Lavender is a perennial plant that, with good care and appropriate conditions, can live for 20 to 30 years - but only if it is planted out in the garden. Potted lavender rarely reaches such an old age, although eight to ten years are not uncommon here either. However, as lavender grows older, it may become necessary to transplant it from its original location after a few years. Lavender that is kept exclusively in a pot should be regularly moved to a larger pot.
When and how should you transplant lavender?
In order to successfully transplant a lavender, it is important to do this in spring or at the beginning of August at the latest to ensure that there are no more night frosts to be expected and that the roots have enough time to be firmly in the new soil before the winter break to grow in.
If possible, move lavender before it sprouts
Garden lavender that has grown too large or plants that you simply want (or need) to move to another location should be dug up and moved in spring if possible. It is important that there are no frosts - especially no night frosts! – more can be expected so that the roots can take root again without damaging disturbances. However, if you want to transplant the lavender later, for example because the spring was cold and wet, the last possible time to do so is in July orno later than the beginning of August. The roots need enough time to grow firmly into the new soil before the winter break.
Implement lavender
It is not easy to plant lavender undamaged, because the plant not only develops a widely branched network of roots, but also very deep taproots. If the roots are damaged too badly, the plant can, in the worst case, die. In most cases, however, it will recover after one to two years at the latest, provided you have dug up the root ball as large as possible. And this is how you proceed when moving the plant:
- First dig a sufficiently large and deep hole at the new location.
- This should be about a third wider than the plant and twice as deep.
- If necessary, you must mix a suitable substrate and ensure drainage.
- The plant should not be trimmed before digging.
- Now dig up the plant you want to move.
- Start outside the crown of the leaves and as low as possible.
- Try to damage as few roots as possible.
- After digging the plant, carefully remove the soil and inspect the roots for damage.
- If necessary, carry out a root cut, whereby the cutting edge should be as slanted as possible.
- Place the plant with the root ball in the new planting hole and fill it with soil.
- Press the soil firmly.
- Water thoroughly.
- Now you can prune the lavender as usual.
You can finally use the pruning for cuttings.
Repot potted lavender regularly
In contrast to garden lavender, with potted lavender it is relatively unimportant when you transplant it into a larger pot. It is only important that this does not happen during winter rest, but either in spring or summer. The new pot should always be at least a third larger than the old one - the widely branched roots of the lavender require a lot of space.
Tips & Tricks
Pots made of clay or terracotta are particularly suitable for potted lavender because excess moisture evaporates better from them than from plastic pots. Plastic is particularly susceptible to the formation of waterlogging and is therefore not suitable for lavender.
