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When to Plant Lavender in Garfield County, UT

Garfield County, Utah Zone 6a May

This month in Garfield County, Utah

Here's what deserves your attention in Garfield County, Utah this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 27
Avg. first frost September 21
Soil temp (4") 45°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
Looking ahead to June
  • Transplants going out: lavender

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Lavender is a fragrant perennial herb with silvery foliage and purple flower spikes. It is prized for its essential oils, culinary uses, and ornamental beauty.

Garfield County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 117 days.

At an elevation of 5,058 feet, Garfield County receives approximately 20.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Lavender to ensure they mature before fall.

Garfield County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
117 days
Last Spring Frost May 27
117 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21
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Garfield County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Dec 4
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Sep 2 – Dec 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (273 days to spare)
Transplant: Jul 1 🍅 Harvest: Sep 30 – Jan 13

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Garfield County

How your county's soil matches Lavender's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.7) is within Lavender's preferred range (6.5–8.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Garfield County is excellent for Lavender — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Lavender.

How to Plant Lavender

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.3″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Lavender

Lavender needs approximately 0.3 inches of water per week (1.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lavender Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.3" 2.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 1.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 1.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 1.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Garfield County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lavender Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Lavender needs ~1,885 GDD — county provides 1,521 GDD May not mature

Lavender Planting Timeline — Garfield County, UT

Lavender Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 17
Harvest September 2 Sep 2 – Dec 16

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June Transplant Outdoors
July
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
December Harvest
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.3"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

90–200 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

117 days in Garfield County

Growing Tips for Lavender in Garfield County

Direct sow Lavender outdoors after May 27 in Garfield County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 117.0-day growing season in Garfield County is tight for Lavender (90.0-200.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant in well-drained, sandy soil. Avoid heavy mulching around the crown. Prune after flowering but do not cut into old wood. Lavender resents wet winter conditions.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lavender in Garfield County, UT?

Garfield County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 27. Plan your Lavender planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Garfield County, UT?

Garfield County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 27 and first fall frost is September 21.

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Your Garfield County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Garfield County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Garfield County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.