Harvesting lavender is one of my favorite things to do in the garden this time of year. It only takes a few minutes, and there are so many ways to use it once it is dry.
If you have never harvested your own lavender before, it is really simple. Here is how I do it.
When to cut lavender
The best time to harvest lavender is when about half of the buds on a stem have opened. You do not want the flowers fully bloomed or still tightly closed.
I like to harvest in the morning, once the dew has dried but before the heat of the day. This is when the flowers are at their most fragrant.
How to cut it
Use clean, sharp scissors or garden snips and cut the stems as long as you can.
Cut just above a set of leaves. This gives the plant a clean place to grow from, and you may even get a second, smaller harvest later in the season.
How to bundle and dry lavender
Gather the stems into small bundles, about the width of your fist. Keep the bundles small enough that air can circulate through them.
I use a rubber band to secure each bundle. As the stems dry and shrink, the rubber band tightens around them.
Hang the bundles upside down somewhere dark, dry, and well-ventilated. Keep them out of direct sunlight, which can fade the color and reduce the fragrance.
It usually takes about two to four weeks. You will know the lavender is ready when the stems snap instead of bend.
What to do with dried lavender
This is my favorite part because there are so many ways to use it.
I use dried lavender in sachets for drawers, strip the buds to add to homemade bath soaks, and sometimes just keep some stems in a in a vase because it smells so good.
And if you want that lavender scent without growing and drying your own, check out all the Brighten and Bloom lavender products.
I love being able to grow something in my garden, harvest it, and turn it into something I can actually use. It is one of the simple things that keeps me excited about gardening.