How to Grow a Lavender Plant Outdoors

Find an area of the yard that has light, well-drained soil and full sun. If you do not wish to remove the plants from the container, you may place them in full sun on a patio or in a garden area.

Push up soil using a shovel to create a mound between 18 and 24 inches wide. The mound needs to be high enough to accommodate the roots of the plant. Place each mound approximately 36 inches apart so the lavender has ample growing room.

Dig out the center of the mound to create a hole, then place small rocks -- about 1 inch in diameter -- to cover the bottom of the hole. The rocks promote drainage for the roots, which is essential in maintaining the plant's life. Place the roots down into the mound and cover with soil.

Water sparingly, as overwatering lavender leads to fungus growth and stress in the plant. Lay a soaker hose along the mounds to provide just enough water for growth and prevent soaking the soil.

Trim the lavender plant down by a third during the fall to prevent damage to the branches during colder months. Add coarse sand around the mounds to serve as mulch and add compost to the lavender before or after autumn rainfall to add nutrition into the soil.