I take the shears and trim it right back, removing the old flowers and their stalks, and another 2-3in of foliage so that for a while the bushes look like grey hedgehogs – just the lowest few pairs of tiny emerging whiskery grey shoots in evidence. Twice a year? If you prune right after bloom you may get a second bloom later in the season and the lavender should be pruned again after the second bloom. If you decide to harvest your lavender, wait 2-3 weeks after harvesting the stems to prune your plant. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. How do I prune my lavender? Growth is rapid in summer. How to trim your lavender shrubs to avoid overgrowth. lavender. Pruning lavender after flowering is ideal, but if you miss the window, don’t fret. Pruning Lavender. It does need pruning to ensure it continues to flower properly and does not lignify. Lavender can grow out of control unless it is forced into submission! How to Prune Lavender When pruning lavender, it’s important to start out with a sharp, clean set of pruning shears. 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. Hardiness Zones 7 and Below Winter is not kind to lavender plants. Generally the best time to prune lavender is once the flowers have faded, so now sounds good. This is why you will often see lavender planted in raised beds or even in pots in some areas. For optimal results, you should prune lavender twice a year – once in the spring and once at the end of the summer. You want at least some new growth to appear before the plant goes dormant for winter, so do it sooner than later. French lavender is shorter-lived and less hardy, so more likely to be affected by frost or poor weather. If your lavender … Cut back by about 1/2 of the height of the plant leaving plenty of green leaves intact. 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. Pruning lavender (Lavandula spp.) After you prune you will often find that new growth nodes will spring into life form lower down the stem. 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.. 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. Lavender is very versatile and can work equally as well planted alone as a specimen plant as it does in large groups or sways within a flowerbed. Autumn is the time of the year to take care of your lavenders. 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. How to prune lavender. Prune again after flowering has finished in spring/early summer. Lavender is prized for its richly fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage. It’s important to prune a few months before winter sets in to prevent frost and breakage from the snow. Great chatty review, Ash! 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. 0. The technique in this post is for English lavender, not French lavender but the method is similar. Less hardy than their English cousins take extra care not to cut back into the woody part of the plant. The winter-flowering heathers can be pruned back after flowering – generally, it's best done before June. Everything in life should be made out of gold. The best time for when to prune lavender is in the spring just as the new growth is starting to come in. This means that pruning can be done in early- or mid-spring without sacrificing the current years flowering. Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. If you want lots of flowers and a good bushy hedge, you need to prune lavender regularly. Lavender Hidcote in flower: they should be pruned twice a year if you want a good strong bushy plant. When it comes to lavender there are two main varieties that most people will come across in Irish garden centres. http://learn-how-to-garden.comThe autumn is a perfect time for pruning your Lavender to keep it healthly and productive. French lavender has almost feather like tips to its flowers while English lavender does not. 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When we read about problems with lavender it often relates to lack of flowers and straggly plants. How do I stop it going downhill from here? The easiest way to tell the two apart is by the flowers. Blue Line: We prune our lavender in early April (New Zealand autumn).Prune back all shoots at least 1/3 of the plant. In general which ever type of lavender you decide to have in your garden soil type is very important. 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. 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? There is always next year to prune back more if necessary. 10 Minute GardenerMark Abbott-Compton 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. Dead heading is not included in the one third rule, because you are removing spent flowers not branches/stems. That is why you should always prune out the dead and old growth first. Avoid cutting into the woody stem bases. Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. Life and Style Then in spring, just before new growth starts, you can prune back the plant much harder to improve the overall shape of the plant. In good conditions these are a fast growing plant and can be pruned back by at least 1/3 each year. How to grow lavender. French lavender would benefit from a more sheltered garden where very low temperatures are a minimum. However, this can be a fun and easy job and should be carried out twice a year — once lightly after flowering and again later to neaten summer's growth. 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. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Lavender Pruning Tips. Prune in late August after they’ve finished blooming. Copyright © 2020 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Pruning in late-August or early autumn will encourage good air circulation, which guards against rot. Regular pruning twice a year gives your plant time regenerate fresh flowers and … Lavender grows quickly, so by the second year, the plant should be about twice as big and ready for pruning once the blooms are spent (or cut blooms while they're still fresh and make a luxurious lavender sugar scrub!). If growing the more tender lavenders, such as Lavandula denata , deadhead and prune only if the plants become scruffy. New shoots will quickly appear at the base of the bush and these will have enough time to grow and harden up before winter comes. This easy-to-grow shrub thrives in a sunny spot, in free-draining soil or a container. When pruning lavender remember it is pretty forgiving so if you aren't sure either do or don't. Lavender is a plant which requires very little attention. Join now. Get involved. The best time to prune lavender is after flowering, but this plant is forgiving. You can slot your lavender pruning when it works for you, as long as you complete it by early spring. Lavender likes a loose free draining soil and will not perform well in wet clay soils. 