Purple Perfection: Unlocking the Secrets of Lavender

Guest post by Katrina & Clayton

Lavender is a beloved herb known for its calming fragrant flowers, versatility, and numerous uses in cooking, aromatherapy, and gardening. While lavender is typically associated with Mediterranean climates, it can thrive in Scotland with proper care and attention.

Growing Lavender in Scotland

Growing lavender (Lavandula) in Scotland requires selecting the right varieties and providing appropriate care. The cooler, wetter climate poses challenges, but with the right strategies, lavender can flourish.

Variety Selection: Choose hardy varieties such as ‘Hidcote,’ ‘Munstead,’ or ‘Phenomenal,’ which are better suited to Scotland’s climate. These varieties are more tolerant of cold and damp conditions.

Location: Lavender thrives in full sun, so choose a sunny spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Lavender is also relatively drought-tolerant once established, it can handle dry periods well. We planted ours on a sloped area so they are not sitting in wet or water logged soil.

Lavender flowers are edible and used in a variety of culinary applications, including baking, herbal teas, and flavouring desserts. They can also be used to make lavender sugar or infused into oils and syrups. We love adding them into mesh bags and hanging them in our clothes cupboard or using them to make toilet bombs.

Lavender essential oil, extracted from the flowers, is widely used in aromatherapy, skincare, and as a natural remedy for various ailments.

Our Lavender grown on a slop to create a hedge which we grew from seed

Planting Lavender

Timing: The best time to plant lavender in Scotland is in late spring (May) after the last frost has passed. This gives the plants time to establish before winter.

Soil Preparation: Lavender prefers well-drained, sandy, or loamy soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amend heavy clay soils with sand or grit to improve drainage. Incorporate organic matter such as compost to enhance soil fertility. Caledonian Topsoil would make a good choice to with it’s pH of  typically 7 

Planting Technique

Spacing: Space lavender plants 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) apart to allow for good air circulation and growth.

Planting Hole: Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball.

Planting: Place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil, firming gently.

Watering: Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

Pruning Lavender

Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape, health, and longevity of lavender plants.

Initial Pruning: In the first year, lightly trim the plants to encourage bushy growth. Avoid cutting into old wood, as lavender does not regenerate well from woody stems.

Annual Pruning: Prune lavender annually after flowering, typically in early autumn. Remove about one-third of the plant’s height, focusing on new growth but avoiding cutting into old wood. This helps maintain a compact shape and encourages prolific blooming the following year.

Pruning the lavender, you can see the bright green new growth and drier, smaller ones of last years growth

Propagating Lavender

You can propagate by cuttings by both Hardwood and Softwood and using different methods of water or soil.

Hardwood cuttings: This is the brown, woody part of the stem. It is possible to take hardwood cuttings at any time, although you should aim to take your lavender cutting before the plant develops buds or after the flowers have bloomed and died.

Softwood Cuttings: This is the green fresh shoots of the stems it produces each year. These are easier to take root (and there’s no chance of damage to the plant), but hardwood cuttings have a higher overall success rate

You can also grow from seed which we have done with ours but propagating brings a bigger success rate and establishes a good size quicker. 

Propagating Methods

Propagating Methods: 

Both softwood and hardwood cuttings can be propagated in water, however roots will develop quicker on softwood cuttings. Both work well in soil too.

Propagating in Water: To grow lavender indoors in water, fill a glass with around two to three inches of water. Take your lavender cuttings and strip the bottom few inches of the stem of leaves and place in the water and allow to root. Can take up to 6 weeks.

Propagating in Soil: Cut a healthy, non flowering shoot about 10 cm (4 inches) long. Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in a pot with a well draining soil mix and keep it moist until roots develop. Can take up to 8 weeks.

We propagate in soil from hardwood cuttings throughout the year. Watering a few weeks later.

Caring for Lavender

Watering: Lavender is drought tolerant once established but requires regular watering during the first growing season. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between watering to prevent root rot. In the Scottish climate, make sure you have them planted in large pots with lots of stones at the bottom for drainage or if in the ground somewhere it does not get water logged otherwise they will just rot. 

Mulching: Mulch around lavender plants with gravel or coarse sand to improve drainage and reflect sunlight, which helps keep the plants warm and dry.

Companion Planting for Lavender

Companion planting can enhance the health and productivity of your garden. Lavender’s strong scent deters pests and attracts beneficial insects.

Good Companions:

Roses: Lavender’s scent repels aphids and other pests that can plague roses.

Thyme: Both plants thrive in similar conditions and thyme can help improve soil drainage.

Echinacea: Attracts pollinators and creates a visually appealing garden.

Bad Companions:

Mint: Can be too invasive and compete for nutrients.

Vegetables that prefer rich, moist soil: Lavender’s need for well-drained soil isn’t compatible with crops like lettuce or beans.

Calming fragrant effects of lavender and are loved by the bees.

Growing lavender in Scotland can be a delightful and rewarding herb. By selecting the right varieties, planting in the proper conditions, and following best practices for pruning, care, and companion planting, you can enjoy the beauty and fragrance of lavender in your garden. With the right soil preparation and maintenance, lavender can thrive in the Scottish climate, providing you with beautiful blooms, culinary delights, and a touch of the Mediterranean in your own garden.

Growing raspberries in Scotland can be incredibly rewarding, given the right care and conditions. Following the steps from soil preparation and planting to pruning and care, you can enjoy a plentiful harvest of these delicious fruits right from your garden.

Katrina & Clayton

Katrina & Clayton live with their family in East Ayrshire in Scotland and share their daily life in the garden on instagram @buildingfoodforest_scotland. They practice permaculture principles, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.

Clayton Completed The Grow and Learn Course with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in 2022. This year he will be completing Level 2 Nurture Course. Clayton is 16, Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated for the last 6yrs. Both Katrina and husband Peter have studied the Permaculture Design Course PDC and PDC Pro over the last 5yrs, developing their garden from grass to an ongoing food forest.

They have featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens, Gardeners World Magazine and write for Scotland Grows Magazine.  Katrina has a series of children’s story books out following the life of Clayton in the garden. Available at Amazon.

See more and follow Katrina & Clayton at the links below:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Link