What to do with lavender plant in winter
How to Prep your Lavender Plants for Winter – Terre Bleu
General Plant Care for the Winter
Water less frequently than in the summer. The lavender will be undergoing its dormant period (will not be growing very much). If your plant will be inside for the winter, keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation.
In the Late Summer/ Early Fall
Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant. If the plant is receiving too much water, once the ground starts to freeze, ice will form and will damage your plant.
Lavender Plants in the Ground
Prepare plants for winter by pruning. Once harvesting has been completed for the season (ex. you have cut off all the lavender flower blooms), a light pruning to create a mound can help to minimize damage by snow.
Cut the newer stems, but avoid cutting the woody part of the plants. A major pruning will be done in the spring. The woody parts of the plant are weak and can be prone to splitting and breaking under the heavy snow and ice of winter.
Lavender Plants Outside
Dig a hole in the ground deep enough to place the whole pot in the ground, with the soil level of the ground the same as in the pot. This will give some protection and insulation to the roots and help it survive the winter.
If you cannot bury in the ground:
Move pot near a wall to offer some protection from wind (or into a shed).
Put pot into larger pot and fill the spaces in between the two pots will leaves and mulch to offer insulation.
Move pots inside to give more protection from the winter cold. (see below for details)
Bringing Potted Planted Inside for the Winter:
When bring it inside for the winter, it will need to be acclimatized to its new location, to do this:
Move plant to a covered porch (receives less sunlight) to get it used to less sun for a few hours each day for a week or so, increase time toward end.
Leave potted plant in this spot without moving for another week.
Move the plant inside house for a couple hours each day for a week, gradually increasing time inside.
Keep in a good spot that receives lots of sunlight and has good air circulation
Water less often than in the summer. Allow top inch of soil to be dry before watering again.
Now that your plants are prepped for the winter, are you? Check out amazing gift options in our shop to get ready for the holiday season and bring total joy to the lavender lovers in your life!
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Caring for Lavender in Winter (Indoors & Outdoors)
Lavender grows best outdoors, but you can keep these aromatic gems alive through winter inside, too. Plus, lavender is not only pretty—its scent also brings a sense of calm to every room. Here are some lovely lavender varieties and advice on how to overwinter lavender.
Is Lavender a Perennial or Annual?
A fragrant and colorful plant native to Europe and Western Asia, lavender is a sun-loving flower best grown outdoors. Depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it can be grown as a perennial or annual flower. Generally speaking, if you live in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 or warmer, you'll be able to keep lavender as a perennial plant outdoors, as long as you grow the right type for your climate.
Types of Lavender
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common species available, and is quite hardy. We grow a variety called 'Hidcote' that has dark purple flowers. Despite its name, this plant is not native to England; it stems from the warm, Mediterranean coast of Europe.
English lavender is hardy in Zones 5 and warmer, usually overwintering in the ground outside just fine without any added protection. In an open winter with no snow cover, we may pile a thin layer (1 to 2 inches) of straw or shredded leaves over them for added cover.
Spanish lavender (L. stoechas) and fringed or French lavender (L. dentata) are much more tender—hardy outdoors only in Zone 8 and warmer. They have to be moved indoors to survive the winter in colder zones. The good news is that lavenders are fairly compact plants that grow well in containers, which makes moving them between indoors and outdoors quite easy.
If you are re-potting them, don't use too large a pot. Only give them an extra inch of soil around the root ball. Too much extra soil will just stay soggy, which these plants won't tolerate. The soil does not have to be rich, either. Two parts potting soil with one part perlite or coarse sand will give them the quick draining conditions they need. To mimic the alkaline soil of the Mediterranean, add 1 teaspoon of lime to the bag of potting mix before using it in the lavenders' pots.
Spanish lavender is sometimes called "rabbit ears" for its unusual blossom.
