How to Revive Dying Lavender Plants: Causes, Fixes, and Care

Lavender (Lavandula) is a beautiful Mediterranean plant prized for its silver-green foliage, purple flower spikes, and unmistakable, calming scent. In some ways it's tough as nails, thriving in dry, sandy, poor soil and extreme heat.

That doesn't mean it's without its problems, though. It's not uncommon to see homegrown lavender drooping, browning, or dropping needles. If your lavender is dying (or at least looks like it is), it's important to act fast! There's a good chance you'll be able to save it.

Let's dive into this important aspect of lavender care, and save that dying plant before it's too late.

Dead or Dormant?

Before you get too involved in troubleshooting, you should ask yourself if your lavender is actually dead, or just dormant. In late fall and winter, dormant lavender will stop blooming and its woody stems will turn dull. It'll start to look dried out. If you scrape the outer bark of a stem near the base with your fingernail, though, you should reveal light green, moist tissue underneath. This means the plant is still alive – it's just not actively growing.

Dead lavender, on the other hand, has stems that are dry, dark brown or black throughout, hollow, and snap easily when bent. If you scrape your fingernail against it, you won't see any green.

Why Is My Lavender Plant Dying?

If your lavender plant is drooping, losing needles, or turning brown in the height of summer, you can be confident that it's not entering dormancy. Something else is up. Here are some of the main culprits.

1. The pH Is Off

If you’ve noticed your lavender plant is looking a bit peaked, the first order of business is to identify the cause. Lavender plants can be a bit persnickety. For one thing they require well-draining soil with a pH of 6 to 8. A soil test will help to determine if the pH needs adjusting. You can buy a soil test kit on Amazon to see if you're in the right range. To raise pH, amend the soil with limestone.

2. It's Not Getting Enough Sun

As lavender hails from the Mediterranean, this plant needs plenty of sun; six to eight hours per day. New plants are not yet able to tolerate the heat, however, so plant them in early to mid-spring so they have time to acclimate before the hot temps of summer.

3. It's Too Cold

Temperature is another reason why your lavender plant may be dying. Snow doesn’t affect mature lavender plants, but chilly temps will. Mature lavender tolerates lows of 10 degrees F (-12 C); however, newly planted lavenders may succumb to temps below 40 degrees F (4 C) at night.

4. Overwatering

Both potted lavender and those in the earth can be affected by over or underwatering. Overwatered lavender may have yellowing leaves, initially on the lower leaves. Drooping, a rotting odor, and of course sodden soil are also indicators of an overwatered lavender, which can lead to root rot.

Root rot is a common problem caused by overwatering that results in a lavender plant dying. If you suspect root rot you must act quickly to save the plant. Remove the plant from the soil and prune off any affected roots. Then replant the lavender in well-draining soil, like this indoor potting mix from Amazon.

5. Underwatering

Underwatered lavender will droop and the soil will feel completely dried out. To correctly water potted lavender, soak the soil well and then allow the top inch (2.5 cm.) to dry out completely before watering again.

6. Pests

Insects can also cause a lavender plant to die. Spittlebugs and froghoppers both suck the sap from plants. You can detect them by observing the white, frothy blobs that appear on the stems and leaves of infested plants.

The four-lined plant bug (FLPB) is another sucking insect that feeds on new leaves and stems from late May to early July. Infested leaves end up being spotted with uniform white or gray dots. Generally, the damage done here is more ornamental than deadly.

7. Disease

Disease can also affect lavender. Septoria leaf spot is caused by a fungus that weakens plants in the late summer to early fall. It is fostered by humid, wet conditions. Another symptom of Septoria leaf spot is round spots on the leaves. This fungal disease is spread by wind.

Lavender shab is another fungal disease which results in twisted, brown stems along with tiny black dots on the stem. This disease is easily transmitted so pull out infected plants and destroy them.

How to Revive Lavender

• If root rot is suspected, prune out infected roots and replant the lavender in well-draining soil, like this indoor potting mix from Amazon.
• Be sure your lavender, potted or otherwise, receives six to eight hours of sun. 
• Water deeply but wait until the top inch (2.5 cm.) of the soil is dry until watering again. Use a soaker hose or water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry to minimize fungal disease. You can find several options for soaker hoses on Amazon.
• Lavender naturally becomes leggy with open, woody regions at the center of the plant. Prune lavender back the plant by one third to one half before new growth starts. 
• Test your soil. The ideal pH for lavender is 6 to 8. Amend with limestone to raise the pH. You can buy a soil test kit on Amazon.

Best Aftercare For Revived Lavender

Those who have successfully saved dying lavender plants should continue care until they have retained vigor. This means moving each plant, if possible, to a sheltered location where it is able to recover for several weeks. During this time, moisture and light levels should be monitored carefully. This will help to prevent the lavender from becoming too stressed as it regains its strength.

Frequently Asked Questions