Lavender, Munstead

‘Munstead’ lavender is compact and grows slowly so it fits nicely into small gardens and can be grown in containers. It blooms earlier than other English lavenders and, unlike French lavender, it is cold hardy. This means it can also be grown in climates where the thermometer falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Its sweet scent makes it one of the best lavenders for both potpourris and sachets as well as for cooking.

Other than weeding around the plant and regularly pruning it, there is not much maintenance to be done once ‘Munstead ‘lavender is established. Unlike some other lavenders, this one is a long-lived variety that can last for up to 15 years with proper care.

Lavender needs full sun, six to eight hours per day. Insufficient sun makes it leggy and leads to reduced flowering. In warmer climates, some afternoon shade is acceptable. Ideally, lavender should be grown in sandy, somewhat less fertile soil that provides excellent drainage, such as shallow rocky soil. Avoid any soil that is too rich, damp or, even worse, soggy.

‘Munstead’ lavender is fairly drought-tolerant once established. After you plant it, keep the soil evenly moist during the first growing season by watering it regularly. After that, there is generally no need to provide supplemental water to this plant. The only exception is if there is drought during the time when the flower buds form. Water as needed so the buds won’t shrivel and the blooms can develop to their full beauty.

Because lavender is so sensitive to excess water, when mulching around these plants the goal, unlike with most other plants, is to keep the area dry, which is just the opposite effect of most organic mulches. Thus, to mulch around lavender plants, it is best to use rocks or gravel instead of mulch that absorbs water, such as shredded leaves or bark. Lavender does not need fertilization. In fact, overly rich soil and fertilizer can kill the plant.

Lavender likes it warm but not overly hot, and it does not do well in humid climates. While Munstead lavender is hardy down to  zone 5, it does not always make it through a very cold winter when temperatures fall below -10 degrees Fahrenheit so if it gets cold where you live you may want to either grow it in a container so you can bring it in during the winter.