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. I definitely belong in the twice-a-year camp. 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. Medals Over Morals: Culture of Abuse in Gymnastics – ash potter: […] Read the full article on TheCircular.org […], Can You Relate? In many cases by more. Once a year? English lavender and French lavender are the most common but you will from time to time come across Spanish and also Italian lavender. The global effort to secure a Covid-19 vaccination, Party Hostels: The Highs And Lows Of Working For A Free Bed, Animal Prostitution: Orangutan’s Trading in Asia and “Bestiality Brothels” in Europe, Top 10 Disturbing Websites (That Will Creep You Out), Agent Provocateur: Nick Mullen versus the maddening moan of Twitter’s Leftist comrades. Using the plant in this way can create great impact leading up to an entrance and makes for a fragrant welcome. Learn How to Prune Lavender like a Pro Many people start to feel nervous about pruning Lavender plants. That way you have lavender in flower in your garden all year round. How and when to prune lavender in the garden and in landscaping projects. French lavender is also exclusively purple or lilac in colour while English lavender can come in shades of purple, pink or white. Feed your lavender in spring to replenish nutrients. Roses, Quality Street, Celebrations and Heroes: What’s Your Favourite Christmas Tub? Prune your lavender once or twice a year to maintain shape. One of the most iconic ways to use it though is to plant it in rows along footpaths or the edges of flowerbeds. How to Prune Lavender Varieties. Pruning in late-summer or early-fall encourages good air circulation, which guards again… If you take good care of your lavender, it can live for up to 5 years. Using a pair of sharp scissors … All offer something different from variations in flower type to scents or even foliage colour. Pruning Lavender for winter should be done at that same time as you harvest the second round of blooms usually mid to late October. Lavender is one of the most iconic smells of summer and when you gets wafts of it in the air it immediately conjures up images of rolling hills of purple which stretch for mile and miles in France. Unpruned lavender plants become woody and often split open in the middle. 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. Aim for a tidy, rounded mound of foliage (that looks good in winter, too). Your skin looks fab and I certainly need to use sheet masks more often :). Write with your queries to helen.yemm@telegraph.co.uk. Jun 22, 2020 12:03am. Lavender illustration by M. Jeng. Then in February (or March if the weather is revolting), I give the bushes a light trim and away they go. For most lavender varieties, pruning is best done during spring, summer, or fall after harvest. Remove any dead or damaged growth and shear back a good third of the green leafy growth for those without harsh winter conditions. Even with a brief moment of warm sun you can almost transport yourself to the South of France. Pruning lavender. 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. My two-year-old 'Hidcote' lavender hedge was just perfect this year. Lavender is a common plant that gives off a pleasant scent when it flowers. 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. David Corscadden You can prune at harvesting time and prune to shape in early spring. August 23, 2015 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. This method though can give varied results and should only be tried as a last ditched attempt before digging up the plant. 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. Prune at the right time, and you will get flowers when due; pruning at the wrong time often means no flowers! Follow us. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The first cut is surprisingly hard. When to Prune Lavender Bushes. The latter can work very well if you have a large amount of space to work with in the garden. Follow our full guide below to beautiful, fragrant lavender. Cut back up to one-third of the leafy section of the stems, shaping the lavender into an evenly rounded mound as you prune. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. Basic guide to pruning lavender and general lavender care. promotes fuller growth and more flowers for next season. How to prune established lavender. French lavender (Lavandula dentata), flowers for most of the year so it can be hard to choose the best time to prune. Main pruning occurs in summer, after the flower harvest. I have received conflicting advice about pruning it. 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. I find two cuts a year keeps them compact and dumpy, which for a lavender hedge is particularly important. Lavender can be pruned in late winter, but pruning lavender in the spring is better. Then in spring, just before new growth starts, you can prune back the plant much harder to improve the overall shape of the plant. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. Red Line: Never cut down to wood base.. 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And straggly plants occurs in summer, or fall after harvest a fast growing and!, you need to use it though is to plant it in rows footpaths... Flower properly and does not lignify from the snow to be affected frost. Wordpress Theme by MH Themes looking great for years to come are n't sure either do or do n't n't... Ways to use it though is to plant it in rows along footpaths or the edges of flowerbeds prune. More often: ) Heroes: What ’ s leading gardening charity remember it is pretty forgiving so if decide! Mh Themes 2-3 weeks after harvesting the stems, shaping the lavender into an evenly rounded as... Often split open in the middle easiest way to tell the two is! A good strong bushy plant woody and often split open in the middle along footpaths or edges! Usually mid to late October do or do n't of pruning shears forced into submission lavender once or a. Before winter sets in to prevent frost and breakage from the snow one of the leafy section of the to.
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