Now that you know exactly how and when to prune lavender, your plants will live a long and healthy life. While some plants can go without pruning, lavender likely will refuse to flower next summer if you don't prune it (and, let's be honest, it's all about the fragrant flowers with lavender). Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. Do this pruning no later than 3 weeks before your first frost date. If you’re wondering how to prune lavender and when to prune lavender at the correct time, have no fear. But before you grab your pruners, it’s important to understand exactly how to prune lavender plants, because over pruning can end up killing your plant. You can also subscribe without commenting. Facts about hard pruning lavender. Pruning lavender is not hard, but it’s important to know what you’re doing before you start in order to avoid over pruning. The 8 best perfect-for-privacy garden trees. After the plant is done blooming in the summer, cut back 1/3 to 1/2 of the new growth, being careful not to cut any branches down to the leafless wood. Pruning vs. The Lavender Patio Tree is priced at $15.99. Remove all the dead branches that don’t have any growth on them to clean it up a bit. But don’t worry, the basics of pruning are the same for all types of lavender, both in the garden or in pots. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back as to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch. Follow the instructions above in the section titled “Tips For Pruning Lavender In Summer”. Prune these lavender in spring when all frost is finished for the season. Remove approximately one third of the top to keep. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Step 2: Prune lavender right above the new growth – Cut the old stem back to just above the top of the new growth. A tree that has been pruned to take on an unnatural shape requires much more ongoing care and maintenance which I will write about in a subsequent article. If you’re interested in trying that, here’s my tutorial for how to grow lavender from cuttings. If you’re too nervous to cut it back that far, then you can try deadheading lavender instead. Then, three years ago, I asked Salvatore, the Italian gardener, to cut the lavender in the centre of the garden. I know it can be hard to wait so long before pruning lavender after winter, especially when the plant looks so ugly. You don’t have to be as precise with your cuts for summer pruning, so you can go ahead and use hedge pruning shears or even a electric hedge trimmer to make quick work of trimming lavender bushes in the summer. Use any physically damaged portion of the lavender as desired but dispose of any spittlebug-infested portion of the plant away from the lavender and any other desirable vegetation. Then get into the habit of pruning your lavender bush every year, and it should eventually fill back out again. How to Overwinter Lavender Indoors & Outdoors. Pruning lavender not only gets rid of the ugly dead growth, but it also helps to trigger bushy growth, and gives you tons of flowers too. Before we get started, I want to mention that there are a few different kinds of lavender plants. Failure to prune at least once a year will result in your lavender becoming leggy. The side shoots are pruned off as the plant grows up, creating a bare main stem. For a ball atop a trunk, choose one stem to be the stalk. Pruning your Lavender will prevent your shrub from turning to wood. 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. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.Please read my disclosure for more info.. It is still flowering from the perimeter but is dead and ugly at the center. If lavender isn’t pruned regularly, it will become woody and produce fewer fragrant leaves and flowers. In this post, I will tell you when to cut back lavender plants, give you tons of tips, and show you exactly how to trim lavender step-by-step. Give life to the lavender by pruning to the points just above the wood. For pruning lavender in spring, you’ll want to use precision pruning snips or small pruning shears so that you have full control and know exactly where you’re making the cuts. Should I wait for the blooms to die before pruning? How do you prune lavender? If there’s a bunch of scraggly new leaves at the top of the stem, find the spot where the thick fresh growth starts to get rid of all the scraggly bits on top. Learn how to grow lavender in your garden with the RHS expert guide on choosing, planting, feeding, pruning and propagating plants. Waiting to prune lets the plant form oldereventually woodygrowth that responds less well to pruning. Pruning. 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. Pruning. If necessary, you can cut into the wood. So, you can follow these steps whether you’re pruning English lavender like mine, or if you have Spanish or French lavender. Spanish lavender is sometimes called “rabbit ears” for its unusual blossom. Item number 412872. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Then, three years ago, I asked Salvatore, the Italian gardener, to cut the lavender in the centre of the garden. This will give you a fuller plant, and keep your lavender from getting too woody. Aim to let soil dry to a depth of 1 inch between waterings. Keep an eye on the underside of your topiary form especially, because stems tend to dangle down as they grow. My green thumb comes from my parents, and I've been gardening most of my life. It is a tough lavender that puts up with a lot of guff from me and keeps on growing and blooming. The only difference is that English lavender can handle a harder pruning in the summer than French or Spanish lavender can. Here are the steps for trimming lavender plants in spring…. Dead growth can safely be pruned from the plant at any time during the year. This is important because the parts of the plant that turn to wood will not produce new lavender stalks. Cut lavender flowering stems off just below the first set of leaves once a few florets are open for dried use or after almost half of the florets are open for essential oil production. Second Year Lavender Pruning . Cut off about the top third of each lavender stem in early spring when green leaves begin to emerge from the base of the plant. So, to avoid over pruning lavender, I recommend leaving the branches that you’re not sure about on the plant until it’s time for summer pruning. Fertilize with all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer at half strength every four weeks during … Try to make the cut as close to the new leaf buds as you can. Many times this will be towards the bottom of the stem, so carefully move any debris or other branches out of the way until you find it. Flowers, though still fragrant, grow sparse. Is it okay/preferable to cut them down before the winter? All of this information is listed below. