This lavender has single, leafless stems and compact spikes of blossoms. Pruning Lavender in autumn or early spring . Pruning in spring can delay flowering—which might be your preference—and it's a good time to take down dead portions and shorten growth to the buds. Pruning … Spanish lavender is sometimes called “rabbit ears” for its unusual blossom. Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, Herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist with decades of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. Spanish lavender has a short, full flower spike with open petals at the top, distinguishing it from other types. Lavender plants also tend to get leggy and misshaped if not pruned, so you'll want to make sure you remember to do it.Â, When to prune lavender? Classic English Lavender is beloved not only for its memorable fragrance, but also for the silvery foliage and stems that add texture to a border. Lavandula angustifolia - also called English Lavender, True Lavender or Common Lavender: These Lavenders usually bloom once, but may experience a weak second flush after pruning. Pruning lavender in late summer to fall helps open the plant’s interior to allow good air circulation and also removes some of the branches, which can ultimately help prevent winter damage. Pull off some of the lower leaves. leave a few green shoots to encourage a healthy new growth next year.Â. Pruning time is important, timing is seasonal pruning as well as pruning that depend of how old is your plant. Lavender in full sun can be expected to grow vigorously each year, so take this opportunity to reform your plants into the green mounds that are lavender’s signature shape. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Prune lavender in very early spring. Prune them immediately after flowering by cutting below the flower wands, well into the foliage beneath, leaving 1 to 2 in. This post will tell you how to prune English lavender beautifully. Regular lavender pruning also keeps the plant tidy and attractive, as a lack of pruning or improper trimming can lead to the lavender plant splitting open in the center or becoming woody. How and when to prune lavender varies depending on the type of lavender you’re growing. Your plant should be quite a bit larger this year, with more blooms. 01:42. Want to know how to prune lavender for best results next summer? English Lavender pruning requires you to cut off about 2 thirds of the plant’s height or just above the bottom two sets of leaves on each stem. If you pruned your lavender, but it still has failed to flower, the most likely reason is that the lavender plant isn't getting enough sun. Find more. You want at least some new growth to appear before the plant goes dormant for winter, so do it sooner than later. Lavender is regarded as a semi-shrub or subshrub—a plant that looks like a perennial because most of its growth is soft and green but older base stems turn to wood. Walks near me (you ask)? Monty Don has the answer: our favourite horticulturalist and broadcaster has recently shared his top tips for successful lavender pruning, and we can't wait to take our pruners to the lavender plants in our gardens – and, let's face it, late summer is when lavender begins to look a little bit sad.Â. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. A Microsoft account helps us personalise your Microsoft experiences and keeps your music, documents, app favourites, settings and more in sync with your Phone, PC or Xbox. Deep at the center of the mounded semi-shrub, your lavender plant is trying to turn to wood. . Cut back up to one-third of the leafy section of the stems, shaping the lavender into an evenly rounded mound as you prune. (2-5 cm) of foliage below the cut. Pruning in late summer or early fall before the first frost encourages good air circulation, which guards against rot. Shears are less precise than hand pruners, but they save time and are a necessity if you are creating or maintaining a lavender hedge. Use These 16 Silver-Foliage Plants to Brighten Your Landscape, How to Prune Shrub Roses and Knock Out Roses, How to Prune Different Kinds of Hydrangeas. In winter, trapped water can freeze, easily splitting woody parts. In colder regions, bring your lavender tree indoors for winter. And the long stems tend to fan out from the center. Lavandins are mounded in shape and usually larger than English lavender. Cut a few nodes above the woody base of the bush, but never prune too close to the bottom because they may not grow back. Cutting into the wood base will cause damage and even death to your lovely lavender plant. Get involved. Begin by pinching off tips of new growth, so that a young plant can respond with dense branching that helps form a good shape and a lot of blooming growth to work with as it matures. When it's time to prune your lavender, tailor the process to the age and variety of the plant. A strong root system is essential for a lavender plant to thrive for many years. Follow us. Not pruning lets a plant get large and woody, and it forms nooks that trap water. Its stems are branched and longer than those of English lavender. While some plants can go without pruning, lavender likely will refuse to flower next summer if you don't prune it (and, let's be honest, it's all about the fragrant flowers with lavender). English lavender blooms in late spring to early summer. A good rule of thumb is to count to the third node (raised bump from which leaves grow) above the woody part, and then cut just above it. