How To Prune Lavender In 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. What is this? Summer pruning, which helps to keep the plant looking nice and encourages more flowers, is optional.

Where do I cut back lavender in the spring?

It is known and recommended to prune two leaf sets above the woody growth. This reduces stress on the plant by avoiding pruning into the woody growth which can lead to rot. Leaving two leaf sets encourages stable growth and a healthier thicker lavender plant.

What month Should I cut back my lavender?

Hardy lavenders are best pruned after they have finished flowering in late August or September. Traditional advice used to be that you should never cut into the old wood.

When and how to prune lavender?

Left to their own devices, lavender can become woody and ungainly, so to keep plants compact and attractive, it's best to trim them annually in late summer, just after flowering has finished. Remove any spent flower stalks and about 2.5cm (1in) of leaf growth.

What happens if lavender is not cut back?

What happens if you don't prune lavender? If you don't prune lavender, the plant will quickly become leggy and woody, and won't be able to hold its own weight very well. This means the stems will flop over when heavy with flowers, causing the plant to spread out and exposing more of the old wood in the plant.

What happens if you cut lavender back too far?

“It's true that lavender doesn't regenerate if you cut hard back like this, but you can often find signs of young shoots sprouting from those lower, woody stems. This is a good indication that hard pruning could help to regenerate the plant.

Is May too late to cut back lavender?

If lavender is pruned too early and still experiences heavy frosts, serious damage to the plant can occur. Therefore, the first pruning is best done before bud break in late March to early April. The second pruning should be done in the summer just before flowering, that is, in July or August.

What should lavender look like in April?

The plant will begin showing signs of green in the spring, but the exact time will depend upon your hardiness zone. By mid-april in Zone 8 most of our plants are sporting a solid green hue as the new stems emerge from the woody plant base.

How do you cut lavender without killing the plant?

Using small pruning snips or scissors, cut the stem there – just above the leaves or side branches. Once the center stem and flower is removed, the plant redirects its energy. Now, those two side shoots will rapidly grow and produce fresh flowers of their own!

Will lavender rebloom if you cut it back?

If plants are cut back or pruned after their summer flowering, this can encourage lavender to bloom once again during the moderate weather of early fall.

How far back do you cut a lavender bush?

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.

Can you cut back overgrown lavender?

Rejuvenating Overgrown, Leggy Lavender To rejuvenate lavender that has become overgrown and leggy, a hard prune is required – which is also best done immediately after flowering.

How do you prune scraggly lavender?

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Should you deadhead lavender?

While deadheading can encourage new blooms and tidy up your plants, it's not absolutely necessary. Lavenders cope just fine with their old blooms still attached, and they normally fall off after a couple of months anyway.

How do you winterize lavender?

If your plant will be inside for the winter, keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation. Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant.

What to do if lavender is woody?

If you didn't cut back after blooms faded, you can prune into fall (but not too late in the year in hard frost areas). Try regenerating a woody plant by pruning the remaining green down almost to the wood and hope for new growth. Dry wood on lavenders will not re-sprout, according to experts.

Can I cut the woody part of lavender?

The plant cannot produce new growth from the woody parts. 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.

Can I cut lavender in March?

The first trim needs to be done by early March. This is the trim that tidies up your plants for summer and encourages lots of flowers. Lavender that was planted last year must not be spared! It is often fine, even preferable to let a shrub settle in for its first year with little or no trimming.

How do you care for lavender in early spring?

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What temperature is too hot for lavender?

The general answer is around 90 degrees F, with some exceptions to the rule. This means that when temps rise above 90 and remain there for a lengthy spell: Leaves wilt. Water evaporates into the atmosphere more quickly in high heat, draining a plant's reserves.