Lavender, a delicate and fragrant little flower, is easy to dry and preserve in order to make scent sachets or to integrate it into a dry flower arrangement. To dry lavender, it's important to harvest the flowers at the right time, when they have their brightest color and sweetest scent. You can then choose to dry the flowers in a dark room or in the sun, depending on what you want to do with them.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Dry lavender in a dark room
Step 1. Harvest the lavender before it is fully in bloom
Cut off the lavender at the base of the stem, while the buds are just opening. Dry lavender will thus retain a powerful floral scent and keep its bright purple color.
Step 2. Cut off the mature lavender flowers just above the leaves
Try to keep the stem as long as possible on the flower. By harvesting lavender, you are also pruning the plant, which helps it grow healthier during the winter.
Leave the stems and leaves that have not finished growing in place
Step 3. Gather the lavender into a small heap
Once you've plucked a good handful of lavender, gather it into a small pile. Tap the underside of the rods against your palm so that they are aligned.
Step 4. Tie the stems with a rubber band
Make bouquets of 1 to 2 cm in diameter so that they dry properly and to avoid the formation of mold which can be caused by humidity. Wrap the elastic at the bottom of the stems until they are held in place without being crushed.
Using a rubber band rather than string or ribbon will prevent the stems from slipping off the tie as they shrink as they dry out
Step 5. Find a dark place to dry your lavender
Drying lavender slowly in the dark is the best way to preserve its color, which would otherwise be faded by the sun. Look for a dry, dark place, such as a garden shed, garage, or a shady spot under your eaves.
Step 6. Hang the bundle of lavender upside down
Hang the elastic on a hook or nail. You could also tie a bungee string and hang the lavender from a hook.
Step 7. Let the lavender dry for 2-4 weeks
Monitor the process every now and then so you know when your lavender is dry. When you run your fingers through the flowers, they should easily come off the stems. You could leave the flowers on the stems or cut them off to use in a recipe or make tea bags.
Method 2 of 2: Dry lavender in the sun
Step 1. Harvest the lavender
Harvest your lavender just before the buds bloom. Cut the stems at the base to keep the stalk as long as possible.
Step 2. Spread the lavender out on a wooden block
A cutting board or other large piece of wood will be ideal for drying lavender in the sun. Using a metal tray, the lavender would get too hot and on a plastic surface you would get a melted substance.
Step 3. Place the lavender in the sun
Place the cutting board or block of wood in a sunny spot, indoors or outdoors. Drying lavender this way is faster than drying it in the shade, but be aware that the sun will blur the beautiful purple color of lavender.
If you live in an area where it rains often, place your lavender indoors near a window or be ready to bring it in as soon as clouds threaten
Step 4. Let the sun dry the lavender completely
The sun should dry the lavender in less than a week. Monitor your lavender regularly to know when it's dry. After the lavender dries, the flowers should come off the stems easily.
Advice
- If you don't over tighten the knots, you can reuse your twine several times.
- Lavender can repel moths. Placing lavender in your closet will allow you to scent your clothes, while protecting them from insect attacks.
- The drying time depends on the climate. If you live in a humid area, lavender will take longer to dry out.