Lavender grows best in dry, arid environments, and does not need fertilizer or strong soil to grow. In Ontario it can get humid so there are some Lavender varieties that are a hybrid and bloom best in the Ontario climate.
Can lavender survive Canadian winter?
Lavender originated in the sunny, hot and dry Mediterranean which means it can be difficult to keep it alive over our colder Canadian winter months. Our farm in the Okanagan is in growing zone 5b and even we have years where we experience loss, so gardeners in cooler growing zones will have a much tougher time.
Can you farm lavender in Canada?
There are quite a few farms that you can visit, within an hour from Windsor, London, Toronto, Hamilton or Kingston! Though native to the Mediterranean, there are many varieties of lavender, with English lavenders and their hybrids cold hardy to Zone 5.
How do you winterize lavender in Canada?
If your plant will be inside for the winter, keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation. Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant.
Will a lavender plant survive outside in the winter?
English lavender species are hardy, so can survive outdoors throughout winter and tolerate frost. Whereas Spanish, French and Italian lavenders are not frost tolerant and will need to be transferred to pots and taken indoors over winter, if they’re in a climate that receives regular frosts.
How do you grow lavender in Canada?
Plant the lavender in areas that drain well, or in raised beds to ensure they aren’t sitting in water dense soil. Lavender does not grow best in soil that is heavy or have clay in it, so if this is your only soil option in your garden, look to plant the Lavender in pots.
Should I cover lavender in the winter?
Lavender is a drought tolerant plant and prefers to be dry, so you want to ensure good drainage. A slope or small raised bed would help ensure the plant has good drainage and stays dry and happy. Third, it is important to cover your Lavender plants (zone 5 and below) with winter protection.
Will lavender come back every year?
Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial
And this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
Is lavender a sun or shade plant?
full sun
Lavenders demand full sun, although afternoon shade may be appreciated in the hottest climates. Plants are very drought resistant once established, but will flower better if not allowed to dry out.
How long does lavender take to grow?
Lavender is a slow grower and may take one to three months to reach transplanting size. The greatest threat to lavender seeds and seedlings is fungus. Keep soil mix moist, but provide good air circulation to help reduce disease outbreaks.
Does lavender do well in pots?
Any lavender variety will grow in a container, but some are better suited than others. Dwarf Blue, Munstead, Hidcote, Sweet, Sharon Roberts, and Lavender Lady produce flowers fast and stay a manageable size in pots. – Cut lavender stems when the lowest blossom opens. Make the cut slightly above the first set of leaves.
Will lavender grow in Ontario?
Lavender Types and Climate. Two main types of lavender can be grown in Ontario – Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) and Lavandula x intermedia (lavandins or French lavender) (see Figure 2).
Is lavender toxic to dogs?
Key Takeaways. Lavender contains a small amount of linalool, which is toxic to dogs and cats. Mild exposure to lavender is not generally harmful and may help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Lavender poisoning is possible and may cause vomiting, reduced appetite, and other symptoms.
Is lavender perennial in Canada?
Read how easy lavender is to add to your garden decor. Hardy noninvasive perennials, lavenders suit both informal and formal gardens. Mature lavenders form dense mounds of foliage, ranging from grey to green and from 30 to 60 centimetres tall – beautiful even when they’re not blooming.
Is lavender a hardy perennial?
Lavender (Lavendula spp.) is a well-known and fragrant perennial plant with gray-green foliage, upright flower spikes, and a compact shrub form.
Click Play to Learn How to Care for Lavender Plants.
| Common Name | Lavender |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Herbaceous perennial |
| Mature Size | 2–3 ft. tall, 2–4 ft. wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
How long does lavender last?
How long does lavender live? Lavenders are not long-lived plants. Expect tender varieties to live for about five years. If pruned correctly, hardy types can live for about 15 years (as many as 20 years, in some cases).
How do you look after lavender in the winter?
In winter, keep the containers fairly dry, maybe in a cold greenhouse or in the rain shadow at the base of a wall to keep off excessive rain, which will help improve the plants’ tolerance to cold weather.
Is lavender toxic to cats?
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states the common lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) contains linlool and linalyl acetate, two compounds toxic to cats (and found in other flowers like bergamot). Basically, in any form, lavender can make your kitty sick as heck.
Does lavender need mulch?
Mulching: Since lavender is drought tolerant, it shouldn’t need mulch to conserve soil moisture, other than extreme cases. If you do mulch, use small sized bark or gravel, and be sure to leave several inches clear around the plant crown, or your Lavender may rot.
What happens if you don’t prune lavender?
An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan.
Do lavender plants spread?
Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.
Should you deadhead lavender?
And August is a good month for deadheading lavender plants. Proper pruning and deadheading of lavender plants will increase your harvest of flower spikes for dried flowers and make your plants more beautiful and healthy. Lavender benefits greatly from being pruned in mid-spring and deadheaded in the summer.
Can I cut lavender back to the ground?
Just don’t cut your subshrubs back to the ground. Leave at least four to five obvious nodes above the ground where new growth can emerge. Some subshrubs may initiate new growth from the roots, but don’t depend on it.
What to do with lavender after it blooms?
Cut lavender stems back after they finish flowering for the first time to encourage a second flush of blooms. Shape your plant as desired, cutting into green growth about 1 to 3 inches below the flowers. Garden Gate Magazine suggests keeping the outside stems lower than the middle stems. Do not cut into old wood.
How do you bring lavender back to life?
The only way to revive lavender that has been in the shade is to transfer it to a pot and place it in the sun as quickly as possible. Lavenders require sun all year round, including during the winter dormancy so plant the lavender in a nice open space that is not under a tree canopy or any other shade.
When can I move lavender plants?
Transplanting lavender can be done in spring or fall in mild climates, but spring is the best time for moving a lavender plant in climates with cold winters. Lavender accepts transplanting better when the weather isn’t too hot. Try to pick a cool (but not cold) day for transplanting.
Where does lavender grow best?
Lavenders thrive in warm, temperate climates, but also grow in cool and cold areas, depending on the variety. As natives of the Mediterranean, they ideally like their summers hot and dry, and winters cool.
Does lavender have deep roots?
Growing Lavender in Pots
Lavender is a shallow rooted herb, so you do not need a tall pot. Average depth and spread of the root system is 8-10 inches. Because lavender requires a significant amount of sunlight, these plants do not make good houseplants, preferring to live in the garden or in a pot outdoors.
Can I divide lavender plants?
A: It’s fairly easy to transplant a lavender plant, but you can’t divide them. Lavenders are woody shrubs and if you split one down the middle, it will die. The best time to move lavender is in late winter and early spring.
Can you dig up lavender and replant?
Lavender is drought tolerant once established. To transplant lavender, dig a hole with a Fiskars garden shovel that can accommodate the plant’s large root system. In the pot, gently loosen the soil with a Fiskars transplanter and gently knock the plant from its container. Spread the roots and plant in your garden.
How do you make lavender spread?
Lavenders can spread in terms of vegetative growth, with the largest varieties reaching 36-40 inches (90 – 100 cm). Lavenders can spread by seed dispersal but the rate of germination is low and almost negligible. You can prevent lavender from spreading by trimming off seed bearing flower heads in late summer.
