Where & How to Plant Lavender as a Ground Cover

Keep It on the Down Low

• According to the Colorado State University Extension, plant varieties used for ground cover should generally be less than 24 inches tall. Low-growing lavender cultivars include "Nana Alba" (Lavandula angustifolia "Nana Alba"), a white-flowered variety that grows up to 24 inches tall, "Loddon Pink" (Lavandula angustifolia "Loddon Pink"), a light pink-flowered plant that grows up to 18 inches tall and "Munstead" (Lavandula angustifolia "Munstead), a semi-evergreen, blue-flowered variety that grows 12 to 18 inches tall. "Nana Alba" and "Loddon Pink" may be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9, while "Munstead" is best in USDA zones 5 to 8.

Location, Location, Location

• Natives of the Mediterranean, lavenders require at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Lavender plants will not tolerate compacted soil and must be grown in a very well-draining soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Space plants according to the width on the label: If a plant grows 12 inches wide, space plants 12 inches apart. Overcrowding can cause disease, while planting the lavender too far apart will result in a patchy ground cover.

Weed Woes

• Before planting, remove all existing weeds. Weeds can impede the establishment of a healthy ground cover, competing with the lavender for moisture and nutrients and providing a habitat for insects and disease. Colorado State University Extension recommends using weed barrier fabrics, which can be attached to the soil with U-shaped wire pins. Cut a slit in the fabric, plant the lavender and then cover with mulch. You can also pull weeds by hand or use a glyphosate herbicide, applied to the weeds 10 to 14 days before planting. Dilute two tablespoons of herbicide in one gallon of water and spray weeds evenly, unless otherwise instructed by the label.

Perfect Planting

• In the spring, use a trowel to dig a hole just deep enough to fit the plant's root ball. Sunshine lavender farm recommends mixing two large handfuls of 1-inch round stones mixed with a half cup equal parts bone meal, lime and well-composted manure. Water the lavender deeply about an hour before planting, then carefully remove soil from around the roots and place the plant in the prepared hole. Fill the rest of the hole with soil and water. Once established, lavender thrives on neglect.