Lavender: The garden's fragrant hero and how to grow it effectively

Although lavender is mainly associated with Provencal fields, it can be successfully grown in many other regions. This versatile plant is not only beautiful but also highly functional. Its intense fragrance repels mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests, making it an ideal addition to any garden.

Caring for lavender is not complicated but requires consistency. Regularly pruning shoots is vital, stimulating the plant for more vigorous growth. It is best to do this in early spring and after flowering in summer or early fall. This way, the lavender will maintain a compact form and bloom profusely.

Lavender grows best in sunny places where the soil is well-drained, light, and moist. Avoid planting it in the shade and in clayey, heavy soil, as this will make it difficult to bloom. To provide the lavender with adequate drainage, it’s worth adding clay aggregate, small stones, or broken pieces of clay pots to the bottom of the planting hole. The same applies to lavender grown in pots.

Proper watering is also essential. Lavender does not like excess water, so water it moderately once a week, pouring water directly onto the roots. Also, remember to fertilize appropriately. You can use special fertilizers for flowering plants, but homemade fertilizer also works excellently.

Creating homemade lavender fertilizer is simple and cheap. It can be prepared in two ways: fermented version, which is more robust, or non-fermented. The non-fermented version is weaker, which may be advisable if you plan to water vegetables, trees, and fruit bushes with it. Lavenders should be watered with fertilizer 1-2 times a week, and ornamental flowers should be watered less frequently every 3-4 weeks.

Dissolve 1.8 ounces (50 grams) of fresh yeast to strengthen lavender with natural fertilizer in 1.3 gallons (5 liters) of warm water. After an hour, the conditioner is ready to use. However, remember to dilute it in the proportion of 1 cup of fertilizer to 2.6 gallons (10 liters) of water. If you need a smaller amount, keep the proportion of 0.35 ounces (10 grams) of yeast per 0.26 gallons (1 liter) of water.

The fermented fertilizer is prepared by adding sugar and the same amount of water to the yeast. After a week of fermentation, the fertilizer is diluted like the non-fermented version.

Lavender is not only an ornamental plant. Its flowers can be used in homemade aromatic compositions, as a culinary addition, sachets for wardrobes, and even in the kitchen. Dried lavender flowers are significant in aromatherapy, helping with relaxation and improving sleep quality.