Lavenders respond well to pruning as they only produce flowers on new growth. In this article I have listed the 8 most common reasons lavenders die or appear to be dying and have the solution to each problem. (For full details on winter potted lavender care, read my article, will lavender survive in pots over winter?). Wrong Soil Acidity (pH 6.5-7.5 is optimal) Lavenders can grow in both mildly acidic and alkaline … I have written an article on the exact steps of how to care for potted lavenders in winter which covers French, Spanish and English lavenders for more information. Firm the ground around the lavender to provide some stability but do not compact the ground as this will hinder the lavenders root growth. The reason your lavender in a pot is dying is usually because: Keep reading to find out exactly why your potted or container lavender is dying and what you can do to solve it…. Then, pour in 1 inch of well-draining potting soil, add the lavender plant, and surround it with the rest of your potting mix. Or simply mound the earth about 6 inches higher then the rest of the bed so it sits above more moist soil and encourages quicker drainage. The short answer is you need to wait and see. We find no apparent cause! In the fall, shear back the plants by about one-third (avoid cutting into older, woody stems) – you should be left with a compact cushion of leafy stems. This easy-to-grow shrub thrives in a sunny spot, in free-draining soil or a container. I skimmed articles on the kinds of soil and minerals lavender likes, how much pruning rosemary needs, how much sun, water, on and on. 2 or 3 and mix in some horticultural grit, for drainage. English lavender grow well in cold climates, according to Colorado State University Extension, while French and Spanish lavender are hardy only to USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6 or 7. If they receive less the 6 hours of sun light lavenders will have disappointing growth, a lack of colour in the leaves poor fragrance and potentially die. Even in their winter dormancy lavenders will benefit from as much sun as possible. If the lavenders foliage is starting to look brown and the lavender stems are starting to droop in appearance then the problem will be that the lavender is over watered. In almost every circumstance if there is a problem with soil pH in relation to lavenders it will be due to overly acidic soils rather then soil that is too alkaline. The number one golden rule when it comes to pruning lavenders is to only cut back into green foliage and never cut back into the woody growth. Transplanting a lavender from the ground will be tolerated by the plant at anytime of year if necessary. Is it possible I've made the soil too acidic? Sunlight also drives evaporation from the surrounding soils and can reduce humidity which will minimize the chance disease such as root rot in lavenders. If the lavender pot does not have drainage holes in the base then water will simply collect in the pot and saturate the soil. Established lavenders often will not need any watering except if the weather has been hot and dry for more then two weeks. If the plant is indoors and you are trying to prevent the water from pouring out over your window sill then I would recommend placing a paper towel under the pot whilst you water as a temporary measure, or just move the pot elsewhere whilst watering. It's been out for 2 days on glorious sun but its sill wilting. The application is relatively simple, all you will have to do is dig or till the lime into the soil to a depth of around 18 inches. Lavender plants (Lavandula) are beautiful, fragrant, widely varied in appearance, and they produce highly fragrant essential oils.Despite these wonderful qualities, sometimes they just won’t stay healthy and there are some problems that can result in a Lavender plant dying. The reflected light benefits the lavender (as they love full sun) and it can create a micro-climate when the sun is shining as the intense light will drive evaporation from around the leaves and result in a dryer environment. I have one of the early side quests to find 12 lavender herbs but so far all herbs marked on the map are just basic ones. Using the wrong soil mix is a very common reason why lavenders in … You do not need a Mediterranean climate to grow lavenders but you must ensure that they are in the sunniest location of your garden. This provides a beginner overview along with a sample lavender dye recipe from the book Seasonal Plant Dyes by Alicia Hall.. For those who have planted Lavender plants in containers it's simple. The amount of sun your lavender receives is correlated to the number of flowers, oil and aroma you lavender will produce. Three of them are lovely and healthy. Click here to find the best lavender varieties for your pots and containers . The Wrong Soil Mix for Pots. 3. If you have tested your soil and determined that it is too acidic, for growing lavender (less then pH 6.5) then I would recommend transferring the lavender to a pot with new soil (use 70% potting soil and 30% sand for drainage) as a matter of urgency. In almost every case I see the reason why lavender dying is due to over watering or soil that is too moist. Saw a lavender plant in a small pot with the perennials at a local nursery and bought it. Watering potted lavenders can be confusing as the signs of stress from an over watered lavenders may superficially look like an under watered plant. I planted it in a large pot with herbs, so now I need to give the plant its own small pot with gravel for drainage and move to a sunnier spot. Add a sprinkling of bonemeal to the planting hole, place the plant in the hole, backfill and firm in. Lavenders thrive in the scorching dry summer weather in the Mediterranean region of Europe. