How to dry lavender

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Tuesday, 30 July 2019 at 2:01 pm

Enjoy the calming scent of lavender by drying it – we show you how.

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There are lots of ways you can enjoy lavender's fresh, calming scent.

The essential oils are produced in all parts of the plant, but especially in the flowers – so they're ideal for drying in generous bunches to be placed around the home. You could even use them in wedding bouquets.

To get the most scent, it's essential that you cut the flower heads before the individual florets have opened. The best cultivars for cutting and drying lavender in this way are those with long flower spikes, such as 'Grosso' and 'Sawyers'.

After more ways to use lavender? Scent your baths with by creating a lavender bath bag or this lavender bath oil. Don't forget to boost your stock of these beautiful plants by taking lavender cuttings.

Learn how to dry lavender in just three easy steps, below.

You Will Need

Lavender
Secateurs
Soft string or twine

Step 1

Select stems with long, well-developed spikes of flowers that are ready to open. Cut just below the first leaves.

Step 2

Make neat bunches by holding the stems just below the flower heads. Cut them to an even length and pick off all leaves.

Step 3

Tying the lavender bunch together with twine

Tie the stems together with soft string or raffia and hang the bunch in a cool, dry place to retain the oils as they dry off.

Leggy lavender?

Lavenders can be prone to legginess and growing out of shape – but the solution to keeping them bushy and compact is simple, you just need to prune them in summer. Watch Monty Don summer prune lavender.