Spring Awakening: Caring for Your Lavender After Winter
- Amanda Reisen
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
As winter fades and the first signs of spring begin to emerge, our lavender plants are starting to shake off the chill and wake from their dormancy. If you've noticed your lavender looking a bit dry, silver-grey, and lifeless after the colder months, don’t worry – it’s just a sign that your plant is preparing for its annual spring rebirth.
Lavender, particularly the Phenomenal variety, is a resilient plant, but it still requires a little extra care and attention as it transitions from its winter dormancy into the warmer months. Let’s take a closer look at what you might see in your lavender at this time of year and how to give it the best start for a vibrant spring and summer.
What Does Lavender Look Like After Winter?
The first thing you’ll notice about lavender as spring begins to approach is its appearance. Over the winter months, lavender plants naturally enter a dormant state. During this time, their foliage may appear dry, silver-grey, and somewhat weathered. This is completely normal. The plant is essentially conserving energy, preparing for the warmer weather that will soon bring it back to life.
However, while the outer leaves may look dried out, look a little closer, and you’ll see a promising sign of life: those tiny green sprigs emerging from the base of the plant or the tips of branches. These fresh, vibrant shoots are your lavender's way of signaling that it’s waking up. It’s these new green growths that will soon become the lush foliage you expect from a thriving lavender plant.
Caring for Lavender as It Wakes Up
As your lavender starts to stir, there are a few important things to keep in mind to help it make a smooth transition from winter dormancy to spring growth.
1. Check the Soil Drainage
Lavender doesn’t like to be soggy, so it’s important to ensure that the soil around your plant is well-drained. As the weather warms up and rain becomes more frequent, check the drainage in the pot or garden bed where your lavender is planted. If necessary, amend the soil with sand or small gravel to improve drainage. In pots, make sure there are proper drainage holes to prevent water from pooling around the roots.
2. Watering Needs
During the dormant winter months, lavender requires very little water. As spring approaches and the plant begins to grow, you’ll want to slowly increase your watering. Lavender is drought-tolerant, so make sure you don’t overwater. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. This will encourage strong, deep root growth and healthy, resilient plants.
3. Fertilizing and Lavender
From our experience, lavender doesn’t require a lot of fertilizer. In fact, over-fertilizing can do more harm than good. Lavender thrives in lean, well-drained soil, and too much fertilizer can encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers. Avoid using fertilizers with high nitrogen content, as this can lead to leggy, weak growth that struggles to produce the fragrant blooms you’re hoping for.
5. Give It Plenty of Sun
Lavender thrives in full sunlight, so as the days get longer, make sure your plant is getting at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. If you’ve had your lavender in a spot that’s been a little too shaded during the winter, now is the perfect time to move it to a sunnier location. This will encourage strong growth and promote the vibrant purple blooms that are so characteristic of lavender.
Final Thoughts
Though your lavender may look a little rough around the edges after winter, it’s simply entering its next stage of growth. By ensuring proper drainage, and giving it the care and attention it needs, your lavender will soon be thriving once again. The green sprigs you’re starting to see are a hopeful sign that your Phenomenal lavender is gearing up for a fantastic spring and summer, full of fragrant blooms and vibrant foliage.
Keep an eye on your lavender as it comes back to life – with a little care and patience, it will reward you with stunning beauty and a lovely fragrance all season long!
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