Lavender & Herbs Care

Lavender & Herbs Care Guide

Lavender and herbs are wonderfully versatile plants — beautiful, fragrant, and useful in the kitchen. They thrive in sunny spots with free-draining soil and are surprisingly low-maintenance once established.

🌱 Soil: Light, well-drained (avoid heavy soil)
☀️ Sun: Full sun essential
💧 Water: Low to moderate (drought tolerant once established)
🌿 Feed: Minimal feeding needed
✂️ Prune: Trim regularly to keep compact
🌸 Flowers: Harvest to encourage new growth
🪴 Pots: Excellent in containers with drainage

🌱 Soil & Planting

  • Plant in light, well-drained soil — add grit to heavy clay soils to improve drainage
  • Lavender and most herbs hate sitting in wet or waterlogged conditions
  • Plant in spring or early autumn when the soil is warm
  • Space lavender plants 30–45cm apart to allow for spread and airflow

☀️ Position

  • Full sun is essential — at least 6 hours per day
  • A south or west-facing spot is ideal
  • Sheltered from cold, wet winds but with good air circulation

💧 Watering

  • Water young plants regularly until established
  • Once established, lavender and most herbs are drought tolerant
  • Overwatering is the most common cause of failure — always let the soil dry out between waterings

🌿 Feeding

  • Lavender and herbs need very little feeding — too much encourages leafy growth at the expense of fragrance and flavour
  • A light application of general fertiliser in spring is sufficient
  • Avoid high-nitrogen feeds

✂️ Pruning

  • Trim lavender after flowering (late summer) to keep it compact and prevent it becoming woody
  • Never cut back into old wood — cut into the green growth only
  • Pinch out the tips of herbs like basil and mint regularly to encourage bushy growth
  • Cut woody herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage) back lightly in spring

🌸 Harvesting

  • Harvest lavender just as the flowers begin to open for the best fragrance
  • Pick herbs little and often — regular harvesting encourages fresh new growth
  • Harvest in the morning after the dew has dried for the best flavour and fragrance

🪴 Growing in Pots

  • Lavender and herbs are excellent in containers — ideal for patios and windowsills
  • Use a free-draining compost mixed with grit or perlite
  • Ensure pots have good drainage holes
  • Water sparingly and feed lightly in spring