Knowing how to prune lavender correctly will keep the wonderfully fragrant plants in good condition for years, and their structure will remain neat and dense. However, if the plants are not pruned properly, after a few years they will become woody and unsightly and will need to be replaced. Here you will find tips to help you take good care of your exotic plants!
What time of year should you prune lavender?
There are two times of year when you should prune lavender: in the fall after flowering and in the spring. Do not cut the plant back too much after summer, otherwise the plant may not survive the start of the colder season. Rather, think of fall pruning as a way to harvest lavender to dry and scent your home.
If you forget to prune your lavender in the summer, it's best to wait until next spring, especially for the less hardy French, Spanish and Italian varieties. And if you the plantcut back in spring, only when you see that there is new growth.
How should you cut lavender correctly?
When pruning lavender it is important to prune it at theto cut in the right placeto ensure healthy growth. This part of the plant is usually green. If you cut further down, you are cutting on the woody part of the plant, which is not always advisable. However, sometimes it may be useful to cut into the woody part to fix the structure of an older lavender plant.
Pruning lavender plants should be done properly to keep the plant healthy. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid!
1. Pruning logs
Lavender plants are semi-woody perennials that straddle the line between a woody tree and an herbaceous shrub. This means that gardeners should limit themselves to pruning the herbaceous, green and soft growth. Lavender should never be pruned at the base (the woody part) or growth will not develop.
Cutting off too much of the woody base can severely damage or even kill the plant. A good rule of thumb is not to simply cut the stem with hand pruners or scissorscan cut back, it is probably too woody and should be left alone. However, don't be afraid to cut back small woody branches that could pose a danger to the plant (e.g. in strong winds or snow).
2. Cut off all leaves
Every time you cut lavender, the foliage should be left on the trunk. The lavender must not be left without leaves, otherwise the plant will no longer have the energy to develop and will die.
3. Do not prune lavender for a long time
If lavender is not cut for a long period of time - more precisely over 2 years - the woody part of the plant expands and its lifespan is shorter than a cut lavender. Additionally, uncut lavender will look less bushy over the years.
4. Not pruning enough
Generally, gardeners tend to under-prune their plants for fear of injuring them. This causes the plants to overgrow each season, resulting in an unruly shape and fewer flowers. We should view trimming as a pleasant haircut, not a punishment.
Many experts recommend pruning more heavily than gardeners think is necessary. In fact, they sometimes break the "never cut woody parts" rule when certain branches are out of control - as long as gardeners don't cut back large parts of the lavender wood, everything should be fine.
5. Pruning the plant too late
Gardeners who forget to prune in early fall are best off waiting until next spring to resume the routine. The first three years of a lavender's life cycle are the most importantTime for pruning. Remember that pruning encourages tender new growth. If the gardener prune in late fall just before frost, the new growth will be killed by the winter cold.
6. Do not cut young plants
Many beginner lavender growers believe that they should let their plants grow before they start pruning. In reality, the first three years of a lavender's life cycle are the most important time for pruning. Severe pruning during the establishment phase ensures that the plant has a compact, well-formed base that helps it stay healthy until maturity. Early fall pruning is most important for young plants because it reminds them not to put too much energy into new, showy blooms while they should be building a solid foundation in their root zone.
