How to Farm Lavender
- 1). Remove all weeds from the soil in an area of your garden or farm that receives six to eight hours of full sunlight per day. Till the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches to destroy weed roots, or solarize the soil by covering it with clear plastic for at least four weeks to kill the roots. Young lavender plants are not strong enough to compete with weeds.
- 2). Mix 1 part peat moss or compost to 4 parts soil in your garden and till it thoroughly to mix the two soil types. The organic material will help to increase drainage in the soil; Jody Byrne of Daybreak Lavender Farm states that more lavender die from wet root damage than any other cause.
- 3). Plant lavender cuttings in early spring, after the final frost in your area. Dig a hole 2 inches wider than the root ball or roots of your cutting. Insert the cutting and back fill the hole so that the root ball, roots or bottom one-third of the plant is covered.
- 4). Space lavender plants based on their anticipated growth size. For example, if your species of lavender is expected to grow 4 feet high, space the cuttings in your garden or farm 4 feet apart. This will ensure that the plants do not compete with each other for nutrients.
- 5). Water the lavender plants with 1 inch of water when first planting. After the initial watering, continue to water any time the top 1 inch of soil is dry. Lavender needs a lot of water to establish and spread roots.
- 6). Mulch the lavender bed with a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost in the spring each year. This will help the soil gather nutrients and continue to drain well. As long as it is properly mulched, lavender does not require fertilizer.
- 7). Prune lavender plants each season immediately after the bloom period. Cut back the flower stems and the gray leaves by about one-third to encourage continued healthy growth. Never prune so far back that there are no leaves showing, as this can kill the plant.
- 8). Harvest lavender when the flowers have bloomed bright and colorful. In the early morning and on a dry day, snip the flower stems off of the lavender plant. Submerge fresh cuttings in a bucket of cool water to protect the lavender oil. The flowers can then be dried drained of oil, depending on your intended use.
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