Lavender Growing Tips and Uses

ENGLISH LAVENDER  GROW FROM SEED

 

Growing lavender is easy, and the benefit of its beauty and fragrance will return every season. Lavender is a perfect plant for those hot sunny locations in your yard where nothing else will grow. I grow lavender directly outside of my dog kennel and along the gravel path that leads to my patio. I also planted lavender in containers; wheelbarrow, vintage footed bathtub and also in a wooden barrel.

I grow English lavender because it is a fragrant and pretty flower.  The plant features dense branches that will grow to the heights of three feet and the leaves are long and narrow. 

Lavender Usage

Lavender herb is a natural way to repel stray cats and mosquitoes from your yard and garden, you can also plant aromatic lavender close to your dog kennel.  I like to dry the lavender and use it in floral arrangement during the fall and winter months.  It looks nice in harvest wreaths and also sensational when you tie a bunch of lavender flowers with silver or gold ribbon and then decorate a Victorian Christmas tree. 

You can also make a bar of lavender soap, here's how:

Another way to benefit from the lavender herb is to mix it with rose petals for an aromatic potpourri or make heavenly scented sachets for your drawers.  There are many benefits for growing lavender, why not plant some seeds for windowsill garden or outdoors in container or yard.

Create a cozy spot in your garden by growing Lavender

Growing Tips for Lavender Herb:

1. Grow lavender in a sunny location that has sandy soil that is well drained.  
2. Lavender prefers a location where the soil is dry.  If the root receives too much moisture it will rot.  
3. Start the lavender seeds indoors 8 to 12 weeks prior to the last spring frost.  The best way to achieve this is to plant the seeds in starter kits. 
4. Grow lavender indoors in a windowsill herb garden.  
5. Set the container garden next to a window that has a southern exposure or you can grow lavender under an artificial grow light.  It takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks for the lavender seed to germinate.  
6. When plants are four to six inches in height transplant them outdoors after the threat of spring frost has passed.

Tips:

Lavender is a flowering herb from the mint family.  The lavender flowers produce nectar and thus honey bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to the lavender blooms.

Introduction photo by Heron/ Wikipedia Creative Commons