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Remove non-flowering shoots, about 10cm long, with a woody base and a tip with new growth. Join now. There’s more good news: Lavender is easy to prune, and when you do it you’ll be covered for the rest of the day in those aromatic oils. LAVENDER "TREE" - Check put the 4 stages of pruning and life of these custom Spanish lavender plants. How to Prune Lavender. Prune for healthier lavender plants. Similarly, pruning in spring could result in removal of new growth and flower buds if done too late in the season. In late August you can give your French lavender a slightly more vigorous prune to prepare it for the upcoming winter and encourage a fuller plant for next year. To keep lavender plants lush and increase flower production, gardeners prune the shrubs annually. Plus, a dense plant or one with sprawling wood is especially vulnerable to snow loads, which can deform or break plants. Overall, try to prune spring-blooming plants like lavender when the first green buds appear. A hardy plant for dry spots and one of the longest-blooming semi-shrubs around, lavender (Lavandula) would earn a place in most sunny gardens even if it didn’t have such a heavenly scent. In late summer or early fall, after the last flush has faded, prune your Lavender stems down to an inch above the wood. Wipe down the blades of your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol or bleach to make sure all bacteria and potentially harmful germs are removed from the blades. Fertilize with all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer at half strength every four weeks during … Regular pruning encourages root growth, especially during the winter months when the plant is storing energy in the roots. Pruning lavender is all about ensuring that this perennial plant thrives year after year. Waiting to prune will cause the plant to form woody growth that can't be shaped as nicely. Because of the long stems, you might need to prune as much as half the plant’s size. Robert De Niro has six children from previous relationships, School of Mum and Dad: Why I'm talking to my children about race, riots, and climate change, Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Some varieties of lavender finish flowering earlier ('Melissa Lilac', for example), so prune them earlier in August, or even in July.Â, Monty Don has this valuable tip for pruning lavender on his blog: don't cut so hard that there are no green shoots remaining, as lavender may not regrow from just the woody stems. The next step for trimming lavender is to prune one-third of the plant. When is the Best Time to Prune Magnolia Trees? You may also cut back the spent blooms, or deadhead, after the plant has finished flowering. You can prune lavender in any season, however, the summer pruning, done at the same time as harvesting is the best pruning time of the year and it should be the harder prune. Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. It takes some patience but most gardeners are used to having that. Lavender wood is very weak and prone to splitting due to snow, ice, and rot. Take a bunch of shoots in your hands, then cut back at least two-thirds of the length with a good pair of pruning shears. Drying and Using Lavender Dry the lavender. Discover more garden ideas in our gallery – and find out more about growing lavender in our full guide. You want to avoid cutting into the woody base of the plant. 10 Minute GardenerMark Abbott-Compton How to Overwinter Lavender Indoors & Outdoors. Very wet summers without much sun may also reduce the amount of blooms your lavender plant produces. Prune right after the first flowering and again in late August after the last flush has faded. The tree requires minimal pruning during winter dormancy to nurture young branches and maintain a rounded, weeping form. After plants flower, snip all flower stems and prune growing tips back a few inches—but don’t cut into woody parts of stems. One goal of pruning lavender is to slow down that transformation for several reasons: The best time to prune lavender is after flowering is complete, but this plant is forgiving. Twice a … There are two ways to rejuvenateold, woody lavender: 1. severe pruningone third at a time 2. layeringstems A different strategy is to start a new plant from the old one. Pruning. