later in the summer. Harvest timing depends on your management objective and lavender cultivar. We harvest at the first sign of flowering (≤20%) to maximize the amount of essential oils in the culinary buds and enhance bud retention in dried bundles. Other management objectives include harvesting for craft buds (<50%), and production of essential oils (50-100%). When harvesting flowers you should cut low enough to get long flower stems leaving at least 2 inches of green foliage above the woody stems. If plants are harvested near or at full flowering this will lessen the chance of a second bloom.

Pruning

Every August or September lavender should get a heavy pruning in preparation for winter. This pruning should occur at least 6 weeks prior to the first freezing temperatures. Cut branches leaving 2 inches of green foliage above the woody stems. This pruning should result in a mound shaped crown which helps prevent winter damage. In addition, dead and low hanging branches should be cut to promote better air circulation and prevent disease. This annual pruning slows down woody stem growth, promotes new stem growth next spring producing better foliage and flowering, and maintains a dense mounded form. Some lavender growers prefer pruning in the spring, while the plant is still in winter dormancy or once green growth is noticed, but prior to bud formation. Whether you prune in the fall or spring, an annual pruning is essential for maintaining long-term lavender health and vigor.

Even when everything is done correctly the unexpected can happen. Lavender does well when the weather cooperates, but losing plants following harsh winters or delaying the onset of flowering during cold wet springs is not uncommon.

The Bald Butte Lavender Farm's Hidcote Blue before flowers harvested.
Hidcote Blue before flowers harvested.
The Bald Butte Lavender Farm's Hidcote Blue after flowers harvested.
Hidcote Blue after flowers harvested.