Lavender is one of the easiest herbs to grow, even if you’re just getting started with gardening. It’s sun-loving, drought-tolerant, and smells absolutely amazing. Its silvery-green foliage and purple blooms bring beauty to your garden while attracting bees and butterflies. Better yet, it naturally repels flies and mosquitos. (Honestly, anything that helps with mosquitos is a win in my book!)
If you’re ready to grow your own organic lavender at home, here are 10 beginner-friendly tips to set you up for success.
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1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT VARIETY
There are many different varieties of lavender to choose from, but here are some of the most popular:
ENGLISH LAVENDER
This is the most commonly grown type and is known for its fragrant, blue-purple flower spikes. It’s considered the best type of lavender to grow if you’re looking to brew your own lavender tea or use lavender in the kitchen.
Lavender Hidcote – Lavender ‘Hidcote’ is one of the most popular and easy-to-grow varieties for home gardeners. It produces long-lasting blooms with deep purple flower spikes and soft, silvery-green leaves that look beautiful in both garden beds and containers. The flowers are highly fragrant and can be dried to make homemade sachets, wreaths, or bouquets.
Munstead English Lavender – Lavender ‘Munstead’ is a classic English variety known for its sweet, true lavender scent—without any strong medicinal notes. This compact plant grows into a neat, silvery-green mound about 1½ to 2 feet tall and produces soft lavender-blue flower spikes early in the summer. It’s perfect for planting along borders, in raised beds, or containers.
FRENCH LAVENDER
French lavender has a more compact growth habit and produces beautiful pink or purple flowers. You can tell it apart from the other types by its leaves, which have toothed edges. Its fragrance is not as strong as English lavender, but honestly, it still smells heavenly when you rub it between your fingers.
French Perfume Lavender – French Perfume Lavender is a special variety that starts blooming in its very first year from seed—perfect if you’re eager to enjoy flowers sooner! It grows into a tidy, vase-shaped plant about 12 to 18 inches tall and produces rich, deep purple flower spikes that are velvety and full of sweet, clean fragrance. The scent is stronger and more refined than typical lavender, making it a standout in the garden or in dried bouquets.
SPANISH LAVENDER
This lavender is a unique and eye-catching variety, known for the little “rabbit ear” petals that sit on top of each flower spike. It’s just as beautiful as other types of lavender, but what really makes it special is how well it handles heat and humidity. If you live in a warmer, more humid climate, Spanish lavender is your best bet for a healthy, thriving plant.
Purple Ribbons Spanish Lavender – is a striking variety with silvery-gray foliage and unique purple flower spikes topped with little “ribbons” of bright lavender petals. Both the leaves and flowers have a fresh, spicy pine scent. This Mediterranean native is tough—it thrives in full sun, handles heat and drought like a champ, and looks beautiful in everything from dry, hot landscapes to cottage-style gardens.
2. PLANT IN FULL SUN
Lavender thrives in full sun, so be sure to choose a spot that gets at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight each day. This sun-loving herb needs plenty of light to grow strong stems, produce lots of fragrant blooms, and maintain its compact shape. Without enough sunlight, lavender can become leggy and weak, and it may struggle to flower.
If you’re planting in a garden bed, aim for a location that gets bright morning and afternoon sun. For containers, place them where they’ll soak up the sun throughout the day—on a South-facing patio, porch, or balcony is ideal. Just remember, more sun equals more flowers and fragrance!
3. USE WELL-DRAINING SOIL
Lavender absolutely hates having “wet feet,” so well-draining soil is key to keeping your plants healthy and happy. Sandy or loamy soil is ideal because it allows water to drain quickly, preventing root rot—a common issue when soil stays too soggy.
If your garden soil is heavy clay or tends to hold water, don’t worry! You can improve drainage by mixing in coarse sand, gravel, or perlite. Another great option is to plant your lavender in raised beds or mounds, which help keep the root zone from staying too wet. Read more about growing in clay soil here.
For containers, use a lightweight potting mix designed for cactus or Mediterranean herbs, or create your own by blending regular potting soil with sand and perlite. The goal is to mimic lavender’s native conditions—think dry, rocky hillsides with excellent drainage.
4. GIVE LAVENDER PLANTS SPACE TO BREATHE
Lavender may be low-maintenance, but it still needs plenty of breathing room to stay healthy. Good air circulation helps prevent common issues like fungal diseases and mildew, which can pop up if the plants are too crowded or if moisture lingers on the leaves.
Be sure to space your lavender plants 12 to 18 inches apart, or even more depending on the variety. Some compact types, like ‘Munstead,’ stay smaller, while larger varieties, like ‘Grosso,’ need more room to spread out. Proper spacing gives each plant enough sunlight, airflow, and room to grow into its natural shape without getting tangled up with its neighbors.
If you’re growing in containers, the same rule applies—don’t overcrowd the pot with too many plants. Give your lavender the space it needs, and it will reward you with stronger growth and more blooms!
5. WATER LAVENDER SPARINGLY
One of the best things about growing lavender is how low-water it is—especially once it’s established. Lavender is naturally drought-tolerant, which means it actually prefers dry conditions over being overwatered. In fact, giving it too much water is one of the quickest ways to harm this hardy herb.
When you first plant lavender, you’ll want to water regularly for the first few weeks to help the roots get established. After that, cut back on watering. A good rule of thumb is to water deeply but infrequently—give the soil a good soak, then let it dry out completely before watering again.
