Lavender is used to poor soil. You can find out here whether it still needs to be fertilized and what the liming of lavender is all about.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is not very demanding on the soil in which it is planted and does not need much to take root. Its home is in the Mediterranean region, which is why it is used to dry, nutrient-poor and stony soils. In the following, we will show you how you can give your purple darling a little help with fertilization.
Should you fertilize lavender at all and, if so, when? Which fertilizers are suitable for lavender and what is the best way to fertilize? We have summarized the answers to these questions for you in this article.
Why fertilize lavender?
Like any other plant, lavender needs sufficient nutrients to thrive. In its original homeland, the coastal regions of the Mediterranean, it grows on dry and rocky slopes. Basically, the Mediterranean herb prefers nutrient-poor soils. Therefore, do not fertilize too much, otherwise the lavender will become sensitive to frost and become lignified more quickly. In the worst case, over-fertilization can even lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, you should know exactly what lavender needs. The lavender will thank you for need-based fertilization with a magnificent growth and many fragrant flowers.
Fertilize lavender: When and how often?
In general, lavender does not actually need fertilization because it is used to nutrient-poor soils. Regular fertilization is therefore by no means necessary and can even be harmful. If there is an excess of nutrients, the shoots shoot through and the lavender loses its winter hardiness. In addition, it becomes more susceptible to pest infestation. A one-time fertilization with the preparation of the bed before planting is more than sufficient. In the following years, an annual fertilizer application at the beginning of the growth phase (March/April) is sufficient. It is best to rely on organic long-term fertilization, like they doFor example, our Plantura organic universal fertilizer makes it possible. These provide your lavender with sufficient nutrients in the long term and are also particularly gentle on plants, soil and animals in the garden.
In pot culture, an additional second fertilization at the beginning of summer (end of June/beginning of July) optimally supports your lavender. When cultivating in pots, you should also make sure that you transplant the lavender into a larger pot every year and fill it up with fresh substrate.
Summary: When to Fertilize Lavender?
- At planting
- Basic fertilization in spring (March/April)
- Second fertilization (June/July) in pot culture
Fertilize lavender: how and with what?
You have various options for fertilizing your lavender according to your needs. In addition to using organic and mineral fertilizers, you can also support the development of the Mediterranean herb with natural fertilizers.
Fertilize lavender organically: application recommendation
If you want to fertilize your lavender with your own compost, a single application in late autumn or early spring is sufficient. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen, such as rotted stable manure, should only be used sparingly. It is better to completely avoid mulching, for example with lawn clippings. The organic mulch material stores too much moisture, which the lavender, which does not tolerate waterlogging, does not like it at all.
If you don't have any natural fertilizers available in your own garden, you can also use organic slow-release fertilizers from specialist retailers. These have many advantages when fertilizing lavender, for example:
- Long-term supply of nutrients to lavender through slow decomposition via microorganisms in the soil
- Promotion of he althy, active soil life (good for microorganisms, earthworms & Co)
- Particularly gentle on the environment by not using chemicals
Our Plantura organic universal fertilizer consists mainly of organic raw materials. Due to its nutrient composition, it is ideal for supplying your lavender. The high nitrogen content promotes plant growth and leaf formation, especially at the beginning of the growing season. Sufficient phosphorus and potassium then ensure a rich flowering later in the year. Production from plant residuesThe food, feed and luxury food industry is also particularly sustainable and resource-saving.
But of course, when it comes to need-based fertilization, it's not just the nutrient composition that counts, but also the amount of fertiliser. To ensure that you provide your lavender with the right amount of nutrients, we have prepared precise fertilizer instructions for you below.
Organic Long-Term Fertilization: Instructions & Dosage Amounts for Lavender
- Before planting: Work 40 - 60 g/m² (3 to 5 tablespoons) of our Plantura organic universal fertilizer into the top soil layers
- Water the soil and the freshly used lavender well so that the granules can loosen
- Fertilize annually in spring (March/April) about 30 - 50 g/m² (2 to 4 heaped tablespoons)
A second dose of fertilizer (June/July) optimally supports your lavender in pot culture.
Fertilize lavender with minerals: Blaukorn and Co.
In addition to organic long-term fertilizers, various mineral fertilizers such as blue grain or liquid fertilizers are also available from specialist retailers. However, these are only partially suitable for the fertilization of lavender. It is true that mineral fertilizers contain many nutrient s alts in a concentrated form, which the plant can absorb directly from the soil solution in a very short time. However, the high solubility means that excess nutrients are washed out into deeper soil layers and can contaminate the groundwater there. In contrast, organic fertilizers work much more slowly, but also provide the lavender with sufficient nutrients in the long term. They also promote soil life and improve the soil structure in the long term.
Fertilize lavender with coffee grounds
In principle, conventional coffee grounds are also suitable as fertilizer. This occurs in almost every household anyway. The actual waste product contains many nutrients and at the same time keeps pests away from the plants. However, care should be taken when fertilizing lavender. The Mediterranean herb prefers calcareous soils with a neutral to slightly basic pH. The sour coffee grounds can permanently lower the pH value of the soil and should therefore only be used very sparingly.
Lime lavender: When, how often and how much?
It is more important to note that the lavender prefers calcareous soil. It is therefore advisable - especially for low-calcareous soils such as sandy soils - in thespring with a handful of commercially available garden lime. You can simply sprinkle this evenly around the plant and work it in with a hook. Over time, the rain ensures that the lime is evenly distributed in the root area. But it shouldn't just be whitewashed. The pH value between 6.5 and 8, which is optimal for lavender, must of course be maintained. Inexpensive soil pH measuring devices are a good starting point. But be careful: Make sure that you really have real lavender in your garden. There are close relatives such as French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), for which calcareous soils are rather disadvantageous for growth. You can read and compare the lavender varieties in our special article.
You can also find more information about pruning and caring for lavender in this special article.