How to Prune French Lavender. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Lavender is adored by bees because their flowers contain highly concentrated nectar. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation. For some lavenders (midseason lavenders like English lavender), August is the best month for deadheading. 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. But deep at the centre of this moulded shrub, it is trying to turn to wood. Prune in late August after they’ve finished blooming. Lavender Hidcote in flower: they should be pruned twice a year if you want a good strong bushy plant. It is used as a spice or condiment in pasta, salads and dressings, and desserts. While pruning in spring can delay flowering, it is a good time to trim away dead or damaged parts. 'Willow Vale' - deep purple flower heads topped by three pale-lavender flags (60 cm/24 in), 2. Loved for their decadent, aromatic fragrance, Lavender is one of the most versatile and beautiful summer-flowering plants. Pruning lavender varies according to the type of lavender you're growing. Lavender is an evergreen shrub that looks like a perennial plant because most of its growth is soft and green. Pruning with the goal of improving future flowering is best done as soon as the flowers have faded. When to Prune Lavender You’ll start trimming lavender in the second year that it is in the ground. Cut back to the tiny green shoots low down into the plant. The 'tufted lavenders' have a flag-like petals at the top of each thick flower spike and they are often labelled Spanish or French lavenders. Question about your subscription? Hard pruning, where you are removing a lot of the plant is best left until new growth appears in spring. The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. Every time the wind catches them they move and billow. Pruning the old flowers off Lavender is done every year. Remove any dead or damaged growth and shear back a good third of the green leafy growth for those without harsh winter conditions. The best time to prune lavender is after flowering, but this plant is forgiving. Pick the flowers of English lavender in early June if you want to dry them. Credit : Photo: GETTY IMAGES A reader writes about lavender trimming: Before you prune your lavender you need to identify which type you have planted in your garden. It isn’t just dead-heading your lavender. How to Trim a Lavender with Woody Stems. It isn’t hard to learn how to trim a lavender with woody stems. They flower much earlier, often in May, but are much less hardy than most garden lavenders. 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. Munstead' - pale mauve-purple flowers (55 cm/22 in), 2. Cut back by about 1/2 of the height of the plant leaving plenty of green leaves intact. We recommend that you cut your lavender back around September time ( between 10:00am – 11:00am on September 15th!) Lavandula is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Trim them under the leaf node, remove the lower leaves and plunge them into a 50% compost-and-horticultural-sand mix. Pruning your English lavender every year will keep it in good stead for many a year. You can give English lavender another tidy in April to delay flowering time. Newly planted or very young plants need a chance to establish themselves, and in order to do this, they need to be able to focus on growing roots. Find out more about attracting. When to Prune Lavender This will depend on what sort of pruning. 1. During the Black Plague, which hit London in the 16th century, lavender oil and alcohol were taken as a way to ward off the disease. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Lavender is an easy to grow, versatile evergreen semi-shrub that produces one of the longest-lasting and beautifully scented flowers around. Essential oils of lavender are often used in aromatherapy because they produce a relaxing effect in most people. 'Hidcote' - neat, dark purple flowers (50 cm/20 in), 3. They were originally introduced into Britain by the Romans and used for their antiseptic properties. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most commonly grown and the hardiest lavender of all. 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. Get 10% off at Thompson & Morgan and save on seasonal specials. After the flowers have finished cut back the flower stalks without going into old wood. In frost free areas, your lavender plants may remain evergreen. Flower spikes are longer as well, and they have a graceful taper. Hardy lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia types) can cope with temperatures down to about -15°C, and can therefore be left in the garden all year round. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Lavandula stoechas (French lavender) are easily be identified by the colourful ear-like tufts topping the flowerhead. Name – Lavandula stoechas (GB) Name – Lavandula dentata (USA) Family – Lamiaceae. Prune these lavender in spring when all frost is finished for the season. The main pruning can be done as soon as the plant has finished flowering. They resist drought. These cookies do not store any personal information. Lavenders are Mediterranean plants and they need hot, dry positions to do well. Prune back after flowering, avoiding pruning into old woody growth. Prune for healthier lavender plants. Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) is the hardiest (H5 hardy-cold winter) variety of lavender. Ideal techniques and timing will differ between varieties, however the general rules still apply. It will kill them. This can be done through: 1. preparingcuttings 2. harvesting and growing from seeds Let’s take a lo… A Quick Guide to Pruning Lavenders Prune English Lavender in August or after the flowers have faded. Lavender essential oil was used in hospitals during WWI. Aim for a tidy, rounded mound of foliage (that looks good in winter, too). This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A frost can kill off new plant growth. Follow us. Lavender is a beautiful and fragrant perennial which can find a place in many gardens. The common lilac is prone to suckers which can draw vital energy and nutrients away from the plant. Trim newly planted lavender hard after flowering, in August/September. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, medical or other form of advice. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Lavender Varieties. This is particularly useful close to roses, because the main flush of lavender follows the June flush of roses. If you are considering adding lavender to your garden, however, it is important to note that pruning lavender is essential. Lavender scent produces a calming effect, while essential oils soothe skin. 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. A drought-tolerant plant that likes a sunny dry spot and thrives in borders, pots, herb or gravel gardens. When To Prune Red Robin (Photinia) In The UK, What Is Eating My Box Hedge? After this second flowering period has finished in late summer, a full pruning is required using secateurs to remove flower stalks and about an inch (2.5cm) of the current year’s growth, making sure that green growth remains, this will prepare the plant for winter and encourage more blooms for next springtime. My French Lavender plant is only 14 months old, and it's lovely and bushy and a mass of flowers. English lavender is identified by its single, leafless stems and compact spikes of heavily scented blossoms. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9 'Imperial Gem' - thicker purple flowers and silver foliage (60 cm/24 in), Lavendins ( Lavandula x intermedia) ideal for billowing single specimens, 1. The Nectar from lavender plants is used to make high-quality honey. Take lavender cuttings from all your varieties every June and July. Join now. Shape them with shears in late August, aiming for a rounded mound of foliage. 'Seal' -a taller lavendin with purple flowers (100 cm/39 in), 2. If new growth has already come in by several inches, you may need to wait until harvest or risk losing many of your flowers. It’s important to prune a few months before winter sets in to prevent frost and breakage from the snow. Look for new growth spouting through near the base of your plant and cut an inch (2.5cm) above the new growth. Regular pruning twice a year gives your plant time regenerate fresh flowers and … Below are three common types of lavender planted in UK gardens. English lavenders suitable for hedges and edges. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. If you're planning a traditional English garden, read our guide to designing a cottage garden. Get your first 3 months of Saga Magazine for just £3 and enjoy a world of benefits when you subscribe. Pruning to … A well-pruned angustifolia has a life expectancy of over 20 years without becoming too woody. However, they do benefit from an annual prune as this will help maximise flowering and keep your plants looking nice and healthy. Unlike many other trees and shrubs lavender wood that has formed usually does not rejuvenate. There are many reasons why lavender could be a good choice of plant for where you live. Give them a very gentle trim after the first flush of flowers has faded, often in late June, but don't ever cut them back hard. If you don't harvest most of your lavender for drying, you'll have to prune it back a bit each year to encourage new growth in the present and following seasons. Cut back quite hard but don’t cut into old wood, as this can reduce flowering potential the following year. Many people keep bunches of lavender in their homes to repel unwanted animals.