Growing lavender in Canada: Tips for a vibrant garden addition

Although lavender is mainly associated with Provencal fields, it can also be successfully grown in Canada. This versatile plant is not only beautiful but also highly functional. Its intense fragrance repels mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests, making it an ideal addition to any garden.

Caring for lavender is not complicated but requires consistency. Regular pruning of shoots is vital, as it stimulates the plant for more vigorous growth. It's best to do this in early spring and after flowering, usually in summer or early fall. This way, the lavender will maintain a compact form and bloom profusely.

Lavender grows best in sunny places where the soil is well-drained, light, and moist. Avoid planting it in the shade and clayey and heavy soil, as this will make it difficult to bloom. To provide the lavender with adequate drainage, it's worth adding clay aggregate, small stones, or broken pieces of clay pots to the bottom of the planting hole. The same applies to lavender grown in pots.

Proper watering is also essential. Lavender does not like excess water, so water it moderately once a week, pouring water directly onto the roots. Also, remember about proper fertilization. You can use special fertilizers for flowering plants, but homemade fertilizer also works excellently.

Creating homemade lavender fertilizer is simple and cheap. It can be prepared in two ways: a fermented version, which is more robust, or a non-fermented version. The non-fermented version is weaker, which may be advisable if we water vegetables, trees, and fruit bushes with it. Lavenders should be watered with fertilizer 1-2 times a week, and ornamental flowers should be watered less frequently—every 3-4 weeks.

To strengthen lavender with natural fertilizer, dissolve 50 grams (1.8 ounces) of fresh yeast in 5 litres (1.3 gallons) of warm water. After an hour, the conditioner is ready to use. However, remember to dilute it in the proportion of 1 cup of fertilizer to 10 litres (2.6 gallons) of water. If you need a smaller amount, keep the proportion of 10 grams (0.35 ounces) of yeast per 1 litre (0.26 gallons) of water.

The fermented fertilizer is prepared by adding sugar and the same amount of water to the yeast. After a week of fermentation, the fertilizer is diluted like the non-fermented version.

Lavender is not only an ornamental plant. Its flowers can be used in homemade aromatic compositions, as a culinary addition, sachets for wardrobes, and even in the kitchen. Dried lavender flowers are significant in aromatherapy, helping with relaxation and improving sleep quality.