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. The reason for potted roses dying is often because of pots that are too small, or pots without drainage holes in the base. If the soil is more acidic then pH 6.5 it is unlikely the lavender will live for very long or achieve its full potential of producing blooms, healthy growth and fragrance. Lavenders prefer soil that is sandy with a friable structure that allows water to drain through quickly without holding onto moisture. Lavenders are very well suited to chalk soils which tend to be alkaline and well draining. You can also use them around the garden as a hedge or mass plant them as a feature. First of all you will need to make sure that you are not over watering the lavender as this will quickly compound the problem. Lime can be purchase online or from garden stores and added to the soil, to raise the pH towards neutral or alkaline depending on the quantity you use. The reason lavenders in pots are dying is usually because they are, Soil mix is just as important as the right type of pot. Another factor to consider is whether your soil drains quickly enough as lavenders prefer sandy soil (more about that in the 2nd section) as these problems are often related. If you water your lavender in a pot or container too frequently it will likely die from root rot. The minerals also do not contain high levels of nutrients so they will balance out the organic compost and recreate the lavenders preferred, low to medium fertility soil conditions where it thrives in countries such as France, Italy and Spain. If you lavender is showing the signs from being over watered then you will need to stop watering the plant for at least three weeks, and if possible protect the lavender from rainfall (move recovering potted lavenders inside during the rain). Lavenders in the first two years of growth will need watering once every two weeks during the spring and summer months. Failing that, lavender is actually very easy to propagate so you can grow a production line of lavenders each year to replace ones that have been killed off by frost. hole in the bottom. The solution depends on what the source of the excessive nitrogen is. Try to find an area for your potted lavender that sees at least 6 hours of sun per day (morning sun is better) although more is preferred. English lavender blooms in early summer. Lavender – Dying in Pot. To raise the pH of soil from ‘too acidic’ to the right range for lavenders you can add a lime amendment. If the lavender does show some signs of recovery then water once every two weeks and ensure that it does not receive any additional water from rainfall. A lavender pot size of 12 to 16 inches is ideal since the plant can grow quite huge and bushy. Learn about what Lavender likes in terms of planting and growing conditions. Lavenders are really versatile plants. Using the wrong soil mix is a very common reason why lavenders in pots and containers die. Water well. Planting lavenders in pots would be a good idea as you can place them in the most exposed or windy location of the garden and keep them away from still air. If the foliage of your lavender has turned yellow and perhaps has a leggy appearance then this an indication of an excessive if nitrogen in your soil. Exactly how to prune is always explained best with a visual guide, so check out this YouTube video for a clear explanation. The most reasons your lavender could be dying: The most likely reason your lavender is dying is because of over watering. Lavender shrubs bear bright, fragrant blossoms and can live for 20 years or more. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are three essential nutrients that every plant needs to grow and a higher level of nitrogen in the soil can be a good thing for some plants. As previously stated, lavenders originate in the Mediterranean region of Europe where they grow in conditions of full sun and high temperatures all day with little rainfall. This is not an exact science but bear in mind the soils where lavenders originate can have a very high proportion of sand or gravel so adding a large amount of sand will not be to the lavenders detriment and will actually recreate their natural habitat. How to Revive a Lavender Plant. It should be noted that watering lavender that has just been planted is different from watering established lavender. But what about those precious in ground plantings?