Dried Lavender

What is dried Lavender?

Dried Lavender     Dried Lavender is simply the flower buds, or stems (bundles) that have been harvested and preserved by drying. This dried Lavender material can be made into various products, craft items or for culinary use in teas and herbs de provence.

     Drying your own is simple and easy. Let me tell you how to harvest, when to harvest and how to dry Lavender Flowers.

Harvesting and Drying Lavender


     Lavender can be preserved by drying.  You can also make craft items out of recently harvested stems and then allow them to dry.  Sometimes it's necessary to make the wreaths or other items while the stems are still flexible other wise it's near impossible to fabricate certain items once the stems have dried.
 
     Take Lavender braids for example or Lavender wands. Dry stems cannot be braided easily and the beautiful batons cannot be woven. Freshly crafted items can be beautiful too and some will dry naturally over time.

     I have made numerous fresh wreaths using a wire form and fresh flower heads. Some have dried nicely and I still have them hanging up.

 When to Begin Harvesting Lavender?


     Deciding when to begin harvesting needs to be given some thought.  The weather conditions and humidity will play a role as to when you may begin harvesting. If you have had dry weather for a few days go ahead and start. Morning or evening is fine as long as it's dry.

Image of Lavender Flower Harvest

     You will need to begin harvesting just prior to the buds fully opening and when they are of good color.  See the harvest picture above. You can simply cut the stems, leaving them long.  Lay the stems spread out or bundle them in small bundles and hang upside down to keep the tops straight. Your intended use also plays a role in just when you start to harvest.

     Harvest your Lavender on a dry day after the morning dew has evaporated from your plants.

 How To Dry Lavender?


     I like to use rubber bands when bundling other wise the stems shrink and fall out of the harvested bundles.  You will need to replace the rubber bands with raffia, once dried, because the rubber degrades over time.  Make sure you place your harvest in a cool dry spot, away from sunlight and check on it's progress every few days.  Also don't make the bundle too fat or air will have trouble reaching the middle.

     Harvesting the Lavender buds is simple as they can be stripped from the stalks using your fingers. Strip the buds into a container and then spread out on a cookie sheet to dry for a week. Periodically mix or stir the contents on the sheet to separate the buds and allow for consistent drying. Store dried buds away from moisture and light if not making a craft item immediately. Learn more about safely storing your dried Lavender.
    
     The fragrance of dried items can be refreshed by the addition of pure essential oil in small amounts. You can use Lavender oil to spritz your wreaths, bundles and sheaves or add drops of essential oil to dishes of collected buds or potpourris.  When adding to potpourris stir to distribute the essential oils.

     Keep these harvesting and drying tips in mind.
  • Plant materials needs to dry quickly but away from direct sun to prevent fading and preserve volatile fragrance. You want to retain that lovely color of the flowers.
  • Do store dried materials away from moisture.  Placing a beautiful bundle, although it may look nice, in a bathroom that gets moisture from a daily shower is not a good idea.
  • Use dried Lavender buds for cooking only if they came from a plant that has not been exposed to chemicals either sprayed or applied to soil or nearby grass. Don't use flower buds for cooking that have had essential oil added to them.  Also realize the strong flavor and use sparingly when flavoring dishes with Lavender.
     Go ahead cut and harvest that Lavender.  Harvesting frequently stimulates another round of  bloom in about a months time, and denser, bushier growth.  Depending on your location you may have 2 harvests per year.  There will be plenty of material for bouquets, crafts, and gifts. To get ideas on how to use your harvested materials visit our craft page to see how you too could be making things with Lavender.

     Did you know that in a good year the harvest from 1 acre of farmed Lavender will yield 15-20 lbs of essential oil? Well it does, and the best oil comes after a dry spell and sunny weather.

     Do you have to harvest all of your blooms?  I like to leave some plants alone so when I walk by the flowers are there in all their glory.  I plant some for harvesting in my backyard because they are not too pretty once everything is cut.  Doing it this way you can have the best of both worlds.  I like having my cake and eating it too  - that is why I harvest some and then leave some on the plant in the flower garden for everyone to enjoy.

     Dried Lavender is just another way to enjoy the lovely flowers and fragrance of this wonderful plant. Even old dried Lavender bundles can be useful as fragrant fire starters!