Of 400,000 flowering plants known to exist, lavender and roses are two flowers often planted together due to the similarities in their growing conditions. If you plan on having this combination in your garden but do not know how to grow them, do not worry! We have researched everything you need to know to ensure they bloom in unison. Here's what we found:
You must follow the following points to grow lavender and roses together successfully.
1. Provide the best spot for the sunlight needs.
2. Put the correct distance between the two kinds of flowers.
3. Customize the soil by adjusting the pH level, soil texture, and amount of fertilizer according to the flower's needs.
4. Supply them with the right amount of water.
Sounds easy, right? That may be true, but that is not all you need to know about this topic. In the next section, we will discuss each step thoroughly to give you a detailed guide. And as you read, you will learn the answers to essential queries, such as what kind of roses will match the color of the lavender, and do lavenders and roses smell good together? Let's start!
Tips On Growing Lavenders And Roses Together
Lavender and roses make a lovely combination as they bloom together in your garden. However, achieving this will not be an easy task if you do not know what they need as a pair and individually to allow them to grow together. Luckily, we're here to help. Let us begin with where you should locate them.
1. Make Sure They Are In Full Sun
One of the reasons why lavenders and roses grow so well together is because they both need full sun. Make sure they are both situated in a spot where they can absorb enough sunlight. That way, they will have sufficient energy to develop, flourish, and survive winter.
What will happen if they do not get enough sun? While they will still bloom, the flowers might be lower quality than you imagined. In the case of roses, they will have a dull color and will not bloom as big as they would have with full sun.
Meanwhile, lavender is much more sensitive to not having enough sunlight. First, it will be unable to produce many flowers. Second, it will have weaker stems, and lastly, the plant will be able to produce little volatile oil. So ensure they get at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to prevent these from happening.
2. Measure The Right Distance Between The Lavender And Rose
![Mayfield Lavender Field middle of the farm rows, How To Grow Lavender With Roses [Guide For Beginners]](https://gardentabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/How-To-Grow-Lavender-With-Roses-Guide-For-Beginners.png)
If there is a fact that you should always keep in mind, it's that lavender and roses are still two different flowers with specific needs. They require different soils and amounts of food and water, so they should have enough space to accommodate those needs. How big should that space be? Experts say 2 to 3 feet.
This number is essential. If the distance between the flowers is only 1 foot or less, they will fight over the nutrients that the smaller soil area has. While this may be okay for the lavenders, the roses may struggle since they are heavy feeders.
Aside from that, there are other advantages you can get from creating the 2 to 3 feet space, such as:
- Promotes airflow to prevent fungal diseases.
- Lessens the hassle while you are attending to each of the flower's needs.
- Contains the flowers from overshading each other during the growth season.
- Creates a barrier so that the other plant won't be negatively affected by the additional water or feed the other plant will have to consume.
3. Customise The Soil's Condition According To The Flower
Another secret to growing lavenders and roses together is to customize the soil where you plant them. The customization consists of the pH level, the soil type, and the amount of fertilizer.
Soil's pH Level
The soil's pH level for the roses' side of the flower bed must be between 6 and 6.5, while lavenders must need 6.5 to 8. But how will you know if your yard's soil has these levels of acid or alkaline?
To give you an idea of the pH level in your yard, the Eastern, Southeastern, and Pacific Northwest regions have a higher acid level in their soil. Meanwhile, those states in the Western region (excluding the Pacific Northwest) have higher alkaline content. The most straightforward reason they have different pH levels is that it rains more often in the first set of areas mentioned above.
The soil in Midwest and Great Lake areas have a neutral pH level because of their location. But of course, these are just generalizations. You should still use tools such as a pH meter and color comparator to get an accurate measurement.
After that, you can adjust the soil pH until you get the desired level. To raise the acidity, mix a pine needle, woodchips, sulfur, or vinegar in your soil and let your preferred medium decompose. On the other hand, Lime, Calcium Carbonate, and wood ash can raise the alkalinity.
Watch the video below to give you more detailed instructions about adjusting the soil pH.
Soil Type Or Texture
Aside from the pH level, ensure you have the appropriate soil type for the lavender and rose. Even though they both prefer well-drained soil, their amount of moisture and organic matter differs. Roses prefer more moisture and decomposed organic matter, while lavender requires a dryer and lower organic content.
The ingredient to make loamy soil for roses the mixture should be:
- 1/3 coarse sand
- 1/3 clay
- 1/3 decayed organic matter
To make sandy soil for lavenders, mix the following:
- 3/10 course sand
- 7/10 organic compost mixture
Amount Of Fertilizer
Lavender and roses do not have the same schedule of being fed additional nutrients. You will need to provide fertilizer to the roses thrice a year (during spring, summer, and autumn), while lavenders only require feeding once a year (during spring).
4. Water The Flowers With The Amount They Need
Below is a watering schedule of roses and lavenders during the growing season.
Roses:
- Established Roses - Once a week (2 gallons)
- Newly Planted Roses - three to four times a week (2 gallons)
Lavenders:
- Established Roses - Once a week (1 gallon)
- Newly Planted Roses - Every two weeks (1/2 gallon)
During winter, you do not need to water the roses and lavenders as they go dormant.
Note that you should avoid overhead watering for these flowers. Instead, use drip irrigation or pour the water at their stem bases. And make sure that the water you supply to the roses will not get into the lavender's area, as these flowers don't need as much water. Overwatering can cause root rot and death to the plant.
Are you wondering if you can grow lavender in clay soil? Read this article to know the answer: Can Lavender Grow In Clay Soil?
What Roses Go Well With Lavender?
Lavenders look good when paired with pink, red, and apricot roses. Below are some of the examples, organized by color, that you can choose from.
Pink:
- Ballerina Rose
- Cecile Brunner Rose
- Americal Beauty Rose Flower
- Carefree Wonder Shrub Roses
- Old Blush Climber China Rose
Apricot
- Royal Sunset
- Loving Touch
- Apricot Drift
- Gruss an Coburg
- Marilyn Monroe
Red:
- Cherry Parfait
- Hot Cocoa
- Modern Fireglow
- Stars 'n' Stripes Forever
- Crimson Glory
Do you want to learn how you can overwinter Mona Lavender? You can find all the information you need here: How To Overwinter Mona Lavender.
Do Rose and Lavender Smell Good Together?
Yes, Lavender and Rose smell good together. The essential oils extracted from these two flowers are often combined to create a calming vibe in a space. Not only that, but their individual smells can also positively affect people.
According to research, rose fragrance improves a person's learning and memory skills. Aromatherapists are even using rose smell to heal anxiety and stress. At the same time, the lavender scent is proven by science to prevent postpartum depression and promote relaxation to the person inhaling them.
But did you know that some people still do not know what compost smells like? If you are one of them, check out this article: What Should Compost Smell Like?
What Does Lavender Keep Away?
Lavender oil and fragrance can repel insects, particularly mosquitoes, fleas, moths, and flies. To use this flower as a repellant, you can hang it in any part of the room or keep it close to you by putting it inside your pocket.
You can also use essential oils that are available in the market instead.
Check out this lavender oil on Amazon.
In Summary
There are four points you need to follow to grow lavenders and roses together successfully strictly. First, ensure that you will place them in a spot where they can get full sun. Second, there should be a two to three feet distance between the two kinds of flowers to give them enough space to get nutrients, prevent them from getting fungal diseases, and allow you to localize the soil.
Third, customize the soil according to what the rose and lavender need by adjusting the soil pH, soil texture, and the amount of fertilizer you will feed the plants. Lastly, supply the flowers with the right amount of water according to the season.