Gardening expert shares how to prune lavender and the perfect time

Lavender, known for its stunning flowers and delightful fragrance, is a favorite in the garden because of its low maintenance. However, pruning it at the right time is crucial for a vibrant summer display. The best time to prune lavender is usually late summer or early fall, just after the plant has finished blooming.

But if you missed this window, May is also a good time to prune, just before the flowering season begins. Online gardening expert Michael Griffiths, also known as The Mediterranean Gardener, advises: “If you neglected to prune your lavender in late summer or it’s looking unkempt or has frost damage, now in mid to late spring when the new growth appears , it’s the perfect time. cut.”

Pruning lavender is vital to avoid the plant becoming woody or thick, which can lead to fewer flowers. Regular pruning, at least annually, is necessary to maintain a lush appearance. Michael explains: “Nobody wants lavender that ends up with legs or twigs because you didn’t cut it the right way at the right time,” the Express reports.

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How to cut lavender

It’s incredibly easy and quick to prune lavender properly, as long as you use a clean, sharp pruning tool and make sure you don’t cut more than two-thirds back, otherwise the plant may struggle to grow back .

Michael said: “You can cut lavender as hard as you like, as long as you don’t cut the old wood and leave new growth below the cutting point.”

It is important not to cut the stems too far into the old wood, which is the more mature and thicker woody stems of the plant.

Old wood tends to flower less but provides structure to the plant, and cutting it can stress the plant and weaken it greatly. It can cause your lavender plant to stop producing flowers or even kill the plant.

According to Michael, you’ll be able to tell “very easily” which part of your lavender plant is old wood because it will be “this brown thing over here with this almost white foliage,” while the new growth you can cut back will be “light green”.