Lavender Tree As A Sapling For Bed And Pot

When you think of lavender, you probably think of broad beds full of purple flowers. We show that lavender can also be planted like a tree in beds and pots.

The lavender tree ( Lavandula ) can hardly be found in home gardens. The designation as a tree or a perennial is actually nonsense in this context because from a botanical point of view, lavender is one of the subshrubs. These naturally lignify with increasing age and, with appropriate training, can even form a trunk. Such a lavender as a high trunk is definitely a special eye-catcher for the garden or on the balcony.

The planting and care of the lavender tree differ only slightly in the procedure for lavender in the form of a bush. In this article, we have summarized the most important points for you, so that this rarity may soon be found in your garden. You can also find more general information about lavender here.

Basically, the same rules apply to planting the lavender tree as to lavender in general. Not all varieties in our latitudes can withstand the cold temperatures outdoors. Therefore, at least a temporary cultivation in the pot may be necessary. We explain below what you need to consider when planting in the bed and the pot.

Plant the lavender tree in the bed

Whether the high trunk is hardy depends on the lavender variety from which it was grown. The only hardy species is probably only the real lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ). Varieties of the spear lavender ( Lavandula latifolia ) and the crested lavender ( Lavandula stoechas ) require special protective measures to survive the cold months in the field undamaged.

Once the right variety has been found, you should choose a warm, sunny spot for your lavender tree with a well-drained, rather nutrient-poor soil. If necessary, you can mix heavy soils with a little sand. When planting the lavender tree, make sure that the planting hole is large enough and that there is enough distance to other plants.

Planting lavender tree in a pot

If you prefer to be on the safe side, you can also cultivate your lavender tree all year round in a pot or tub. So in autumn, you have the opportunity to easily move it to a cool winter quarter in the house or garage. A sheltered place in the garden or on the balcony is suitable as a location for the summer months. When planting, however, you should make sure that the planter is large enough, because the roots of the lavender need a lot of space. It is best to fill the bucket with a substrate that is rather poor in nutrients. High-quality herbal soil is ideal for this. For greater permeability, you can add sand to the substrate.

Maintaining the lavender tree

When it comes to caring for lavender, basically the same rules apply to any other lavender. We have summarized the most important points for you below:

Watering the lavender tree

When cultivating in the garden bed, you only need to water lavender during prolonged dry periods, whereas the lavender tree should be watered more regularly. However, it is essential to ensure that there is sufficient water drainage in pot cultivation because the lavender tree does not tolerate waterlogging well.

Fertilize lavender tree

The Mediterranean herb grows naturally on nutrient-poor soils. Single fertilization when planting is, therefore, more than sufficient. In the following years, an annual application of fertilizer at the beginning of the growth phase (March / April) is sufficient. It is best to use a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect to provide your lavender tree with sufficient nutrients over a longer period of time. Our 100 percent animal-free Gardender organic universal fertilizer is ideal. In pot culture, additional second fertilization at the beginning of flowering (end of June / beginning of July) optimally supports your lavender tree.

Pruning lavender tree

Most of the time, lavender is only known as a bushy shrub. So that you can enjoy your lavender tree for a long time, you should cut it regularly so that the high trunk does not grow wild and, in the worst case, reverts to its natural growth shape. Basically, the same rules should be followed as with normal lavender. When you cut the lavender tree, all you really need to do is trim the crown. In spring (March / April), when no more frost is expected, about one to two-thirds of the new shoots can be cut back, making sure that the crown is as round as possible. You can make a second cut after flowering by the beginning of August at the latest. In this summer cut, only the faded stems are cut off to stimulate a second flowering. However, always be careful not to cut into the old wood.

You can find more information about the correct care of lavender here.

Lavender Tree: Suitable varieties and types of lavender

In principle, any type of lavender can be grown as a standard stem. Vigorous varieties are particularly suitable here. But patience is required here because a lavender bush or cuttings cannot be raised into a handsome lavender tree overnight. For a few years, you have to cut back the lavender correctly and take care of optimal care.

We can recommend the following types of lavender:

• ‘Hidcote Blue’: Proven, English variety of real lavender with dark blue-violet flowers; strongly fragrant; growing slowly and compactly.
• ‘Dwarf Blue’: Medium-high variety of real lavender with gray-green foliage and purple flowers; is well suited as a bed border and scented hedge.
• ‘Anouk’: Copy lavender with dark purple flowers; the long flowering period from May to August; bushy growth; intense, pleasant fragrance

A comprehensive collection of types of real lavender can be found here.