- Cutting lavender - when and how?
- Why should you prune lavender?
- Lavender varieties
- When is the best time to cut back?
- How to cut lavender?
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Pruning is an essential part of caring for trees and plants because it promotes their growth, strength and longevity. In this regard, we will give you tips and tricks on how and when to prune lavender so that you can enjoy the sweet scent of this garden plant for a long time.
Cutting lavender - when and how?
Blooming lavender plants smell wonderful
Why should you prune lavender?
Lavender is known for its calming scent, he alth benefits and anti-inflammatory properties. Cultivation is relatively easy and maintenance is a breeze! As long as you trim it twice a year, you can achieve long-lasting results with minimal effort.
Lavender plants ensure garden splendor
Pruning trains your plant to handle more stress and directs nutrients into new stems instead of repairing old ones. And of course there is another benefit to this as the plant is neat and beautifully shaped! But before you prune your lavender, it's important to determine what variety of lavender you're dealing with.
What types of lavender are there?
Lavender varieties
There are many varieties of lavender, but we'll turn our attention to two of the most popular of them - English and French lavender. They may have different flowering times, but the techniques for their pruning are the same.
Lavender blooms so beautifully!
English Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)
This "real lavender" is the most versatile of all varieties. It can live up to 25 years or more with proper care. It does very well outdoors and has long, slender buds that bloom from late spring to early summer. A light cut is best recommended after the first harvest, followed by a heavier cut in late summer or fall. However, it's not a problem if you miss a cut. English lavender works well for large hedges in the yard or garden.
English Lavender
French Lavender (Lavandula dentata)
French or Spanish lavender blooms in mid spring. It has a lifespan of three to five years. This one has smaller flowers with delicate petals that resemble butterflies. French lavender blooms in summer or fall and regenerates faster than its English cousin. That means you have to cut it lightly but more often.
Although French lavender does not tolerate low temperatures well, it makes an excellent ornamental plant in the garden!
French Lavender
When is the best time to cut back?
For most lavender varieties, pruning is best done in the spring or fall after harvest. It is important to prune the lavender a few months before the onset of winter. Regular pruning twice a year gives your lavender plant time to regenerate fresh blooms and stay in good shape for the next season.
Plant pruning in spring
For young plants, let the plant take root first, and then cut the new growth in the first year to increase volume. If you prune young lavender plants regularly and don't let them flower, then pruning will be much easier in the years to come
Perennial plants require heavy pruning and you can remove up to a third of the stem length.
The same applies to mature plants. If you start pruning early, you can prune your mature lavender plant a little more. How to wake up the dormant older stems so they can bloom again.
In spring, pruning your lavender plants is of great importance
Before you cut your lavender, you need some tools. Sharpening your scissors will give your plants a clean cut. To avoid contamination and disease, make sure your tools are clean and properly disinfected in a diluted bleach solution:
- Gardening gloves for hygiene and protection
- Secateurs for small plants
- Hedge trimmer for larger bushes and hedges growing outdoors
Prepare your tools well
You will need secateurs
Hedge trimmers maybe too
How to cut lavender?
If you want to decorate your house or garden with beautiful, fragrant lavender flowers, then you need to prune your lavender plants regularly at least twice a year (in spring and autumn).
Prune your lavender plants at least twice a year
Do a spring cleaning by removing dead or damaged parts and blooms from the shrub. You can also do this throughout the summer, or repeat as often as needed throughout the year.
Take a bunch of sprouts in your hand and then cut back at least a third of the length with good pruning shears. But never cut too close to the ground as they may not grow back.
How to cut lavender
Lavender loves the sun! So make sure it thrives in a spot with plenty of sunshine. However, if you're dealing with English or Spanish lavender and you're in colder climates, there are a few precautions you need to take. You can protect your lavender plants from frost by moving them to a greenhouse or indoors during the winter.
Enjoy the beautiful scent of the lavender plants in front of your own front door
Now you know how and when to cut your lavender. Do this regularly and your plants will thank you. And you will be able to enjoy its beautifully scented lavender flowers for many years.
Cutting lavender - do it like a gardening pro!
