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Grow Your Own Lavender Hedge From Seed For Pennies
Growing A Lavender Hedge From Seed
OK….so it’s way easier to just propagate lavender, but I didn’t know that when I bought the seeds during lockdown. This is how we created our lavender hedge from seed.
From 300 seeds grown on window sills around the house & on a single bed where the sunlight hit the room.
Lightly watered once a week for 6 months. From March to October
We got 100 of them outside to be weathered in September & 78 made it into the ground. We since propagated a further 20+ from cuttings of these plants to add into to any spaces needed to fill it out fully.
>>Lots didn’t grow at all
>>Lots died moving to bigger pots**
>>Lots died when being weathered outside.
**we used cups & cup up the bottom of plastic bottles with drainage holes in as they were taller for the roots & covered them with brown paper so light would not damage the roots
BUT…. it cost us pennies to create such a huge display of lavender and well worth the time put in.
Read more in our blog posts about our lavender:
PRUNING LAVENDER:
Pruning Lavender: Tips for a Healthier, Bushier Plant
LAVENDER TOILET BOMBS:
DIY Lavender Toilet Bombs: Freshen Your Bathroom with Just 3 Ingredients
Video Reel: July 2023 The Process
Starting from Seed
Growing lavender from seed requires patience and attention to detail, as the seeds can be slow to germinate. The process begins with sowing the seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, around February or March. Use seed trays or small pots filled with a light, well-draining seed compost. Scatter the lavender seeds thinly over the surface and lightly cover them with a thin layer of fine compost. Lavender seeds need light to germinate, so avoid burying them too deeply. We had ours on windowsills and on a bed that directly got the light from the windowsill in doors.
To encourage germination, maintain a temperature of around 15-21°C (59-70°F). Using a propagator or covering the trays with a clear plastic lid can help create the warm, humid environment needed for germination. Keep the compost consistently moist but not waterlogged, as too much water can cause the seeds to rot. We always bottom water our seeds, so adding a tray underneath the trays or pots and watering into that tray. Only 1″ a week is enough. Check out our you tube video on how we prevent mould in our toilet roll tube pots. Germination can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, so patience is key.
Choosing the Right Lavender Variety
When growing lavender in Scotland (or any part of UK) it’s essential to select varieties that are hardy and can withstand the cooler temperatures and higher rainfall typical of the region. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most suitable variety for Scottish conditions due to its hardiness and resilience. Popular cultivars like ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead’ are excellent choices, as they are known for their compact growth, vibrant colour, and strong fragrance.
Transplanting Seedlings
Once the seedlings have developed a couple of true leaves and are large enough to handle, they can be transplanted into individual pots. Continue growing them indoors or in a greenhouse until all risk of frost has passed, typically around late May to early June in Scotland. At this stage, it’s important to gradually acclimatise the young plants to outdoor conditions through a process called hardening off.
This involves placing the plants outside during the day and bringing them back indoors at night over the course of a week and at this hardening off stage you may lose some more of the plants as they just cannot adapt well to the changing environment and that’s normal at this stage, you only want to be planting out the strongest ones to continue to grow. We left ours outside for a month before planting on.
Preparing the Planting Site
Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. In Scotland, where heavy clay or acidic soils are common, it’s essential to improve drainage and adjust the pH if necessary. Incorporate plenty of grit or sand into the soil to enhance drainage. A raised bed, pots with gravel drainage at the bottom or a south-facing slope can also help improve drainage and sunlight exposure. We have ours planted on a slope so we don’t need to worry about water logging.
Planting and Spacing
For a dense, attractive hedge, space the lavender plants about 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) apart. This spacing allows the plants to grow together and form a continuous hedge while still providing enough room for air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases. Plant the lavender at the same depth they were in their pots, ensuring the crown of the plant is level with the soil surface.
Care and Maintenance
Water the lavender hedge regularly during its first growing season to help establish the plants. Once established, lavender is drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering, as excessive moisture can lead to root rot. In Scotland’s wetter climate, it’s crucial to avoid overwatering and ensure good drainage. We have not watered these since they were planted, they sort themselves out in our climate.
Pruning and Propagating
Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape and health of a lavender hedge. Trim the plants lightly in late summer after flowering, cutting back the spent flower stems and about one-third of the green growth. Avoid cutting into old, woody stems, as lavender does not readily regenerate from old wood. If you miss this time in Aug-Sept time then let them hibernate over winter and wait until early Spring before they start to grow again March-April. We have done both and they have not been affected by either, just continued to thrive.
Video Reel: Sept 2022 Pruning Process
Video Reel: Sept 2022 Propagating Process
Video Reel: Nov 2022 Propagating Update
Winter Protection
Although English lavender is hardy, it can still benefit from some winter protection in Scotland’s colder regions. Applying a mulch of gravel or straw around the base of the plants can help insulate the roots. Avoid using organic mulches that retain moisture, as lavender prefers drier conditions. Not something we have ever done but as I found it in my research I thought I would mention it for much colder areas.
With the right variety, careful nurturing, and a little patience, growing a lavender hedge from seed in Scotland can result in a stunning, fragrant addition to any garden, not to mention the HUGE cost savings you can make to produce a huge lavender hedge like ours. Propagation is also a much widely used option and easy to do with high results. The key lies in selecting the appropriate lavender type, ensuring good drainage, and providing proper care throughout the seasons.
Video Reel: Aug 2024 Present Day
Happy Gardening!
Katrina & Clayton and family live in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on instagram. They practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The 2 Grow and Learn Courses with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. He is Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated since 2018. Katrina & Peter hold their PDC & PDC PRO Permaculture Design Course from Oregon State University.
They featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens Ep23 2022 and returned in 2023 for an update, Katrina & Clayton are also columnists for ScotlandGrows Magazine, Guest Blog for Caledonian Horticulture as well as working with Gardeners’ World Magazine and many other brands.
They are also Author of the new Children’s Book Series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Topics on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing & Composting and 108 Page Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle. Listen in on their Guest Podcasts to learn more about them.
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Author of the new children’s book series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening and Sowing, Growing, Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle
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