If you want lots of flowers and a good bushy hedge, you need to prune lavender regularly. Follow our full guide below to beautiful, fragrant lavender. I presume that, like mine, your 'Hidcote' lavender has just about finished flowering, although it may (tantalisingly but rather annoyingly) still be carrying just a few flowers. lavender. When pruning lavender remember it is pretty forgiving so if you aren't sure either do or don't. David Corscadden Then in spring, just before new growth starts, you can prune back the plant much harder to improve the overall shape of the plant. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Dead heading is not included in the one third rule, because you are removing spent flowers not branches/stems. promotes fuller growth and more flowers for next season. Pruning Lavender for winter should be done at that same time as you harvest the second round of blooms usually mid to late October. The earliest that you can plant lavender in Zone 6a is February.However, you really should wait until March if you don't want to take any chances.. When to Prune Lavender Bushes. The technique in this post is for English lavender, not French lavender but the method is similar. Prune after their first flush of flowers have faded but avoid pruning any later than early September. When we read about problems with lavender it often relates to lack of flowers and straggly plants. French lavender would benefit from a more sheltered garden where very low temperatures are a minimum. The easiest way to tell the two apart is by the flowers. Prune your lavender once or twice a year to maintain shape. Pruning lavender (Lavandula spp.) I definitely belong in the twice-a-year camp. The winter-flowering heathers can be pruned back after flowering – generally, it's best done before June. Pruning in late-August or early autumn will encourage good air circulation, which guards against rot. It does need pruning to ensure it continues to flower properly and does not lignify. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. You can prune at harvesting time and prune to shape in early spring. Pruning Lavender. French lavender (Lavandula dentata), flowers for most of the year so it can be hard to choose the best time to prune. Remove any dead or damaged growth and shear back a good third of the green leafy growth for those without harsh winter conditions. I always cut my earlyish flowering lavender such as this one twice, once in August – even though this means cutting off the stragglers – and again in late February. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. In the past when a lavender plant has become too woody and unsightly I have simply cut the plant right back and it has regrown again. In areas with freezing winter temperatures, you should hold off doing any hard pruning to your lavender plants until you see new growth starting, in the spring. Get involved. When and how to clip your lavender bushes. Prune in late August after they’ve finished blooming. The last month that you can plant lavender and expect a good harvest is probably September.You probably don't want to wait any later than that or else your lavender may not have a chance to grow to maturity. If you decide to harvest your lavender, wait 2-3 weeks after harvesting the stems to prune your plant. Lavenders are relatively easy to prune and pruning every year will help slow down the formation of wood and extend the vigour and lifetime of your plant. Lavender likes a loose free draining soil and will not perform well in wet clay soils. Lavender Hidcote in flower: they should be pruned twice a year if you want a good strong bushy plant. How to grow lavender. Prune again after flowering has finished in spring/early summer. Lavender is a plant which requires very little attention. My Top 10 Memes on Instagram. Feed your lavender in spring to replenish nutrients. The first cut is surprisingly hard. If growing the more tender lavenders, such as Lavandula denata , deadhead and prune only if the plants become scruffy. Using a pair of sharp scissors … 0. Your skin looks fab and I certainly need to use sheet masks more often :). I always cut my earlyish flowering lavender such as this one twice, once in August – even though this means cutting off the stragglers – and again in late February. This easy-to-grow shrub thrives in a sunny spot, in free-draining soil or a container. Generally the best time to prune lavender is once the flowers have faded, so now sounds good. Learn how your comment data is processed. Even with a brief moment of warm sun you can almost transport yourself to the South of France. How to Prune Lavender When pruning lavender, it’s important to start out with a sharp, clean set of pruning shears. When it comes to lavender there are two main varieties that most people will come across in Irish garden centres. It’s important to prune a few months before winter sets in to prevent frost and breakage from the snow. Britain's top indoor snow centres and dry ski slopes for a ski trip on home soil, Brexit deal: Boris Johnson urges Tory Eurosceptics to put the public’s interests before their own, UK security deal with EU will aid crime-fighting with shared data, says Priti Patel, Jack Grealish operating 'on another level' but Aston Villa boss Dean Smith predicts more to come, Jürgen Klopp says he cannot understand why any player would want to leave Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers