Plant guide:ð Lavender
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Roots
Root Rot in Lavender
Commonly affects: Lavandula angustifolia / L. x intermedia (Lavender)
The plant wilts, foliage yellows or browns, and roots appear brown, mushy, and foul-smelling when checked, often the underlying cause of an otherwise unexplained decline.
Potential Causes
- 1Overwatering, by far the most common cause of lavender decline, since it's adapted to lean, dry Mediterranean soil
- 2Heavy clay or poorly-draining soil retaining too much moisture around roots
- 3Planting in a low spot where water collects after rain
Solution Steps
- 1Remove the plant and trim away all rotten roots with a sterilised blade if caught early enough
- 2Replant in a well-draining spot, amending heavy soil with grit or planting in a raised bed or mound
- 3Water far less frequently going forward, allowing soil to dry out between waterings
- 4Consider that severely rotted plants often can't be saved â take cuttings from any healthy remaining growth
Prevention Tip
Lavender fails from too much water far more often than too little â sharp drainage is more important than any other single factor in keeping it alive.