How to Overwinter Lavender Indoors & Outdoors
As mentioned above, English lavender is winter-hardy to Zone 5 and may only need a bit of help in the form of a thin layer of straw. Otherwise, lavender shouldn't need any extra care outdoors. Spanish and French lavenders, on the other hand, are only hardy to Zone 8, and will need to be brought indoors in colder areas.
During winter, the plants want to rest and will not produce much, if any, new growth. They are basically dormant from September until April.
While your lavender is indoors for winter, follow these practices:
- Watering: They need less water in winter, too; wait until the top inch of soil feels dry before giving them a drink. Overwatering will rot the roots and means sure death.
- Lighting: Although they won't be actively growing, these plants will still need a lot of light. If you lack a spot on a cool, bright windowsill, try using a grow-light to supplement the natural light.
- Temperature: During winter, lavenders like it cool but not drafty; the temperature can drop to as low as 40°F (5°C) at night and shouldn't be warmer than 65°F (18°C) during the day. This means that you ought to keep them away from heaters that will dry them out and drafty windows that could chill them too much.
- Fertilizing: The plants may look a little sad, but do not fertilize them until new growth starts in the spring. Unused nutrients can build up in the soil and become toxic.
The leaves of fringed (French) lavender (Lavandula dentata) have lovely toothed edges.
Even though your plant is resting, the foliage is still fragrant and will smell lovely when you brush against it. The relaxing, anti-depressant qualities of its aroma will be a welcome reminder of summer and help to get you through the long winter ahead.
Come spring, wait until your last spring frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain above 50°F (10°C) to plant lavender outdoors again.
Also don't forget to harden them off before exposing them to full sun and cool spring temperatures!
Lavender is more than a pretty plant. See lavender's uses for health and home.
Wintering lavender: how to cover lavender for the winter
October 27, 2021
Lavender is a heat-loving plant that can hardly tolerate snowless cold winters. Gardeners should properly prepare the shrub for the cold to reduce the risk of freezing. Do I need to cover lavender for the winter in the open field?
Preparing lavender for winter
Among the mandatory procedures for crops in the fall are weeding, removal of plant debris, loosening, followed by mulching the soil. Loosening is necessary to increase air exchange, reduce the likelihood of root rot. Further mulching of the soil will keep the roots of the plant from freezing and drying out. Straw, needles are poured in a layer of 10-12 cm. Do not use leaf litter and sawdust, as they contribute to the decay of lavender and its death.
Lavender pruning
After flowering is over, the plant is pruned. Autumn pruning is needed not only to maintain the decorativeness of the bush, but also to reduce the risk of freezing in winter. Long shoots of shrubs are most susceptible to freezing, especially when there is insufficient shelter. Such stems are the most fragile, easily broken by gusts of wind. Cut lavender in early autumn, choosing the method you like:
1. Shaping cut. The shoots of the plant are cut to the desired height, forming a bush in the form of a ball or in another way.
2. Heavy pruning. Leave only 3-6 cm of shoot above the surface. Even with minimal snow cover, such a plant will overwinter without loss.
Late pruning weakens the bush, so it should not be carried out just before the frost.
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Lavender supplement
Lavender seedlings for the winter must be fed with compounds containing phosphorus and potassium.
These substances increase the winter hardiness of the bush, increase the immunity of the plant. Nitrogen top dressing stimulates new vegetation, they can not be applied from the second half of summer. Unripe shoots are most susceptible to freezing, this will weaken the lavender bush. Top dressing can be combined with loosening, embedding fertilizer in the soil. You can use water-soluble formulations that are diluted according to the instructions and used for irrigation. The soil should be well moistened before fertilizing so that the roots do not get burned.
How to cover lavender for the winter
Some gardeners mistakenly believe that the crop does not overwinter in the open field, dig up the plant and grow it in a pot culture in winter. Lavender tolerates low temperatures well, but young bushes can freeze in snowless winters. Therefore, sheltering plants in the first years is mandatory.
With heavy pruning, mulch will act as cover.
