Lavender is more than just a pretty plant with purple flowers. Growing this fragrant herb beside your patio in Washington can transform your outdoor space into a relaxing retreat while offering practical benefits you might not expect.
From attracting helpful pollinators to naturally repelling pests, lavender works hard to earn its spot in your garden.
1. Thrives In Washington’s Climate
Washington summers provide the perfect sunny conditions lavender craves. Most varieties handle the cooler, wetter winters surprisingly well, especially when planted in well-draining soil.
English lavender types are particularly hardy and can survive temperatures down to negative twenty degrees. Plant them in raised beds or slopes near your patio to prevent root rot during rainy months.
Once established, these Mediterranean beauties become drought-tolerant, requiring minimal water during dry spells.
2. Natural Mosquito Repellent
Mosquitoes hate the strong scent that lavender releases, making your patio gatherings much more comfortable. The essential oils in lavender leaves and flowers naturally discourage these biting insects from hanging around.
Brush against the plants while walking by to release more fragrance into the air. You can also crush fresh lavender stems and rub them on your skin for added protection.
Unlike chemical sprays, this solution smells wonderful while keeping bugs away naturally.
3. Attracts Beneficial Pollinators
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds absolutely love lavender blooms. Planting these fragrant shrubs near your Washington patio creates a buzzing hub of activity that helps your entire garden thrive.
Pollinators will visit your vegetable plants and flowers after stopping at the lavender, improving fruit and seed production. Watching these creatures work provides endless entertainment during summer afternoons.
Supporting pollinator populations has become increasingly important as their numbers decline across the country.
4. Low Maintenance Requirements
Busy Washington homeowners appreciate how little care lavender demands once it settles into your landscape. Water sparingly after the first growing season, as too much moisture causes more problems than drought.
Prune back stems by one-third each spring before new growth appears to maintain compact, bushy shapes. Avoid cutting into old woody growth, which struggles to produce new shoots.
Skip fertilizers entirely since lavender prefers lean, poor soil over nutrient-rich conditions that promote weak, floppy growth.
5. Year-Round Visual Interest
Even when not blooming, lavender’s silvery-green foliage adds texture and color to your patio landscape. The compact mounds create neat borders that look intentional and well-designed throughout all seasons.
Flowers typically appear from June through August, painting your patio surroundings in shades of purple, blue, or pink depending on variety. Dried flower stalks remain attractive well into fall if you choose not to deadhead them.
Evergreen varieties keep their leaves during mild Washington winters.
6. Harvest For Home Use
Growing lavender right beside your Washington patio means fresh stems are always within reach for various projects. Cut flower stalks just as buds begin opening for the strongest fragrance and best drying results.
Hang bundles upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space for two weeks until completely dry. Use dried lavender in sachets, homemade soaps, baking recipes, or craft projects.
Fresh stems also make beautiful additions to summer bouquets that fill your home with calming scent.
7. Calming Aromatherapy Benefits
Simply sitting near blooming lavender can reduce stress and promote relaxation after long workdays. Studies show that lavender scent lowers heart rate and blood pressure while improving mood and sleep quality.
The fragrance drifts naturally across your patio during warm evenings when you need it most. Crushing a few flower spikes between your fingers releases even more aromatic oils into the surrounding air.
Creating a peaceful Washington outdoor sanctuary has never been easier or more affordable than planting lavender.