Lavender is a beautiful and popular perennial that can be grown in most areas of the U.S. However, it does have its limits. The warm summers and moderate winters of the Pacific Northwest are ideal for lavender, but what about those colder regions? Can you grow it there? And if so, how does it survive?
Here’s everything you need to know about frost tolerance for lavender!
Can Lavender Survive Frost?
Lavender is a perennial that can survive frost. The plant is hardy and will grow back from the roots if it does freeze, but it may suffer damage to its leaves and flowers. Frost can damage the plant, but lavender will recover on its own within a few weeks after the frost has passed.
On average, you should expect your lavender to live for two or three years before it dies out. This means that some plants will die after their first year while others may last up to five years before they finally give up the ghost. It all depends on how well they’re cared for and the amount of attention they receive throughout their lifetime.
How Tolerant Are Lavender To Cold Weather
Lavender is not a frost-tolerant plant, but it can tolerate cold weather in certain areas. If you want to plant lavender in your garden, then you should check the USDA Hardiness Zone map or consult with a local nursery to find out how cold-tolerant your variety of lavender will be.
Lavenders can survive temperatures as low as -5 degrees F (-20 degrees C), but they don’t have much tolerance for freezing conditions. The best way to protect your lavenders from freezing temperatures is by planting them in an area that receives full sunlight all day long and where they’re protected from strong winds that might damage their delicate stems.
How To Protect Your Lavender From Frost
If you’re worried about the lavender in your garden from frost, there are a few things you can do.
First, you’ll want to cover up your plants with a frost blanket or sheet. If this isn’t possible for whatever reason (a lack of fabric, space constraints), another option would be to place an old blanket or sheet over the lavender plants.
You can also put up tarps to protect them from the cold wind that could cause damage if left exposed overnight.
If any of these options aren’t feasible for where you live—or if it’s too late at this point—you should bring the lavender inside before bedtime and leave them there until morning when it’s warm enough again outside!
Caring For Lavender During The Winter
Now that it’s winter, your lavender plants are going to be dormant. That means they will not be growing and blooming until spring, but they still need some attention.
1. Water them properly – This is the most important step in caring for lavender during the winter. You don’t want to overwater them, as this can cause root rot, but neither do you want to let them dry out completely. The best way to know when to water them is by feeling the soil with your fingers or getting down on all fours and looking at the top of the soil for signs of moisture.
If it feels dry, then it’s time to water your plants again. If you have time, let the potting soil dry out a bit between waterings so that it doesn’t stay wet all of the time, which can cause mold or mildew problems later on when the weather warms up again in the springtime.
2. Mulch around them – This will help keep roots warm during cold temperatures (as long as it doesn’t get too deep). Just make sure that if you are using mulch around your plant pots or containers that will cover its roots completely.
What Temperatures Will Kill Lavender
Lavender plants should never be allowed to freeze or they will die. Temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (—12 degrees Celsius) will kill the plant if it remains below freezing for more than two hours at a time.
If you live in an area where temperatures drop below this level during the winter months, then you should bring your lavender indoors for the winter months or risk losing your precious plants.
Can I Overwinter Lavender?
The answer is yes, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
You’ll need to lift the entire plant and store it in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. You can hang your lavender upside down to make sure they don’t go moldy or rot while they’re in storage.
If you’re lucky enough to live in an area where there are no frosts during winter (or if you have a greenhouse), then planting your lavender outside again next spring is fine! However, if you do experience frost and/or temperatures below freezing at night throughout winter months, this method won’t work for you: Your plants will die off due to cold damage.
The best way to overwinter lavender plants is by potting them up into small pots or 4-inch deep containers filled with well-draining potting soil before the first hard frost hits – that way they still remain upright rather than just lying on their side like when hung upside down from hooks or nails on walls! They should be kept indoors until all risk of frost has passed then planted back out outdoors once danger from cold weather has passed too (usually around May).
Conclusion
There you have it! Now you know how to care for your lavender during the winter. The most important thing is to keep the soil moist and make sure that the roots stay warm. If you live in an area where there’s a chance of frost, protect your plants with plastic sheeting or move them indoors.
