Growing great lavender means the most important tip is good drainage. Grow in a raised bed, on a mound, rock garden or in soil that is more sandy and quick to drain. Lavender also needs full sun to make the most blooms. Lavender is not a heavy feeder and usually does better with no additional plant food if you have average soil. This is a very drought resistant plant that survives on rainfall alone in most parts of the United States. Trim back your lavender plants after they are done blooming by removing about one third of the new growth. This will keep the plants compact and bushy. One more tip - lavender plants are short lived perennials and so after six or seven years the plants will decline in health and should be replaced with new, young plants. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti