How to Landscape With Lavender in a Corner of my Yard

Locate a corner that receives full sun with well-drained, dry soil.

Select one or several varieties of lavender appropriate for your zone and for your gardening intentions. If you intend to make scented sachets, select varieties such as "Sachet" and "Provence." Mix up the species of lavender to include taller varieties, such as Lavendula heterophylla or Lavandula x allardii, giant lavender, if they are hardy in your area.

Determine how much space you wish to devote to your garden, and read the planting sticker for the variety or varieties you've chosen to determine the space each plant will need. It's acceptable to over-plant an area initially if you're willing to sacrifice some plants when they start to fill in the area.

Obtain your lavender plants and put them in position in your intended lavender garden. Place taller varieties of lavender in the point of the corner. Arrange the next tallest varieties along the fence or property line.

Add lime at a rate of 5 lbs. for each 10 foot by 10 foot area to the intended lavender garden if your soil is acidic. Top dress the garden area with compost. Repeat liming every fall and topdressing with compost every spring.

Dig a hole as deep as the lavender pot and twice as wide. Place the lavender in the center of the hole and replace the dirt, firming the dirt around the sides of the hole to remove air pockets.

Water generously when you first plant the lavender and twice a week until it is well established. After lavender is established, it is drought tolerant.

Add 2 inches of light-colored mulch to help retain water.

In September, trim the green part of the plant, leaving a few inches of leaves but not the woody part of the plant. In the spring, prune the lavender again by one-third of its size without cutting into the woody part of the plant and leaving several inches of green leaves again. This double trimming may slow the speed that your lavender attains height but will increase branching and blooming.