Your lavander need this before October 20th – most people make a big mistake!, by The Amish Gardener on YouTube. 28 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 28 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Check which lavender you grow. English lavender is hardy and tolerates cold, while French and Spanish types are tender and need more winter protection or a pot brought indoors.
Stop watering in early fall. Let the soil dry out between waterings and cut back sharply once the weather cools, since wet roots in cold soil are what usually kill lavender.
Test drainage before the winter rains. Dig a small hole near the plant, fill it with water and see if it drains within a few hours. If it pools, add grit or move the plant to a raised spot.
Pull mulch and soil away from the crown so the base of the stems is bare. Damp mulch packed against the crown rots the plant over winter.
Prune lightly after flowering, trimming spent flower stems and shaping the bush but never cutting into old, leafless wood. Stop pruning by early fall so new growth can harden off.
Skip fall fertilizer. Feeding now pushes soft new growth that cold weather will damage, so wait until spring.
Top-dress beds with gravel or coarse grit instead of wood mulch. Gravel keeps the crown dry and lets air reach the soil.
For pots, raise them on feet so water drains freely, and move them to a sheltered spot against a wall or into a cold frame in cold zones.
Add winter protection only after the first hard frost, not before. A loose layer of straw or a windbreak around the plant is enough in cold zones.
Tips and common mistakes
Never cut lavender back into bare old wood, because it rarely regrows from there.
Wet feet kill more lavender than cold, so drainage matters more than wrapping the plant.
Wood mulch holds moisture against the crown, so use gravel around lavender instead.
Wait for a hard frost before adding winter cover, since early protection can trap warmth and moisture.
Questions
When should I cut back lavender after flowering?
Trim spent flower stems and lightly shape the bush right after flowering in late summer. Do the main tidy-up then and stop pruning by early fall so new growth hardens before winter.
Can I leave lavender in a pot outside over winter?
Yes in mild zones, but raise the pot on feet for drainage and shelter it from wind. In cold zones move it into a cold frame, unheated garage or against a sheltered wall.
Should I fertilize lavender in fall?
No. Fall feeding encourages soft growth that winter damages. Feed lightly in spring instead, and keep the soil lean.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