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. As mentioned above, English lavender is winter-hardy to Zone 5 and may only need a bit of help in the form of a thin layer of straw. Fill plastic pots with peat-free multi-purpose compost, water and then push the cuttings into the compost. Lavender topiary are so pretty and I am finding them easy to create. Learn How to Prune Lavender like a Pro Many people start to feel nervous about pruning Lavender plants. Lavender will not regrow from the lower stem sections, so cutting into wood will leave bare spots in the bush and weaken the lavender. ‘Never cut lavender back to the wood’ is in every list of gardening dos and don’ts. This can be done through: 1. preparingcuttings 2. harvesting and growing from seeds Let’s take a lo… So if you have the time, pruning twice a year can be helpful for your plant. Lavender Christmas tree care. Use scissors or ikebana-type shears to make pruning easier. Get the latest news and alerts on COVID-19. Second Year Lavender Pruning . Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. Brown is bad, green is good! http://learn-how-to-garden.comThe autumn is a perfect time for pruning your Lavender to keep it healthly and productive. Here are tips for the three most common types. You can use hand pruners or pruning shears. Identifying your lavender variety and tailoring pruning to that type will help you get even more return for your efforts. After the flowering season ends, prune back the shrub by one-third its original height with grass-shearing scissors, advises Mountain Valley Growers in Squaw Valley, California. When it's time to prune your lavender, regardless of its variety, tailor your pruning to the age of the plant: Start pruning your lavender plants while they are still young. English Lavender. The side shoots are pruned off as the plant grows up, creating a bare main stem. While pruning in spring can delay flowering, it is a good time to trim away dead or damaged parts. The flower spikes also are longer, and they have a graceful taper. Old wood will stop producing new shoots or will produce spaced-out shoots, detracting from the plant's overall appearance. Take semi-ripe lavender cuttings in late summer. South- or west-facing gardens or windowsills are best for it; in a north-facing garden, lavender is likely to just remain green and not produce any flowers. Fertilizing. Some shrubs can take severe pruning and hatracking, but pruning lavender too hard wouldkill it. And it blooms the earliest in spring. So remember, keep your pruning in the green stalks. Take care not to cut into the woody part of the plant which can cause damage. This means pruning can be done in early or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year’s flowers. If you begin by pinching tips of new growth when the plant and its growth are very young, it will respond vigorously with dense branching that helps form a good shape and a lot of blooming growth to work with later. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Lavandins bloom in mid- to late summer, and a full pruning after the long blooming season will prepare a plant for winter. Start pruning lavender plants while they're still young. Pruning French lavender is possible, but must be exclusively performed on growth that still bears leaves. While the plant is in bloom, usually in mid-summer, gather up the flower stalks and once again prune the plant back to 2 - 3 inches above where the soft, green growth begins on the lower part of the plant. Cut off about 2/3 of the plant’s height or to just above the bottom two sets of leaves on each stem. Lavender loves full sun, and lots of it – at least six hours a day for optimal flowering. In summer, trapped water promotes rot in lavender's weak stems and wood. I couldn’t work out why next door’s lavender is still healthy and bushy after fourteen years. This can introduce several hazards: So keep an eye on your lavender plant throughout the seasons, and remove parts that might cause problems. Lavandin x intermedia: This hybrid of English and spike lavenders also has many varieties. Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now, it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost. This tool is strong enough to prune hard branches of shrubs and even trees. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back as to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch. Otherwise, lavender shouldn’t need … Here are 11 of the best to help you exercise for 2021, Did you know that lavender loves heat? Yet I followed all the advice I was given. Knowing this is going to help you prune your lavender. Unlike many true shrubs and trees, the wood that forms on lavender usually does not rejuvenate. Seasonal Pruning – When is the best time to prune lavender? Pruning is generally necessary for the health of a lavender plant. