Overwintering lavender: Why is it necessary?

Lavender is a very popular plant in the garden, and it also thrives in pots on balconies and terraces. It releases a wonderful fragrance in the summer, attracts insects, and the pretty flowers add vibrant colours to the garden.

However, lavender originates from a much warmer climate, so the temperatures here, especially in the winter, can be tough for it. That’s why it’s important to take certain precautions when overwintering lavender and, like with other plants, prepare it for the colder months ahead of time.

Lavender in pots needs good protection from the cold in winter. Even lavender in garden beds should be overwintered properly, to ensure it brings you joy again in the next gardening season.

It’s best to place potted lavender in a dry spot sheltered from easterly winds. Position it close to a house wall, where it will be protected from rain. If necessary, water it occasionally to ensure the root ball doesn’t dry out completely.

Lavender can also cope if the root ball temporarily freezes as long as the soil is airy and dry enough.

When wrapping your potted lavender for the winter, use bubble wrap to keep it warm. Although it might not be the most attractive option, small air chambers effectively keep out the cold. Start by wrapping this material around the pot. Then, cover it with a layer of jute. This not only conceals the less appealing bubble wrap but also provides additional warmth for the plants outside.

Alternatively, you can wrap the pot in a suitably sized winter protection fleece, ensuring it extends about 10 cm above the pot’s edge. Secure all materials tightly with string.

Instead of wrapping the pot, you can place the lavender, along with its container, in a wooden box. The box should be about twice the size of the pot. Fill the box with bark mulch. This natural material provides good insulation and protects the roots of the plants from frost during winter. If you are planning to plant in containers here’s how to do it.

French lavender tolerates frost much worse than true lavender. Therefore, it is best planted in pots or containers in this country. For overwintering, it’s advisable to bring the plant indoors. A bright spot with temperatures between 5 °C and 10 °C is ideal. Unheated rooms or a conservatory are good places for overwintering French lavender during the winter months.

If you live in a region with very mild winters, you can also overwinter French lavender outdoors. However, the plant should be well-rooted and somewhat older. Young French lavender does not cope well with cold temperatures at all. Protect the older and well-established lavender with fir branches and fleece to shield it from the cold.

During winter, water French lavender very sparingly and never allow the root ball to dry out completely. Starting in February, gradually acclimatise the plant to higher temperatures. Shortly after, you can move the lavender back to its original spot in the garden, balcony, or terrace.

Before moving the lavender outdoors, it’s the perfect opportunity for pruning and repotting. Use a sharp garden shear, such as the EasyPrune from Bosch. Its enhanced cutting power makes it particularly easy and clean to use, resulting in cuts that are well tolerated by the plants. If necessary, you can trim the roots of the lavender. This will encourage the plant to produce strong new growth in spring and summer.

Water the French lavender thoroughly after repotting it in the new container.

Lavender in garden beds requires good protection in winter to prevent frost from damaging the plant. In particular, the biting cold easterly winds can harm lavender. Unless you live in a very mild region, it’s important to provide suitable winter protection for your lavender. It’s best to do this when you are overwintering the rest of your garden.

Cover the stems at the base of the plant with a layer of bark mulch. Adding a layer of fir branches on top provides additional protection.

You can confidently plant lavender in the garden. We have the necessary tips on how to create a flower bed or a herb garden.

Lavender does not tolerate moisture well in winter. Therefore, potting soil is generally not suitable as a substrate for lavender. However, you will often find the plants sold in ordinary soil at garden centres.

It’s best to repot the lavender into a larger container immediately after purchase. Use herb soil or mix container plant soil with sand in a 1:1 ratio. Ensure that the soil in garden beds is also well-drained, otherwise, moisture can accumulate there and harm the lavender.

If you want to learn more about when certain gardening tasks are due, you can find out in our gardening calendar — the right time for all important activities.