Drought Tolerant Companion Plants For Lavenders

Creating a garden with lavender and other drought-tolerant plants is a brilliant approach to water-wise gardening. The following tips will help you plan and establish a beautiful, low-maintenance garden:

• Understand your Soil: Lavender thrives in well-draining, sandy or gravelly soil. Before planting, ensure your soil drains well by adding organic matter or gravel to improve its structure.
• Plan your Design: Lavenders are medium-sized plants that can be used as mid-border plants. Consider layering your plantings with taller, drought-tolerant shrubs or trees in the background and shorter plants or groundcovers in the front.
• Planting: Dig a hole twice the size of your plant’s root ball. Place your lavender plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole and firm the soil gently around the plant. Repeat this with your chosen companion plants, remembering to consider their mature sizes when determining planting distances.
• Watering: Once planted, water thoroughly. Lavenders are drought-tolerant but will need watering during dry spells until they are fully established, which typically takes a year.
• Mulching: Apply a light mulch around your plants to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Be sure not to mound mulch against the plant stems, as this can cause rot.
• Maintenance: Once established, these plants require little maintenance. Prune lavender after flowering to maintain shape and promote vigorous, bushy growth. Other plants will have their own pruning needs.

By selecting the right companion plants and providing appropriate care, you can create a stunning, drought-tolerant garden that thrives in a variety of conditions and provides year-round interest.