While many garden favorites can be a magnet for bugs, lavender is one of those rare, lucky plants that hardly ever deals with pests. Here’s the lowdown on why lavender is so tough and what you need to know to keep yours healthy and pest-free.
Why Pests Give Lavender the Cold Shoulder
The secret is in the scent! Lavender produces essential oils that give off that amazing, intense fragrance we love—but most bugs absolutely hate it. Because of this, common garden nuisances like beetles, aphids, and spider mites usually give lavender a wide berth. You can even use lavender as a natural bodyguard in your vegetable patch to help keep slugs and snails away.
Some varieties are oil-heavy hitters, meaning they smell even stronger and do an even better job of warding off creepy crawlies. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), for example, is famous for its potent scent. Generally speaking, though, you won’t have much trouble with bugs regardless of which variety you plant. That said, if your lavender gets stressed or weakened, it can become vulnerable to other issues, like fungal infections.
What Makes Lavender Vulnerable?
Lavender usually only struggles when it’s unhappy with its environment or care routine. The biggest mistake you can make? Overwatering. Lavender hates “wet feet.” If the soil stays soggy or water pools around the base, you’re looking at root rot. Once the roots start rotting, the plant’s immune system tanks, making it an easy target for fungi or the occasional opportunistic pest.
How to water your lavender:
- Only water during long, dry heatwaves.
- Water sparingly and always ensure the soil drains well.
- Use rainwater or “stale” tap water (let it sit out for a bit) if possible.
You also want to make sure your lavender isn’t getting bullied by neighbors. If nearby plants grow too tall and start shading it out, your lavender will suffer. Sunlight is the fuel for the plant’s natural defenses. Make sure it gets plenty of direct sun and stays nice and warm throughout the summer. A sun-drenched lavender plant is a strong plant that can easily fend off pests and diseases on its own!