Stick your finger into the soil about 2 inches deep—if it still feels damp, wait a bit longer. Overwatering can lead to root rot and fungal problems, especially in humid climates or heavy soils. Letting the soil dry out between waterings mimics lavender’s native Mediterranean environment and keeps your plants thriving.
For container-grown lavender, make sure your pot has drainage holes and never let it sit in standing water.
6. PRUNE LAVENDER AT THE RIGHT TIME
Pruning is an important part of keeping your lavender healthy and looking its best. Regular pruning helps maintain the plant’s shape, encourages new growth, and prevents it from becoming leggy or woody—which can impact both its appearance and flower production.
WHEN TO PRUNE LAVENDER:
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In the spring (for already established plants), just as new growth begins to emerge, is the perfect time to shape your lavender. Trim back any dead or damaged stems and lightly cut back the plant to help it grow more compact and bushy. This encourages the plant to focus energy on fresh growth rather than old, woody branches.
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After flowering, late summer or early fall, is another key time to prune. Once the flowers have finished blooming, cut back the flower stems to just above the leaves, but avoid cutting into the woody part of the plant. This helps the lavender bush out instead of becoming leggy and ensures a more attractive, full appearance.
While lavender can handle a light trim throughout the growing season, it’s important not to prune too aggressively—especially in colder regions—since cutting too much of the plant back can harm it during the winter months.
7. SKIP MULCHING
When it comes to mulching lavender, it’s best to not mulch OR choose a material that helps keep the plant dry and well-drained. While many plants thrive with moisture-retaining mulches like wood chips or straw, lavender actually prefers a dry environment and can suffer from root rot if the soil stays too wet.
If you would like to mulch around your lavender plants, instead of traditional mulches, use pea gravel or small stones around the base of your lavender. These materials not only help with drainage, but they also reflect sunlight onto the plant, helping to warm the soil and encourage strong growth. The stones create a dry, well-ventilated surface that prevents moisture from building up around the roots and keeps the foliage dry, reducing the chance of fungal diseases.
I personally prefer to grow lavender in raised bed gardens alongside my vegetables and other herbs, so I skip mulching altogether. I place the lavender near the edge of the bed, where the soil tends to be drier and gets more heat, creating the perfect conditions for it to thrive.
8. PROVIDE GOOD AIR CIRCULATION
Lavender thrives in dry, breezy conditions—just like its native Mediterranean habitat. In humid climates, proper airflow becomes even more important to keep your plants healthy and fungus-free.
Poor air circulation can trap moisture around the plant, leading to issues like powdery mildew, root rot, and other fungal diseases. These problems are especially common in areas with high humidity or frequent rain.
Space your plants well—ideally 12–18 inches apart, or more for larger varieties. This allows air to move freely between them.
Prune regularly to keep the plant open and airy. After flowering, trim back about one-third of the plant to shape it and encourage airflow.
Avoid crowding lavender with other plants or placing it too close to walls or fences, where air can get trapped.
Bonus tip: If you’re growing lavender in containers, rotate them occasionally and avoid tucking them into tight corners. Good air circulation is just as important for potted plants!
This lavender plant has a full 18″ spacing in this large container.
9. DON’T OVERFEED LAVENDER PLANTS
Lavender is not a heavy feeder, and in fact, too much fertilizer—especially nitrogen-rich fertilizer—can do more harm than good. Overfeeding can encourage rapid leafy growth at the expense of blooms, leaving you with a plant that’s green and bushy but lacking the fragrant flowers lavender is loved for.
Instead of using synthetic fertilizers, a light application of organic compost or a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring is more than enough to give lavender a gentle nutrient boost without overwhelming it.
If you’re growing lavender in containers, be sure your potting mix isn’t overly rich—add some coarse sand or perlite to balance things out. And when in doubt, less is more when it comes to feeding this tough, drought-tolerant herb.
10. HARVEST LAVENDER FLOWERS AT THE RIGHT TIME
Timing your lavender harvest just right is key to getting the strongest scent, most vibrant color, and longest-lasting blooms—whether you’re making sachets, oils, or bouquets.
WHEN TO HARVEST:
Keep an eye on your lavender plants in early to mid-summer, depending on your climate.
Harvest when the buds are plump but haven’t fully opened yet—this is when the essential oils are most concentrated, giving you that iconic lavender fragrance.
If you wait until after the flowers open, the scent will still be lovely but more subtle, and the dried flowers may fall apart more easily.
HOW TO HARVEST:
Use clean, sharp scissors or garden snips to cut stems in the morning after the dew has dried, but before the day gets too hot (that’s when oils are strongest). Cut the stem just above a set of leaves, leaving enough growth for the plant to bounce back.
DRYING YOUR LAVENDER:
Gather 10–15 stems together and tie them into small bundles with twine or rubber bands.
Hang them upside down in a dark, dry, and well-ventilated area—like a closet, pantry, or shaded attic. Darkness helps preserve the vibrant purple color, while airflow prevents mold.
Let them dry for about 1–2 weeks, or until the stems feel brittle to the touch.
Storage tip: Once dried, store the buds in a glass jar or airtight container away from light and moisture. They’ll keep their scent for months!
Growing lavender is one of the most rewarding ways to bring beauty, fragrance, and a touch of calm to your garden. With just a bit of care and the right conditions, this low-maintenance plant will thrive and give back in so many ways, from attracting pollinators to filling your home with its soothing scent. So why wait? Plant a few lavender starts and let your garden (and your senses) bloom!
