Lavender will bloom brilliantly if gardeners avoid common watering mistake before summer
Nothing better than the sight of lush purple lavender in a summer garden, but gardeners need to steer clear of a simple yet common mistake when watering or they may not get any flowers at all.
Lavender is popular in summer due to its beautiful and highly fragrant blooms which will flower quickly if watered properly.
Many gardeners make the common mistake of overwatering flowers in the summer which can be very harmful to lavender as it is a drought-tolerant plant which usually grows in dry Mediterranean soil naturally.
Stephanie Leblanc, a gardener and founder of Celebrated Herb, has shared that gardeners not knowing the correct way to water lavender flowers can attract pests and disease in warmer weather.
She said: “Lavender plants like to be watered deeply and thoroughly, but it’s important to avoid getting the foliage wet, as this can promote the growth of fungal diseases.”
“Instead, water the soil around the plant, aiming to keep the roots moist.”
It is important to deeply water a lavender plant to encourage the roots to grow deeply into the soil, but gardeners also need to be careful not to leave the soil waterlogged.
Stephaine said: “When watering, make sure the water runs through the soil and does not sit in water. Lavender plants prefer well-draining soil, so it’s essential to avoid overwatering and ensure the soil has good drainage.”
When the weather is hot and dry it is best to soak the soil deeply at around six to eight inches when watering to make sure the soil is moist but not drowned.
Lavender may be overwatered if it has yellowing leaves at the bottom of the plant, which can lead to root rot, mould or even fungal diseases.
To avoid overwatering, check the soil to make sure it is slightly dried out before watering again. If the soil feels very wet then hold off watering for a couple of days.
Don't miss...
Crucial tip helps if lavender isn’t blooming and reason you may see no flowers [REVEAL]
Lavender will bloom abundantly if given simple homemade fertiliser before summer [INSIGHT]
Cats run a mile from your garden if you grow five plants they can’t stand [LATEST]
However, it is also important to make sure the soil is still moist as lavender can still dry out, which will result in dry crisp-like leaves, wilting and a lack of flowers.
The best way to balance lavender’s watering needs is to always check the soil before watering and make sure to water it weekly in the morning for best results.
Stephaine said: “Lavender plants should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the weather conditions and the moisture content of the soil.
“Additionally, for outdoor growing lavender, it’s a good practice to water early in the morning to allow the foliage to dry before the heat of the day.”
Watering lavender in the morning gives the soil time to slowly dry out over the day to prevent it from becoming waterlogged and the cooler morning temperature reduces evaporation, giving the water more time to be absorbed by the roots.
If lavender is watered correctly it will reduce heat stress on the plant in summer and ensure the roots can absorb more nutrients, which will result in lots of healthy flowers growing quickly to ensure your garden stays beautiful.
