Lavender may look delicate, but with the right winter care, it can thrive even in the bitter cold. Whether it’s selecting the right variety or adjusting your care routine, a few strategic steps can make the difference between vibrant survival and winter damage.
Here are seven techniques to give your lavender the best shot at enduring the frost and greeting spring strong.
1. Assess Your Lavender Variety
Start by identifying the type of lavender you have. Some varieties are more cold-hardy than others. For example, English and intermedia lavenders can withstand colder temperatures, while French lavender is more sensitive to frost.
Knowing your lavender’s hardiness will help you decide how much protection it needs during the winter.
2. Early Fall Is the Best Time
The best time to winterize your lavender is early to mid-fall, before the weather gets too cold. This is usually around late September to early October, depending on where you live.
By this time, your lavender plants have finished blooming, and it’s a good moment to prepare them for winter. You should also pay attention to the first frost date in your area. This date is when temperatures drop low enough to damage tender plants.
Doing this ensures that your plants have enough time to recover from any trimming or care you give them before the cold hits.
3. Prune Your Lavender
Timing is important when it comes to pruning. You don’t need to prune your lavender in the fall, but a light trim after the last flowers fade can help. Just skip the trim within six weeks of your first frost date.
This trim can remove any sprawling branches that might break under the weight of ice and snow. This is especially important for English lavender (hardy in Zones 5 to 9), which can survive outdoors in northern climates.
When you prune, shape your lavender into a low mound. This shape is beneficial because it allows snow to act as insulation, keeping your lavender warm rather than weighing down its branches.
4. Mulch around the Base
Applying mulch is essential for winterizing your lavender. Use a 2-4 inch layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, around the base of the plants. This layer provides insulation for the roots, helps retain moisture, and prevents weeds from growing.
Mulching also regulates soil temperature and keeps moisture in during the dry winter months, ensuring your lavender has a better chance of thriving in spring.
5. Adjust Your Watering Routine
As temperatures drop, your lavender will need less water. Be mindful of this change. Make sure the soil dries out between waterings to avoid root rot, especially if your lavender is potted. This adjustment helps keep your plants healthy and ready for the next growing season.
6. Protect Your Potted Lavender
If you live in an area where temperatures fall below 40°F (4°C), it’s wise to move your potted lavender indoors. Place them in a bright spot where they can receive plenty of sunlight.
To provide extra insulation for pots left outside, wrap them with materials like burlap or bubble wrap. This helps protect the roots from freezing temperatures, ensuring your lavender remains safe throughout the winter.
7. Cover Plants & Put Windbreaks
In very cold climates, protect lavender with frost fabric or an upturned cardboard box filled with mulch to shield it from frost and snow.
Adding windbreaks, such as natural barriers or structures, also helps reduce exposure to harsh winter winds, preventing cold damage and supporting winter survival.
Assess your lavender variety, prune as needed, mulch, adjust watering, and insulate potted plants. With these steps, your lavender will be ready to bloom beautifully when spring arrives.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.