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in urban and regional studies. Pruning Lavender after the First Year : Lavender plants should be pruned once per year, preferably in the spring, just before new growth starts. So, if you only have time to prune lavender once per year, do it in the spring. Growing lavender isn’t a difficult proposition. Cut or pinch off any new flowering buds or flowers that begin to develop after harvest and fall pruning to ensure that growth and flowering the following year is not reduced. Growing lavender from cuttings is fun and easy! It is a shorter growing lavender which fits well in the area that I have it. Always be sure to leave some fresh green leaves on all of the stems. They do need to be trimmed back after flowering. Fertilizing. There are many woody branches so what do I cut and whastays? Otherwise, lavender shouldn’t need any extra care outdoors. It isn’t hard to learn how to trim a lavender with woody stems. The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. No need to replace it if you go for hard pruning!. In cooler climate: Prune established plants in the spring when green leaves start to emerge from the base of the plant. Could it cause problems to do it this late if there is an early snow? Step 2: Prune lavender right above the new growth – Cut the old stem back to just above the top of the new growth. When trimming back lavender in the summer, you can focus on shaping the plant, rather than worrying about exactly where to make each cut. The flower is heavily scented. My brand new book Vertical Vegetables is now available for purchase!! Don’t worry, cutting back lavender plants is not as scary as it sounds, and you’ll get the hang of it in no time! Stems that are pruned down too far will never grow back. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. To propagate your lavender, take cuttings from non-flowering stems when you are pruning the lavender plants at the time of or shortly after harvesting. Deadhead for the rest of the season. Whether you plant this simple-to-maintain Lavender in a raised garden bed or larger container on your porch, it shines with one-of-a-kind color and fragrance. How To Grow Lavender From Seed & When To Plant, How To Prune Russian Sage: Step-By-Step Instructions, How To Prune Chives & Deadhead The Flowers, How To Prune Tomatoes For Maximum Production, Here’s a post that is all about harvesting lavender, Here’s an article about how to care for lavender, Lasagna Gardening 101: How To Make A Lasagna Garden, 7 Easy DIY Potting Soil Recipes To Mix Your Own, How To Make Potting Soil For Indoor Plants, Terms Of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy. To deadhead lavender, simply remove all of the dead flower spikes, cutting them down to the tops of the main branches. Once established, lavenders are low maintenance and drought tolerant plants. I don’t recommend pruning in the fall, because it will trigger new growth – which can be killed off by an early freeze. Give them a trim after the first flush of flowers has faded. Cut the stalks off as close to the leaves as possible. Harvesting is just cutting of the pieces or flower buds as you need them to use for recipes or other purposes. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.Please read my disclosure for more info.. 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. Use scissors or ikebana-type shears to make pruning easier. Related Post: How To Grow Lavender From Seed & When To Plant. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees through links to Amazon.com. Remove your lavender's flower stalks when the flowers begin to fade. Step 1: Find the fresh new leaves on the stem – To figure out where to make the cut on each branch, find the spot where the new leaves are growing. Do this pruning no later than 3 weeks before your first frost date. Read More... I’m not sure what type of lavender that I have but it is very overgrown. Related Post: How To Dry Lavender From Your Garden. I would wait until spring to prune your lavender, rather than doing it in the fall. Pruning Lavender In warm climates, all pruning can be carried out in the autumn. Summer pruning, which helps to keep the plant looking nice and encourages more flowers, is optional. https://www.nature-and-garden.com/gardening/hard-pruning-lavender.html Prune stems back lightly in the summer selectively to maintain the desired shape or size or head back especially vigorous stems that look out of place. When it's time to prune your lavender, regardless of its variety, tailor your pruning to the age of the plant: Start pruning your lavender plants while they are still young. Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. If your lavender has outgrown its spot you can reduce its size by one-third. And you will get to enjoy all those yummy smelling lavender flowers year after year. Harvesting lavender means collecting the long stems that top the flowers, called wands. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Summer pruning is good for shaping lavender plants, keeping them full and compact, and it helps to delay woody growth. English lavender is hardy, so there’s nothing special you need to do to prepare it for winter. It’s best to wait until you see leaves growing before cutting back lavender plants in the spring. 