How To Winterize Lavender So It Thrives And Survives

by John Griffith
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Winter is just around the corner! And with it come the short days, harsh winds and the freezing temperatures. This means that you need to start preparing the house, the car, and the garden for these trying conditions. And one plant in particular that will need your attention is your beautiful lavender bush. Winterizing lavender is quite the easy task and brings high rewards when spring rolls around. Properly winterized lavender becomes a healthy and lush plant during the next season. While lavender is drought-tolerant and can generally survive winter without too much fuss, if you are expecting harsh conditions, it’s best to take the needed precautions. That’s why today we will show you how to winterize lavender the right way.

One plant in particular that will need your attention is your beautiful lavender bush

how to winterize lavender lavender sticks up close

Properly winterized lavender becomes a healthy and lush plant during the next season

lavender plant sticks on brown paper bag

How To Winterize Lavender

Lavender is a low maintenance plant in general. However, it still requires some attention before winter sets in. This will ensure its survival and will give you a lush bush during the coming spring. Today we are going to take a look at what steps you should take in winterizing your lavender. Trust us it’s worth it, and it’s super easy.

Take a look at what steps you should take in winterizing your lavender

frozen lavender plants

#Good Drainage

One of the main reasons for lavender dying during the winter is the fact that it’s sitting in waterlogged soil during the whole cold season. That’s why this is the first thing you need to check before the winter has officially set in. Lavender dislikes being too wet during winter and will either rot or freeze if it’s drowning in excess water. That’s why it’s important to ensure the plant has plenty of drainage. You can add some grit or horticultural sharp sand to help drainage. You can even plant the lavender on raised “cushions” of soil. This way the water will drip away from the center of the plant.

Lavender dislikes being too wet during winter and will either rot or freeze

lavender in a wooden basket

#Prune

It’s a good idea to prune your lavender in the fall, especially if you live in a cold climate. This will help them conserve their energy and will give them a big chance of surviving through the winter. It’s best to prune them around a third after they have finished blooming. However, keep in mind that if you live in a place with a milder climate, it’s actually better to prune your plant after winter.

It’s best to prune them around a third after they have finished blooming

pruining lavender with scissors

#No More Water

Stop watering your lavender! Rain and snow will be doing the job for you. As we mentioned, lavender doesn’t really need all that water, and it prefers drier soil. So, sit back and relax when it comes to watering, especially while this plant is in its dormancy period.

Stop watering your lavender!

person watering with a watering can

#Mulching

Mulch is a real lifesaver for all plants and even your lawn during winter! Just throw a couple of inches of mulch around your lavender plants. It can from all kinds of organic materials, such as straw, pine needles, leaves and so on. The mulch will help to insulate the soil and the roots, but won’t keep the water in such as other heavier mulches such as manure.

Mulch is a real lifesaver for all plants and even your lawn

brown wooden mulch

#Move Plants In Pots

If your lavender is in large containers outdoors, it’s best to move them. You can easily save the plant from the harsh winter conditions and drowning rains by moving it into a greenhouse, a covered porch, inside your home, a shed, or even the garage. However, it’s best to acclimatize the plant slowly to its new location. Start by moving it more and more inside week by week.

If your lavender is in large containers outdoors, it’s best to move them

how to winterize lavender big potted lavender

When Should I Winterize Lavender?

Lavender is quite hardy, but it’s not made for the conditions of cold climates. So, make sure you don’t wait too long to winterize this plant. You can start preparing lavender for winter as soon as the leaves have started falling off the trees, and you are spending most of your days raking them off the lawn. As a general rule, you can start pruning as soon as early to mid-fall and mulching before the first frost is expected to fall.

Lavender is quite hardy, but it’s not made for the conditions of cold climates

woman picking out lavender

This was how to winterize lavender. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can go and prepare your beautiful plant for this harsh season’s conditions.

This was how to winterize lavender

how to winterize lavender lavender plant with bee on it

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John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.