When the lavender turns brown and looks dried out, many gardeners reflexively reach for the watering can. However, this can actually lead to the death of the plant, because the Mediterranean shrub can dry out for two reasons: on the one hand, because it was not watered enough and also because the roots rot due to too frequent and incorrect watering. That's why you should first investigate the cause and only then take the appropriate measures.
Why did my lavender dry up?
Lavender can dry out if it receives either too little or too much water. If there is too little water, the stems are brown on the inside; if the roots rot due to waterlogging, they are green on the inside. Lavender should be watered when the soil is superficially dry, but waterlogging should be avoided.
Drought due to too little water
In our latitudes, it is rare for lavender to dry out due to drought. Garden plants are at little risk in summer, as they develop a wide and deep network of roots that are able to get the moisture they need from the ground even in hot summers. However, you should keep a close eye on your planted lavender during prolonged dry periods: If the plants let their leaves droop, it's time for a spray from the watering can. Potted lavender, which actually needs to be watered regularly, is much more at risk of drying out - but only when the surface of the soil has already dried out.
Lavender dries up, especially in winter
Lavender does not dry out - as one would expect - only in the hot summer, but especially in winter. The combination of sun and frost in particular endangers plants because the sun causes the necessary moisture to evaporate before the leaves can absorb it. However, you should only water if the ground is not frozen.
Drought caused by waterlogging
Far more common than too little, lavender dries out due to too much water. At first glance, this seems absurd - after all, how can a plant dry out even though it is watered? The solution to the puzzle is as follows: Too much water and waterlogging cause root rot, which means that the roots cannot absorb or can no longer absorb enough water and pass it on to the above-ground parts of the plant. The result is that the lavender dries up at the top, even though the roots are literally drowned. The plants can sometimes be saved by repotting or transplanting them.
Check stems
But how do you know what type of drought it is? This is relatively easy to determine by looking closely at a few stems and scoring them. If the lavender has dried out due to too little water, the stems will also be brown inside. However, if there is root rot, the stems are often still green inside.
Tips & Tricks
Although lavender needs little water, freshly planted bushes should still be watered more regularly and, above all, directly at the root. Their roots have not yet been able to anchor themselves sufficiently in the ground and are therefore not properly able to absorb sufficient moisture.