Can Lavender and Sage Plugs Be Planted Directly in the Ground?

THIS IS MY FIRST ORDER: 2 plug trays, lavender and sage. Can I plant them directly in the ground? Planting time will be late May.

Yes, lavender and sage can be planted directly outdoors BUT for the first two weeks you need to be very much on top of the watering, checking 2-3 times a day on warm sunny days to make sure plants don't dry out. The key is to make sure that plants do not dry out to the point of wilting. You won't need to water every time, but you do need to check. Once you get past the first critical weeks and you start to see new growth, then you can be less vigilant. Once the plants are well established and have grown 10-20cm (4-8 inches) then you can relax a bit more and rely more on rainfall, with supplementary watering during the driest spells.