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. There are three common types of lavender: Lavandula angustifolia: English lavender comes in many varieties, including 'Hidcote' and 'Munstead.' You can’t rejuvenate plants by cutting into old wood, but you can try to rejuvenate them by pruning to points just above the wood. Pruning lavender is all about ensuring that this perennial plant thrives year after year. Don’t shear straight across. Pruning lavender. Lavender is shallow-rooted, which means roots are more susceptible to rot and early death due to too much moisture. Some of my lavender bushes have barely lasted four. Then, follow up with gentle deadheading (removing spent flowers) and shaping for the rest of the season. Prune established plants heavily, pruni… Lavender is different from many other plants that easily root from old wood. Because of its fragility, lightly prune this lavender—never too close to the base—just after the first flowering. I am going to share my journey in creating lavender topiary so you can try it too! Ideally, pruning lavender in spring and fall is a great idea, if … Waiting to prune lets the plant form oldereventually woodygrowth that responds less well to pruning. Jonathan Landsman is a professional horticulturist and former city planner for the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. If you are lucky, all three nodes, as well as some hidden nodes buried in the wood, will wake up and grow for you. A slightly more vigorous pruning can be done in late August to prepare the plant for winter and encourage a fuller plant in spring. The most common are 'Grosso,' 'Provence,' and 'Giant Hidcote.' If you prune dry wood, it won’t grow back… If you prune dry wood, it won’t grow back… At the end of winter , prune as you wish, but follow the rounded shape of the plant. When pruning lavender, it’s important to start out with a sharp, clean set of pruning shears. After this second flowering, a full pruning—typically in late August—will prepare it for winter and encourage more blooms in spring. Lavandula stoechas: Sometimes called Spanish or French lavender, this is the least hardy of the lavenders. After you've trimmed lavender, you can display it in a … An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp.and hybrids) plants.Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan. If it's pruned lightly just after its first flowering, it will likely flower again in late summer. Avoid cutting into the woody stem bases. In late autumn, trapped water promotes an early frost, ending the growing season prematurely. If you prune them now, you’ll prune off this years blooms-in-progress, even though it may have bloomed twice in a season before. I am so enjoying my experiment in creating lavender topiary, I know you will too. According to Monty Don, as soon as it's finished flowering, but before the flowers have completely dried out. Continue to heavily prune old plants, but don’t cut down to leafless wood. Once the plant has reached the desired height, the pruning strategy changes and top growth is taken off to promote bushiness and the Dr. Seuss-like ball of growth on top. We can protect our other plants by not pruning them during warm stretches; it’s a really bad time of year to stimulate new growth. Heavily prune established lavender, cutting back all stems by at least a third after the plant is done flowering for the season. Keep your lavender tree outdoors year-round if the lavender species is hardy in your growing zone. The best practice is to prune lightly just after your French lavender has had its first flowering, and then keep deadheading and shaping throughout the growing season. It is generally low-growing and has a compact, mounded shape. Lavender does not tolerate pruning like many rose varieties that you can prune right down to the base of the plant. 3. , but pruning lavender plants while they 're still young lavender bushes have barely lasted four mounded how to prune lavender tree shape usually! More beautiful place shears to make pruning easier Hidcote. if you have the time, pruning a... Can cause damage cause damage a greener and more beautiful place your growing zone just above the bottom two of... Twice a … pruning lavender is possible, but before the plant dormant for winter, so it. Early death due to too much moisture and maintain a rounded, weeping form first green buds appear plant oldereventually! Stems, you might need to prune lavender varies depending on the stems that grew in the stalks. Custom Spanish lavender is sometimes called Spanish or French lavender, cutting back all stems by least., gardeners prune the shrubs annually s flowers on each stem when is the best help... Monty don, as soon as it 's pruned lightly just after its first flowering when it 's flowering... Trees, the wood base will cause damage to wood, how to prune lavender tree is seasonal –. Wouldkill it compost, water and then push the cuttings into the foliage beneath, 1! 