Not All Lavenders Are Equally Hardy: Overwinter Yours With These Tips From Gardeners
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By PETER LICKORISH
Peter is a Horticulture Lecturer and self-employed Horticulturist, with a passion for diverse areas of the industry - from garden design to the science behind plant growth and propagation. He has completed the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture (MHort) Award and lectures on RHS courses at Bedford College.
Contributions From JULIA SNOWBALL
Julia is the Head Gardener at Yorkshire Lavender, a lavender farm based in West Yorkshire that is home to over 60 acres of land that is adorned by a huge array of lavender varieties and other herbs.
An Arable Farmer based in the Cotswold district. In 1999, Charlie began growing his own lavender and, more than 20 years later, is now the Owner of Cotswold Lavender, home to over 70 acres of lavender varieties.
IN THIS GUIDE
Lavender is a wonderful choice for many gardens and can provide us with many yields and rewards through the summer months while it is in bloom.
However, being able to enjoy lavender in our gardens over the summer months means understanding how to prepare lavender for the colder months to come.
To care for lavender correctly in winter:
- Determine whether the lavender you are growing is hardy and can withstand winter conditions.
- Prune lavender in August or September to reduce the chances of winter damage.
- Ensure good drainage for lavender that is hardy enough to remain in the garden.
- Pot up more tender species and bring them indoors or under cover.
Below, we will delve just a little deeper into each of these steps and look at what we should do to prepare lavender for winter depending on their type.
1) Determine Your Lavender Hardiness
The first thing to understand when it comes to caring for lavender in winter is that not all lavenders are equally hardy.
Several different lavenders can be grown in the UK, and these vary somewhat in their hardiness ratings.
The main types of lavender that you might grow are:
- English lavender (L. angustifolia – H5)
- English hybrid types (L. x intermedia – H5)
- French lavender (L. stoechas – H4)
- Hybrid lavender (L. x chaytoriae – H4)
- Broad leaf lavender (L. latifolia – H3)
- Spanish lavender (L. pedunculata and L. viridis – H3)
- Tender lavender (L canariensis, L. dentata, L. lanata and L. pinnata – H3)
If you are unfamiliar with the hardiness ratings, these are the designations given by the RHS which help us to understand which plants can survive winter outside where we live and which cannot.1Check how hardy plants are using RHS hardiness ratings. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved April 3, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/award-of-garden-merit/rhs-hardiness-rating
H5 means that plants are hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters.
H4 means that plants are hardy throughout most of the UK (-10-5°C).
H3 means that plants are only hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5-1°C).
“Most lavenders are hardy but really don’t like cold and wet soil conditions,” says Julia Snowball, the Head Gardener at Yorkshire Lavender.
“Good drainage is essential, particularly in winter.”
So, as you can see from the above, where you live and which lavender you are growing will determine whether lavender can survive outside all winter or will need to be brought into a frost-free location.
“Though the species of lavender you grow will go some way to determining the plant’s hardiness, there are other factors to consider, including the age of the plant,” says Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish.
“It may be best to keep more fragile young plants containerised and bring them under shelter, before planting out in the spring.”
2) Cutting Back Lavender For Winter
While some lavenders are hardy enough to withstand winter temperatures fairly easily, other conditions of winter, especially winter wet, can still pose a risk – even to the hardier species and hybrids mentioned above.
Pruning lavender correctly in August or September, after flowers are faded but before colder weather arrives, can be important in making sure that, whichever lavender you are growing, they make it through the winter unscathed.
We have covered pruning lavender in another guide, so check that out to make sure you are doing all you can to prepare your lavender plants for winter.
The correct pruning, well before winter, can help avoid snow sitting on them and causing damage.
3) Provide The Right Care For Outdoor Lavender
If the lavender you are growing can survive outside all winter where you live, then it is important to make sure that you have done all you can to ensure that your plants have the appropriate growing conditions.
The most important thing is to be absolutely certain before winter begins that your lavender is in soil or a growing medium that drains well.
“Water needs to be able to get away from the roots, especially in winter,” shares Charlie Byrd from Cotswold Lavender.
Do all you can to improve drainage where possible, especially when growing lavender in the ground.
Make sure your lavender does not get waterlogged or it may not survive the winter months.
4) Pot Up And Move Tender Types Inside
If you are growing one of the more tender lavenders mentioned above or live in a very cold location, you may have to consider moving your plants indoors or under cover over the winter months.
Plants in pots might best be moved to a drier and more sheltered spot in a greenhouse, polytunnel or cool part of your home.
During the winter, when lavender enters a state of dormancy, it should not be watered at all when outside, as natural rainfall is typically more than enough.
When growing indoors, you may need to water a couple of times through the coldest months before your lavender goes outside once more.