backs Leicester not to make the same mistakes in trying to upset the established order. The best time to prune lavender is after flowering, but this plant is forgiving. If you take good care of your lavender, it can live for up to 5 years. Join now. French lavender has almost feather like tips to its flowers while English lavender does not. In the past when a lavender plant has become too woody and unsightly I have simply cut the plant right back and it has regrown again. Cut back up to one-third of the leafy section of the stems, shaping the lavender into an evenly rounded mound as you prune. I find two cuts a year keeps them compact and dumpy, which for a lavender hedge is particularly important. Great chatty review, Ash! By: Korshye Long Director of Agricultural Operations at Lavender Hill Farm. Once a year? In good conditions these are a fast growing plant and can be pruned back by at least 1/3 each year. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Blue Line: We prune our lavender in early April (New Zealand autumn).Prune back all shoots at least 1/3 of the plant. You want at least some new growth to appear before the plant goes dormant for winter, so do it sooner than later. http://learn-how-to-garden.comThe autumn is a perfect time for pruning your Lavender to keep it healthly and productive. How do I stop it going downhill from here? If you are going to prune your lavender, the best time to do it (in frost prone areas) is summer - late January/early February to allow the new growth to harden off before winter. Avoid cutting into the woody stem bases. This method though can give varied results and should only be tried as a last ditched attempt before digging up the plant. 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. This is why you will often see lavender planted in raised beds or even in pots in some areas. One key job in the coming weeks will be once the flowers begin to fade you can give them a light trim to remove the flowers and give the shrub a general tidy up. Pruning lavender. 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. In general which ever type of lavender you decide to have in your garden soil type is very important. Medals Over Morals: Culture of Abuse in Gymnastics – ash potter: […] Read the full article on TheCircular.org […], Can You Relate? Everything in life should be made out of gold. Pruning in spring can delay floweringwhich might be your preferenceand is a good time to take down dead, winter-killed parts and shorten growth to the fat, vigorous buds. For most lavender varieties, pruning is best done during spring, summer, or fall after harvest. Roses, Quality Street, Celebrations and Heroes: What’s Your Favourite Christmas Tub? Pruning in late-summer or early-fall encourages good air circulation, which guards again… Lavender can be pruned in late winter, but pruning lavender in the spring is better. Main pruning occurs in summer, after the flower harvest. Regular pruning twice a year gives your plant time regenerate fresh flowers and … August 23, 2015 How do I prune my lavender? Hardiness Zones 7 and Below Winter is not kind to lavender plants. The 5 best celebrity baby announcements on social media, Antoine Griezmann breaks his contract with Huawei brand suspected of helping China monitor Uighurs, 10 of the best Irish Social Media accounts to brighten up your day, Top 10 Conspiracy Theories That Stirred Social Networks, Everything You Need To Know About The Irish TikTok House, Who will be at the top of RuPaul’s Drag Race S13, Is the end in sight? Life and Style Prune at the right time, and you will get flowers when due; pruning at the wrong time often means no flowers! In terms of feeding a boost in spring with crushed fish and bone mix will encourage flowering and can be followed with tomato feed during flowering. Twice a year? French lavender is also exclusively purple or lilac in colour while English lavender can come in shades of purple, pink or white. Lavender is prized for its richly fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage. Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. Jun 22, 2020 12:03am. That way you have lavender in flower in your garden all year round. Our pruning calendar set out below - month by month - gives the low down on when is the best time to prune shrubs and trees in the garden. English lavender is the hardiest out of the two and can survive a harsh winter (to a degree) which can make it a better option for people living in exposed areas. The bushes recover during the next few weeks and become pleasing hummocks for winter. French lavender is shorter-lived and less hardy, so more likely to be affected by frost or poor weather. Cut back by about 1/2 of the height of the plant leaving plenty of green leaves intact. Unpruned lavender plants become woody and often split open in the middle. How to prune established lavender. Lavender can grow out of control unless it is forced into submission! 01:42. Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. 10 Minute GardenerMark Abbott-Compton You prune English lavender by cutting it back by two thirds in the second half of August and you can cut into the bare wood, if needed. Then in February (or March if the weather is revolting), I give the bushes a light trim and away they go. You can slot your lavender pruning when it works for you, as long as you complete it by early spring. 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