01/06/2026
Lavender doesn't die from neglect. It dies from attention.
Every instinct that keeps tomatoes alive — rich soil, regular watering, organic mulch, afternoon shade — kills lavender. She evolved on rocky Mediterranean hillsides with poor soil, full sun, and almost no rain.
🌿 The six mistakes most gardens make:
- Overwatering — the number one lavender killer. Water deeply once a week in summer, then let the soil dry completely. If your soil stays damp for more than two days after rain, lavender won't survive there.
- Soil too rich — lavender produces more flowers and more fragrance in poor soil. Mix coarse sand or pea gravel into the planting hole at a 50/50 ratio.
- Bark or straw mulch — organic mulch holds moisture against the crown where lavender rots first. Mulch with pea gravel or crushed stone instead. This single change saves more lavender plants than any other fix.
- No pruning — cut back by one-third into green stems every spring. Don't cut into bare brown wood — it won't regrow. Annual pruning keeps her compact and blooming for years.
- Too much shade — minimum six hours of direct sun. Eight is better. The south-facing spot against a wall that bakes in summer is the one she wants.
- Wrong variety for the zone — English lavender (Munstead, Hidcote) handles zone 5. French and Spanish types need zone 8 or warmer.
Stop caring for her like a vegetable. Start ignoring her like a Mediterranean native 🌱
