Whether in a pot or directly in the flower bed: With its small, very fragrant flowers, lavender creates a Mediterranean feeling outdoors. Annual pruning keeps the subshrub healthy and is very important for flower formation and growth. If this is neglected, you will have to deal with woody lavender next year. Fortunately, the plant can still be saved.
Cutting woody lavender: In which cases can the subshrub still be saved?
Basically, a dry lavender can recover by pruning it back. Provided that you haven't cut your subshrub for two to three years. The longer a lavender goes without pruning, the less likely it is to recover. Even old plants can usually no longer be saved. So that you can correctly assess the damage and take the appropriate rescue measures, take a close look at the plant.
- Is it an old plant that has been cut back every year and has gradually dried up and become bare over the last 2 years? Pruning is worth a try, but the plant can usually no longer be saved.
- Is it a young plant that you didn't cut last year? Then she will probably recover. Boy, dried upLavender plantscan be easily recognized by their green main shoots.
- If the lavender has not been pruned for several years, it will look as if it is falling apart and will have bare main shoots. In this case, the plant has mostly died, but you can still prune it. Sometimes it can be saved despite a poor appearance.
- Once all the main shoots have died, you can check the side shoots. If they are green and vital, you can cut cuttings and propagate the plant.