How to prune lavender

How to prune lavender

1. 01

   When and how much

   The RHS recommends trimming lavender annually in late summer, just after flowering has finished. Remove any spent flower stalks and about 2.5 cm (1 in) of leaf growth.

   

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   Do not cut back into the old woody stems, because lavender does not break new growth easily from old wood.

   A second source also says to cut it back yearly and remove the spent flower spikes after the flowers fade.

2. 02

   Spring tidy-up

   The RHS says foliage can be clipped over in spring if growth is untidy or frost damaged. Keep this to the green, leafy growth.

3. 03

   Never cut into old wood

   Lavender does not break new growth easily from old stems, so do not cut back into the woody stems. Cutting into bare old wood leaves little chance of good new growth.

4. 04

   Old and woody plants

   The RHS says that even if pruned annually, older lavender plants can become straggly, very woody and misshapen.

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   As lavender is fast growing and establishes quickly, the RHS suggests replacing old plants if you want a neat planting.

5. 05

   Frost and pots

   French and other tender lavenders are less hardy, so grow them in containers and keep them frost free. Container plants are more vulnerable to cold, so move them to a sheltered spot over winter.

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   The RHS says English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and its hybrids are the hardiest types and usually survive outdoors in free-draining soil.

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