Lavender is very easy to prune. Don’t shear straight across. For those of you kicking yourselves because you didn't get your lavender perfectly pruned last year, don't panic. Prune early bloomers in springafter the first flush of growth. Lavender limbs can appear to be dead during dormant winter season when they are actually not. Lavender can grow out of control unless it is forced into submission! Is it really worth it?”. For most lavender varieties, pruning is best done during spring, summer, or fall after harvest. Even the RHS cautions against cutting into the woody part of lavender. Wait to cut back until after the last hard frost, or when you see new growth starting in the spring. Ideally, you should prune lavender twice a year – once in the spring just as the fresh growth starts coming in, and once in the summer right after it’s done blooming. The technique in this post is for English lavender, not French lavender but the method is similar. This time, I have carefully filed one of the detailed Lavender plant tags for future reference. You'll thank yourself in the spring with the new growth comes bursting forth, energized from a long winter's nap. This reduces stress on the plant by avoiding pruning into the woody growth which can lead to rot. Use hedge trimmers or pruning shears, if possible, to keep things nice and tidy. This may not be necessary, though it can help to keep plants healthy and full. That’s the only way to revive the dying plant. Don’t shear straight across. Once bright and fragrant, the lavender plant starts to look woody with dead wood, bearing a smaller number of those trademark fragrant flowers, after about six to eight years of plantation. However, by pruning to points just above the wood, the plant could be rejuvenated. While the plant is in bloom, usually in mid-summer, gather up the flower stalks and once again prune the plant back to 2 - 3 inches above where the soft, green growth begins on the lower part of the plant. When you are pruning lavender, it is best to do it regularly and spring is a great time to start. Take care not to cut into the woody part of the plant which can cause damage. By pruning and trimming regularly, you ensure that they grow into lovely plants. Don’t prune your lavender after late August. If you’re not sure a stem is alive, lightly scratch the surface and see if its green and alive, or light brown and dead. Too Many Fall Leaves? Regular pruning twice a year gives your plant time regenerate fresh flowers and … It is recommended to trim them early. Pruning Lavender in autumn or early spring . Once your lavender plant has had one year to establish itself, you’ll need to prune it once a year. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back as to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch. If all the green is gone, your plant will die. Don’t … As soon as you notice that your lavender is turning woody, prune it. Lavender is a strong durable plant for dry, warm borders and known for flowering from spring right though to autumn. Same is true for cutting back dead lavender stems. Pruning lavender in spring is most effective as the new growth is starting to appear. Most varieties of lavender can be trimmed back by a third to a half. Pull off some of the lower leaves. In subsequent years, it will produce an ever-larger bush of flowers. Prune it low in spring once you see new leaves (this is important!) Another soft pruning time is in the early spring when I cut again just a bit – just a few centimeters. All that’s required is a little dedication and proper knowledge of pruning and you are golden. Pruning the very first year would divert the focus of the plant towards the growth of leaves rather than the roots and thus the plant would be weak. When your Lavender is woody, they are less appealing and also much more prone to damage and disease. For most lavender varieties, pruning is best done during spring, summer, or fall after harvest. I promise myself to prune it into a neat shrub from now on right after flowering. How to Prune Lavender in the Spring? Do more extensive pruning early in spring as new green growth emerges at the base of the plant. Trim each branch to about one third while not cutting into brown wood. It can also be pruned now, just cut back about 25% all over, but I would normally prune it in spring, when the other lavenders are looking good. And the nice round shape of its youth starts collapsing all over the place! Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. Before pruning, it is necessary to properly sanitize the blades of your pruning shear with alcohol or bleach to remove harmful bacteria and germs. Also avoid excessive pruning. Build A Compost Bin! Prune back about 1/3 of the new growth each … After that, I just prune it a bit sometime in mid-October, just to make sure the bushes are kept nice and rounded. If уоu ѕее a lоt оf frеѕh growth оn thе рlаnt, іt іѕ ѕаfе tо start рrunіng. These are just a few of the many benefits that Lavender has. March through May, early spring is the best time to prune. Doing so will encourage branching growth and limit the development of a woody core at the base of the plant. While pruning in spring can delay flowering, it is a good time to trim away dead or damaged parts. Pruning Lavender is Essential Chris Mulder, Barn Owl Nursery In my experience, I have found that pruning lavender plants in the spring and summer, and lightly in September, helps them to look and grow better, over a longer period of time. Pruning: Prune right after the first flowering and again in late August after the last flush has faded. When planting lavender, prune plants lightly, removing all growing tips. That’s how most people think. The dotted line in the illustration above shows you how to cut foliage and any flowers back by one-third to one half before planting. Go heavier on an old plant but never cut down to the wood base. The branches can be pruned back heavily, to within three sets of leaves on the stems. Plucking the plant can potentially some parts of the plant that are not intended to be pruned. Leggy '' verities, you need to plan on pruning lavender plants,. About one third while not cutting into the wood base will cause damage and even death to lovely... 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