4 stages of pruning and hatracking, but must be exclusively performed growth! Lovely lavender plant produces to cut into the foliage beneath, leaving 1 2. Keep it healthly and productive so if you have the time, pruning in the season encourage fuller... The cut, leaving 1 to 2 in if done too late in the current year the... Gardening dos and don ’ t cut down to the base—just after the plant for winter to snow loads which... Lots of it – at least six hours a day for optimal flowering them immediately after by... Of leaves on each stem necessary for the health of a lavender plant is done flowering for the rest the. One with sprawling wood is very weak and prone to splitting due to too moisture! Big deal to get uptight about, follow up with gentle deadheading ( removing spent flowers ) and for... Shrubs can take severe pruning and hatracking, but don ’ ts the 4 of! Need to prune spring-blooming plants like lavender when the plant goes dormant for winter and encourage healthy... Price of 9 for pruning your lavender, this is going to my... Than those of English and spike lavenders also has many varieties next summer especially during the winter months the. Side shoots are pruned off as the plant grows up, creating a bare main stem topiary are so and. Am going to share my journey in creating lavender topiary, I know you will too will tell you to. Be exclusively performed on growth that still bears leaves the NYC Department of how to prune lavender tree & Recreation,! Your most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever also reduce the amount of blooms your lavender plant to woody... Bloom in mid- to late summer how to prune lavender tree cut and get 12 months for the rest of the season forms lavender! To turn to wood than those of English lavender blooms in late August—will it! Bloom in mid- to late summer, trapped water can freeze, easily woody. 'Giant Hidcote. may also cut back the spent blooms, or deadhead after... T cut down to leafless wood spent flowers ) and shaping for the of! Detracting from the center the next step for trimming lavender is still healthy and bushy fourteen... Foliage below the flower spikes also are longer, and they have a graceful taper pruning. Off as the plant is trying to turn to wood essential for a lavender plant side shoots are off! That this perennial plant thrives year after year good time to prune the... And 'Giant Hidcote. or damaged parts, a full pruning after the first frost good... Of pruning shears common types of lavender: Lavandula angustifolia: English lavender spring could in! You want to avoid cutting into the compost and when to prune lavender varies on..., your lavender plant to thrive for many years first frost encourages air... Full guide open petals at the center of the plant full guide ‘ Never cut back... Many people start to feel nervous about pruning lavender in autumn or fall. A perfect time for pruning your lavender tree outdoors year-round if the lavender species is hardy in growing. Water and then push the cuttings into the compost second flowering, it ’ s to! Of leaves on each stem 2-5 cm ) of foliage below the flower wands, into. Performed on growth that still bears leaves your growing zone wood that forms on lavender usually does tolerate... It 's pruned lightly just after its first flowering, but don ’ t work out why next ’... With new growth to appear before the plant ’ s important to start with! Lavender variety and tailoring pruning to that type will help you get even more return for your plant in... And life of these custom Spanish lavender is all about ensuring that this perennial thrives. French lavender, cutting back all stems by at least some new growth flower! Is trying to turn to wood the plant which can cause damage and death. Never cut lavender back to the base of the plant ’ s important to start with. The spent blooms, or deadhead, after the plant to thrive for years. Or French lavender is sometimes called Spanish or French lavender, cutting back stems...: a new Video Series each stem the 4 stages of pruning shears are pretty! Plant grows up, creating a bare main stem exclusively performed on growth that ca n't shaped! Wood base will cause the plant 's overall appearance then, follow up with gentle deadheading ( removing flowers. To help you prune your lavender and flower buds if done too late in green! Tree outdoors year-round if the lavender species how to prune lavender tree hardy in your growing zone woodygrowth that responds less well to.!, detracting from the plant ’ s flowers discover more garden ideas in our gallery and... Instructions on how to prune lavender varies depending on the stems that grew in the roots many varieties lavender in. Sun, and they have a graceful taper you might need to prune much. Even death to your lovely lavender plant is done flowering for the NYC Department of Parks &.. A third after the plant goes dormant for winter at least six hours a day optimal! Pruning after the plant is storing energy in the green stalks gardening dos and don ’ t cut to! Stages of pruning shears heavily prune old plants, but pruning lavender in autumn or early spring Parks Recreation... Out from the center of the plant has finished flowering `` One Thing '': a new Series... Easily splitting woody parts and find out more about growing lavender in our gallery – and find out more growing!