It will prevent freezing of the root system. With high pruning in cold regions, cover with agrofibre and spruce branches is recommended.
Many gardeners do not know how to understand that lavender seedlings have overwintered. With weak pruning, young shoots start to grow when other plants are already in full bloom. And if a strong pruning is carried out, then the awakening of the plant will be delayed. You should not rush and dig up a bush with the onset of heat.
Successful wintering of lavender in the garden directly depends on the region of cultivation, the correct planting and care of the plant. A healthy plant in the new season will delight with lush flowering and high decorativeness. You can choose healthy lavender seedlings in the Agro-Market online store
Keywords: Gardening
How to cover lavender for the winter
Lavender is a beautiful plant with a strong persistent aroma and healing effect.
Thanks to its versatility of use, it is one of the most popular plants grown in gardens and pots. Lavender needs to be properly prepared for winter, and it will winter well in the Moscow region, in the middle lane and other regions that are famous for cold winters.
Lavender is a very hardy, sun-loving perennial that grows best in light, sandy soil. Although lavender is very undemanding, before the winter comes, you need to give it a little attention.
Young plants are especially in need of protection. How to cover lavender for the winter correctly? Definitely before the arrival of the first frost and snow. Especially care should be taken when overwintering lavender grown in pots, because due to the lack of space for roots, the risk of frost is much higher than that of lavender grown in flower beds.
Lavender for the winter is always cut a little. Regular pruning adds density and a beautiful look. To protect the plant from the cold, the main thing is to cover the stem.
The ideal material for the cover is a white non-woven material that allows air to pass through and a sufficient amount of light. Using multiple layers will give us enough protection.
Another option is to cover the lavender with earth and cover with branches or straw. Leaves or mowed grass, which retain moisture and the plant can become infected with mold, are not at all suitable for these purposes.
Wintering lavender will go well if you follow some simple rules. How to cover lavender for the winter:
1. Proper watering - be sure to need proper watering before wintering. Pre-winter watering is important for all plants, especially those that do not winter well. It's about lavender. The ground before frost should be well moistened, even wet.
2. Competent pruning - remove all branches that have fallen to the ground, leaving small stumps. Also remove all small, fragile, thin, diseased and dried branches. It is necessary to notice all the branches that have bloomed for two or three years in a row, they are also removed.
Then the branches are cut, leaving thirty centimeters above the ground. Using such pruning, you can get a lush, flowering bush.
3. Mandatory top dressing is an important procedure that helps to strengthen the roots and protect the plant from severe, abnormal frosts. The plant is fed with mineral complexes that have a positive effect on the root system. It is imperative to take into account the fact that top dressing is carried out only with mineral fertilizers, organic matter cannot be added.
4. Lavender Shelter - She is covered if the plant is planted in a cold climate or a variety that is not frost-resistant. Shelter is produced like this - the branches are tied together, but it is tedious not to do it tightly so as not to damage the plant. From above, you can cover with spruce branches or agrofibre.
Do I need to cover the lavender for the winter in pots
To protect potted lavender in winter, you need to move it to a place where it is not threatened by frost.
Ideal would be a space where there is a lot of light, for example, a veranda, a glazed loggia or an unheated corridor. Rooms where the temperature can rise above +15 ° C are not suitable, as the plant may begin to wake up from the heat. Even in winter, it must be watered periodically, but do not overdo it.
If you don't have a suitable place to store your plant for the winter, you can try creating suitable insulation for the container you are growing it in. With sufficient root protection, there is a chance that lavender will overwinter in an open pot outside. First, find a place where the flower will be sufficiently protected from the wind and possible snow. To protect the flower pot itself, it is recommended to wrap it with bubble wrap and a bag, for example, but you can also use polystyrene. Always leave enough space at the top for light and air to enter.
How to understand that lavender has overwintered
After the arrival of spring, it's time to rearrange the pots and open the lavender in the flower beds.
