Five Tips for Growing a Lantana Plant

Lantana plants are very fragrant, so they're often grown for their smell. There are a few things you should know about growing a lantana plant before you try. Here are a couple of tips to get you started.

Soil

Lantana plants grow best in soil that offers good drainage. If your soil is very sandy, you should consider adding organic matter to it. Clay soils don't offer great drainage, so you will need to mix sand in to correct the problem.

Pruning

When growing lantana plants, you should know that some species can reach up to six feet high. Others only grow up to two feet tall. Keep this in mind when choosing a suitable site to plant. You will also need to prune the plant to keep its growth under control.

Vegetation

It's important that you keep vegetation such as grass and weeds away from your lantana plant. They will steal nutrients from the plant that it needs. Weeds can be kept under control by using mulch around the lantana. This also helps retain moisture.

Water

When growing a lantana plant, you should water it on a weekly basis. The soil should be slightly dry before providing more water. However, you should avoid letting the soil dry out completely as this can harm the plant. You can apply fertilizer every two or three weeks.

Toxicity

It is very, very important that you know lantana plants can be hazardous to the health of your pets or children. The leaves of the plant can cause the formation of a rash on some people. If your pet eats the berries before they ripen, it can easily prove to be fatal.

These are a few tips for growing lantana plants. Plant them in rich, moist soil that offers good drainage. Some species can also grow quite tall, so you will need to prune them regularly to keep the growth under control. Also, if you have any pets, you should know the the unripe berries can be fatal if eaten.