Lavender and blueberries are two very popular plants to grow in home gardens. Both thrive in similar growing conditions and can complement each other well in the landscape. Many gardeners wonder if these plants are compatible with planting together.
The answer is that, yes, in most cases, lavender and blueberries can be successfully planted together. Here is a more in-depth look at planting lavender with blueberries.
Growth Needs and Habitat
Lavender and blueberries share some key growth requirements that make them suitable to plant together.
Firstly, they both prefer well-draining, acidic soil with a pH between 5.5-6.5. This helps ensure the availability of important nutrients while preventing root rot issues.
In terms of sunlight, both plants thrive in full sun exposure of 6 or more hours per day. This provides the optimal growing conditions and helps maximize fruit and flower production. While some varieties may tolerate partial shade, full sun is ideal.
Temperature-wise, blueberries and lavender are compatible as well. They are well-suited to USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9, where average winter lows do not drop below 10-15°F. Having compatible hardiness zones means that both plants can endure the same winter climate.
With matching preferences for soil type, sunlight, and temperatures, lavender, and blueberries have suitable overlapping growth requirements to be planted together successfully. Their natural habitat needs are a good fit when combined with the home landscape.
Plant Spacing and Placement
When arranging blueberry bushes and lavender plants together, be sure to allow adequate spacing between individual plants.
For blueberries, the general recommendation is to space plants 3-5 feet apart. This allows enough room for the bushes to grow and encourages good air circulation.
Lavender plants can be spaced closer together at 1-2 feet between plants. However, when planting lavender amongst blueberry bushes, widen the spacing to 2-3 feet to avoid overcrowding and competition for resources.
In terms of placement, consider alternate or zig-zag patterns when arranging blueberries and lavender together rather than in straight rows. This helps maximize spacing and facilitates garden maintenance like weeding, pruning, and harvesting.
Planting near a fence, trellises, or garden wall is ideal as it provides support for the upright lavender stems. Also, consider their mature sizes – lavender typically reaches 1-3 feet tall, while bush blueberries can reach 3-6 feet, depending on the variety. Arrange plants accordingly based on mature widths.
With the right spacing and placement, these companion plants can thrive together without overcrowding or inhibiting each other’s growth. Their natural forms and sizes are also complementary in the landscape.
Benefits of Planting Together
Aside from complementary growth needs, lavender and blueberries offer benefits when planted alongside one another in the garden.
- Pollinator Attraction: Both lavender flowers and blueberry blooms are highly attractive to beneficial pollinators like bees. Planting them together provides a diversity of foraging resources throughout their flowering periods in spring/summer. This encourages greater pollinator activity in the garden.
- Pest and Disease Control: Interspersing different plant varieties helps disrupt the life cycles of common pests that may affect either plant alone. It also makes it more difficult for diseases to spread from plant to plant. The aromatic lavender may also help deter some insects.
- Ornamental Interest: The flowering display of lavender alongside the greenery and future berries of blueberry bushes provides visual interest. It extends the ornamental appeal and blooming season in the landscape. Both plants are also deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Note:
While not an absolute requirement for success, combining lavender and blueberries can offer advantages from an ecological and ornamental perspective. Their complementary growth needs make them very suitable to plant together.
Fertilizing and Care Tips
When maintaining a planting that combines lavender and blueberries, be sure to provide the appropriate fertilizing and care for each:
- Blueberries require acidic, nutrient-rich soil to thrive. An annual mulch and fertilizer high in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is beneficial. Chelated iron can also be applied to prevent chlorosis.
- Lavender is not especially fertile, but a balanced, organic fertilizer or compost tea can be applied occasionally for growth and bloom production. Too much nitrogen will result in soft growth.
- Water blueberry bushes deeply 1-2 times per week during heat and drought to maintain moist soil. Lavender is slightly more drought tolerant once established.
- Prune lavender annually after blooms fade to maintain size and shape. Prune blueberries lightly after harvesting to remove older canes and renew new growth.
- Control any pests like sap-sucking insects promptly according to organic or chemical control methods that are safe for both plants.
- Provide adequate winter protection or select hardy cultivars suited to your climate.
With the right cultural conditions and care practices tailored individually, lavender and blueberries can thrive together in the landscape. Consult your local extension office if needed.
Conclusion
Lastly, yes, lavender and blueberries can absolutely be planted together successfully in home gardens. Their overlapping growing zone hardiness, soil, sunlight, and temperature need to make them very compatible companion plants.
While not reliant on one another, interplanting them offers benefits like improved pest and disease resistance, more attractive ornamental features, and greater nectar and pollen resources for pollinators.
