Gardens which do not have the ideal conditions for growing lavender can have their soil amended by digging down 20-30 centimeters and filling the hole two-thirds full with a sandy mix, then place your plant in the hole, cover with more of the sandy mix and mound up about 10 centimeters around the base of the plant. If it is impossible for your lavenders to avoid being hit by overhead watering, you can simply take cuttings from healthy stock when your plants start to yellow and propagate new plants when you require them. Lavender roots easily from cuttings as long as you take your cutting with a small leg on one side, dip it in rooting hormone and start it in a mixture of 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 sand. Expect your lavenders to thrive for 7-10 years in ideal conditions, then plant with new specimens when they begin to die off. Either purchase new nursery stock or take your own cuttings and propagate them yourself. To keep your plants from getting woody centers that split off when they become heavy with flowers or snow, shear each plant into a compact dense mound when you put your garden to bed each autumn and you will be rewarded with lovely, healthy growth each spring.