🙂. Do not cut them back hard as with other kinds of lavenders (it can kill them). The same rule for pruning applies if you prune in the fall (before the first frost - late/Sept, early Oct). Spring pruning is much more precise of a job than pruning lavender in summer. In the fall, after the second flush … Deadhead for the rest of the season. Just when I got ready to prune at the end of the summer my lavender bloomed again. Lavender can be a bit tricky to grow and keep properly so that it is tidy and healthy, but this essential guide to growing lavender will provide you with a few tips that will help keep your lavender in top shape for years to come and the know-how you need to prune, propagate, and use this versatile garden staple. This can be done through: 1. preparingcuttings 2. harvesting and growing from seeds Let’s take a lo… Plus, cutting back lavender plants in the summer after they’re done blooming will likely give you more flowers. It’s also important to use clean, sharp pruning tools whenever you trim plants, so be sure to clean and sharpen your pruners before starting. Since they are starting to go dormant, you don’t want to encourage new growth in the fall. It is best to know your climate so you can make an informed decision as to when to trim your lavender. For the majority of your home garden pruning needs, stick to the 4 Ds and aim for a natural shape and you have the tools to get started! Cut back the rest of the lavender so that approximately 1 to 2 inches of green stem remain above woody brown stems. How to Increase Blooms on Lavender Plants, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Lavenders for California Gardens, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Growing Lavender in Containers, Utah State University Cooperative Extension: English Lavender in the Garden, How to Cut Back Lavender Flowers That Have Bloomed. Cut back lavender just above the new leaves. Prune your lavender tree frequently, giving it a basic clipping to maintain the shape. It has pointed leaves and tight, upright spear-like flowers in midsummer. Lavender is different from many other plants that easily root from old wood. As mentioned above, English lavender is winter-hardy to Zone 5 and may only need a bit of help in the form of a thin layer of straw. Save the Trees Pruning perennials is always dicey due to timing. What is your recommendation for long neglected bushes that has gone woody and ugly at the center(inside ) portion of the rather large bush? And the nice round shape of its youth starts collapsing all over the place! Once the plant has reached the desired height, the pruning strategy changes and top growth is taken off to promote bushiness and the Dr. Seuss-like ball of growth on top. You may prune its silhouette lightly to shape, but otherwise, your Lavender’s prepared to thrive. If you prune lavender too early, you could be cutting off the new growth before it starts, or worse – you might end up over pruning the plant. These lovely Lavender Patio Trees are currently available in the store. Prune back any crossing branches or branches that grow in toward the middle of a young tree, and cut off lower branches on the trunk as the tree grows to raise the crown. You should wind up with a rounded mound. But spring pruning is very important to get rid of the ugly winter damage and encourage fresh lavender growth. Once established, lavenders are low maintenance and drought tolerant plants. I’m not sure how the weather is in your neck of the woods, but pruning encourages fresh new growth, which can be killed off by freezing fall/winter temps. One important thing to keep in mind whenever you’re pruning lavender is to never cut the woody stems below the leaves. In late summer shape foliage into a … Pruning in Preparation for Winter Prune to an inch above the wood. Really pretty, blooms like crazy but has become a bushy mess. Lavender can be very slow to get started in the spring. You prune English lavender by cutting it back by two thirds in the late August. Inventory and pricing at your store will vary and are subject to change at any time. Here’s a post that is all about harvesting lavender for more details that might help to clear up the confusion for you. If not, then give it a little more time to grow. Pruning twice a year is better. Step 3: Cut off any dead branches – You can cut any dead branches all the way down to get rid of them. However, I would strongly urge you to wait before you cut off any branches that look dead, especially if you’re new to pruning lavender. It plumped up again before Christmas, and made elegant grey mounds for the winter garden. Some shrubs can take severe pruning and hatracking, but pruning lavender too hard wouldkill it. If you’re new to growing lavender plants, you might not know that pruning is a very important part of lavender maintenance. Harvesting flowers in early morning ensure maximum oil presence. Prune back about 1/3 of the new growth each … are perennial herbs prized for their fragrance, attractive white, pink or purplish flowers, grayish foliage and drought tolerance. He cut it right back to the brown, especially in one part that was beginning to look gappy. These lovely Lavender Patio Trees are currently available in the store. All content found on this website is copyrighted materials and any form of reproduction is strictly prohibited. You don’t notice it unless you get right up around the bush. Learn How to Prune Lavender like a Pro Many people start to feel nervous about pruning Lavender plants. It’s important to get into the habit of cutting back lavender plants on a regular basis. Follow the contours of the plant. Lavenders bloom on the current season's growth so this will not have a negative impact on bloom. Related Post: How To Harvest Lavender Fresh From The Garden, Wait for new growth before cutting back lavender plants in spring. It plumped up again before Christmas, and made elegant grey mounds for the winter garden. It’s definitely something you need to keep up on. Honey bees pollinate this purple-hued plant, meaning beauty and ease combine. The reason you want to wait until you see new leaves on the plant before trimming lavender in spring is because that way you will know exactly where to make your cuts. Here’s an article about how to care for lavender that you may also find useful. Shaping Freestanding Topiaries Begin shaping when the plant is about 2 1/2 feet tall. If you get into the habit of regular pruning, it should be easier to manage the size of your plant year over year. Mine is a plant on a long stem with the bush firming a ball. Usually lavender plants grow old and woody after 6 to 10 years. Avoid cutting the leader, or the vertical stem at the very top of the trunk, on a young tree. 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