Choosing the right time to prune your lavender is not something to be taken lightly. And it’s about more than keeping your garden looking tidy.
Get it right and your lavender will stay healthy and vibrant. You’ll keep getting beautiful blooms from it. But if you get it wrong and your lavender will struggle.
And it’s easy to prune lavender the wrong way. Do so and you’ll have ruined one of your favorite herbs.
So follow this simple pruning guide and you can guarantee you’ll have the best results with wonderful and healthy lavender.
Why Prune Lavender?
You’ll want to prune your lavender because it will stimulate new growth, make it live longer and help to improve the production of flowers. If you prune regularly your lavender song become woody and sparse – the parts were the flowers are and far between.
And a well pruned lavender is healthier, more robust and it’s shape will look better.
Understanding Lavender Varieties
Before we get into the pruning specifics it’s a good idea to know which kind of lavender you’re dealing with.
The two main types – English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) – have slightly different needs, which includes when and how they should be pruned.
English Lavender
This is the most common variety of lavender and a classic for the garden. It’s strong and has a sweet scent.
It typically blooms once but it may bloom twice in a season if you’re lucky and the conditions are right.
French Lavender
French lavender is known for having a very distinctive butterfly look to its petals. It blooms all through the summer and is less strong colder climate. Thankfully you get lots of flowering over a longer period and that sort of makes up for it.
When to Prune Lavender
This will come down to the type of lavender and the climate it is growing in. So let’s take a look when to prune different varieties of lavender throughout the year.
Understanding Bloom Cycles
First it’s important to note that lavender blooms on the stems that grow in the current year. So try to time your pruning so that it stimulate theses growths without damaging the lavender or affecting the blooms for next season.
Spring Pruning
Spring is one of the most important times for pruning lavender. Even more so when it’s coming out of its dormant period on the winter.
Pruning early like this should be focused on removing any dead stems and old, spent blooms that have carried over from the previous season.
For all types of lavender:
- Timing: Prune in late spring after the last frost but before any new growth. This will be around late April to early May in many climates.
- Method: Trim off any dead wood and cut back about a third of the previous year’s growth. This will keep the plant compact and encourage new growth. Always leave some green, non woody growth on each stem to help it’s regeneration be healthy.
Summer Pruning
Pruning lavender after the first flowering peak (which is usually in late June or early July) can encourage a second bloom of flowers. This is even more likely in varieties like English lavender.
Here’s how to handle summer pruning:
- Timing: prune lightly not long after the first bloom starts to fade. This should usually be around mid to late July.
- Method: Cut the spent flower stalks down to the first set of new leaves. This will tidy up the plant and also redirects its energy towards producing more blooms. You may get lucky and get second round of flowering too.
Late Summer or Early Fall Pruning
Lavender will grow into the fall in some warmer climates. If that’s the case then you may need to prune again. It will shape the plant and get it prepared for winter.
For cooler climates pruning should be handled with care. Otherwise you might stimulate new growth that won’t survive the frost.
- Timing: Prune in late August or early September, depending on your climate. Don’t prune too late in the fall as this can result in frost damage to the new growth.
- Method: Trim the plants to shape them but avoid cutting them back too much. Focus instead on removing only the flower stalks and any thin growth. This will keep the airflow strong and reduce the risk of mold and pests.
Regional Considerations
- Colder Zones (1-5):Limit pruning to early spring to avoid frost damage. I wouldn’t recommend pruning in the fall as it can lead to new growths that will not survive the winter.
- Moderate Zones (6-8): Both spring and late summer pruning are beneficial. Do some light tidying ups as needed.
- Warmer Zones (9-11): These areas might let you get away with some more flexibility for later fall pruning due to milder winters.
Why Timing Matters
Proper timing is important as it gives the plant enough time to heal and regenerate before it either goes dormant in the winter or faces the hottest part of the summer. If you get the timing wrong your pruning can stress the plant, reduce blooms or even cause death in the harshest climates.
How to Prune Lavender
Pruning lavender isn’t difficult but it does requires a gentle hand and the right tools. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
You’ll need sharp, clean pruning shears. Disinfect all your tools before you use them as otherwise you could spread disease.
Step 2: Cutting Back
When pruning never cut into the woody base of the plant if you can avoid it. Always leave a few inches of green growth on the stems. Doing so will make sure your lavender does more than just survive but thrives.
Step 3: Shaping
Shape the lavender into a mounded form. This helps with air circulation and lets the sunlight get to it. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a dome shape as this lets rainwater disperse and stops root rot.
Caring for Your Lavender After Pruning
Post pruning care is as important as the pruning itself. Here are a few tips to make sure your lavender continues to perform well:
- Watering: Lavender does not require a lot of water. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch.
- Feeding: Be gentle with your fertilizing. Lavender thrives in poor soil and too much fertilizer can lead to floppy growth.
- Mulching: Apply a light layer of mulch like gravel or sand to help with the drainage and stops root rot.
Troubleshooting Issues
Sometimes despite your best efforts lavender can run into trouble. You troubleshoot some of the most common issues:
- Leggy Plants: If your lavender becomes leggy it’s usually a sign that it needs more sunlight or you need to prune it more.
- Rot: Root rot is mostly a symptom of your lavender being too wet. You want your soil to be draining well and make sure you’re not overwatering your plants.
- Pests and Disease: Keep an eye out for pests and signs of disease. Healthy, well pruned lavender won’t succumb to these issues but it can still happen. So checking from time to time will help you catch any problems early on.
