Trimming Lavender - How To Prune Lavender Properly

How to prune established lavender

Look for wood. Find the woody base of your lavender plant - that's the spot where soft green growth meets woody stem.
Prune the soft growth. ...
Shape the plant. ...
Deadhead reblooming varieties.

When and how do you prune lavender?

Pruning:

Prune right after the first flowering and again in late August after the last flush has faded.
Cut off about 2/3 of the plant's height or to just above the bottom two sets of leaves on each stem.
Take care not to cut into the woody part of the plant which can cause damage.

How far back should you prune lavender?

Cut all the new growth back down to 1-2cms above the older, woody part of the stem - this should leave between one and three leaf buds. This little bit is the hardiest part of the new growth and will survive the winter well.

How do you prune overgrown lavender?

Cut back the top one-third of the lavender plant in late winter or early spring, when new growth begins near the base of the plant. Shape the plant lightly to retain its mounded form and cut out any dead or damaged stems.

Can I prune lavender in October?

Lavenders are relatively easy to prune and pruning every year will help slow down the formation of wood and extend the vigour and lifetime of your plant. Pruning in late-August or early autumn will encourage good air circulation, which guards against rot.

What happens if you don't prune lavender?

An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant's lifespan.

Are you supposed to cut back lavender?

A. Unpruned lavenders tend to become woody and have decreased blooms. However, lavender should not be pruned during the winter. Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now, it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost.

How do you prune a woody lavender plant?

When you're pruning woody lavender plants, it's also a good idea not to prune all of the plant at the same time. Instead, work slowly, trimming back each branch, but never cutting into the brown wood. You can trim branches back by one-third or one-half.

How do you stop lavender going Woody?

First technique – hard prune your lavender

Over a few years, typically three or four, you can reduce the size of your lavender shrub. This isn't always successful but it's always worth a try. Pruning all at once would kill the plant. Spreading the pruning over several years is what makes it work.

How do you winterize lavender?

Most lavenders die during winter because the soil they are planted in becomes waterlogged or soggy. Make sure your lavender is planted in a spot that has fast-draining soil, and work organic matter in the form of compost or peat moss as well as horticultural sand into the planting site.

How do you revive lavender?

The only way to revive lavender that has been in the shade is to transfer it to a pot and place it in the sun as quickly as possible. Lavenders require sun all year round, including during the winter dormancy so plant the lavender in a nice open space that is not under a tree canopy or any other shade.

How long do lavender plants last?

The plants are not terribly long lived. If you get three or four years out of them you will have done well, but they can be replaced relatively cheaply or propagated from semi-ripe shoot tip cuttings three or four inches long in midsummer.

Does lavender spread in the garden?

How much is it likely to spread? Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.

When should you pick lavender?

The best time to harvest English lavender is when the buds have formed on the plant but the flowers have not yet opened. Lavender flowers harvested at this time of year will fall off the stems more easily when dry, making it easier to collect. Closed buds will also retain fragrance and color longer.

How do you pick lavender?

Harvesting and drying lavender is simple – simply snip off the stems just before the flowers open and when you've gathered enough for your needs, tie the stems together and hang them up to dry somewhere sheltered.

How do you care for phenomenal lavender?

Lavender Phenomenal does particularly well in areas with more moisture and humidity. Plant in full sun with good air circulation. Plant into well drained soil. Compost-enriched garden loam is alright in drier climates, sandy or gravel soil is best in moister climates.

How do you cut and dry lavender?

You can always trims stems after they dry. For drying lavender, bundle stems together so that flower heads are lined up. Use two rubber bands per dried lavender bunch—one just beneath the flower heads and one at the base of stems. Hang bundles upside down to dry in a dark, warm spot.

How do you prune French lavender?

To prune, cut with secateurs. Ensure a good clean cut so that the lavender will always heal easily and is at less risk of winter loss. Cut at least two thirds of new growth back into the old wood. This leaves new shoots below the cut which is next season's new growth.

Can you divide lavender?

A: It's fairly easy to transplant a lavender plant, but you can't divide them. Lavenders are woody shrubs and if you split one down the middle, it will die. The best time to move lavender is in late winter and early spring.

Do you cut back lavender plants in the spring?

All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. This means pruning can be done in early or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year's flowers. Pruning in spring can delay flowering—which might be your preference—and it's a good time to take down dead portions and shorten growth to the buds.

What do you do with cut lavender?

Fresh, cut lavender bunches can be put in a vase of water for 2-3 days. They will last up to 10 days in water, but if you want to dry the bunches, remove from water after 3 days, cut off brown parts of the stem and hang to dry.