Prune established plants heavily, pruni… 8 steps to the long thin garden of your dreams, Two years ago Emma and Mel moved to a house in Whitstable with a long thin garden. Hope it goes well, I rather expect to fall asleep if I breathe too much English lavender in. You just can’t see where the little buds are, and you really need to make sure you clip as far down as you can, but leaving at least one or two buds on to create new growth. Lavender needs to be pruned back every year to keep the plant base compact and healthy, and give you the chance to shape it to a nice mound. I’ve chopped back the lavender mounds down much further than I used to. The same can be said for pruning Lavender plants. I haven’t quite dared add the ‘tidy-up in spring’ yet, but I will give it a try. And if I paint my shed, it’ll also last longer…. ‘It will love it!’. August 28th, 2016 Posted In: Gardening know how, Town gardens. Red Line: Never cut down to wood base.. Here are tips for the three most common ones. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise that it needs an annual prune to slow down the growth of the base wood. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. It is a running joke* in the Olson family that every spring my mother, Susan the Purpled, is convinced that all of the lavender has died and our fields will need to be completely re-planted. Yes and no. At the farm this is usually early to mid-November. When pruning lavender, it’s important to start out with a sharp, clean set of pruning shears. Prune the soft growth Follow the stem 2 to 3 inches up from the woody part of the stem that's marked on the illustration and remove the rest. Cutting a shallow notch in that branch. 3 top garden privacy tips – how to make your garden look and feel more private! Seasonal Pruning – When is the best time to prune lavender? You need to cut right down into the brown part, where little lavender shoots can just been seen. At the farm this is usually early to mid-November. Cutting back the old Lavender flower stems can be done anytime after flowering to remove the old flower stems and improve the plants appearance. You need to choose the variety that suits your blooming periods. For a great visual guide, watch this YouTube video for how to prune lavender: How Far Apart to Plant. An initial light pruning is performed on the entire shrub. To Brenda- Although you could trim the dead flowers off – if you’re happy to leave them on, the birds will enjoy them. That’s a good tip Alexandra. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back as to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch. Use this same technique every year as new growth starts to appear. This easy-to-grow shrub thrives in a sunny spot, in free-draining soil or a container. Pruning English lavender. For example, L. stoechus cultivars need pruning in summer, right after the first flowers; this will protect the plant from winter snowfall. You can slot your lavender pruning when it works for you, as long as you complete it by early spring. Prune these lavender in spring when all frost is finished for the season. Follow these simple steps to keep your lavender looking great for years to come. ‘no dig’ works just as well for flower borders, The absolutely best way to prune English lavender beautifully | Sublime Windchime. Discover lavender. Let me explain. How to prune lavender. If you have lavender plants that were not pruned back last fall, and if you are located in Western Washington, there is still time to prune your lavender back for the spring. Pruning. So it’s secateurs in one hand, mug of tea in the other and I’ll be outside being brave in a second or two! It isn’t hard to learn how to trim a lavender with woody stems. I have lovely round-shaped lavender bush that flowers all year round. Would it be better to leave them over the winter and then cut them off in the Spring? See this post on an easy tip for weeding without chemicals, how to plant a border like a pro, find out why compost can be easy or it can be quick (but it can’t be both) and whether you really need to dig up your dahlias. Very woody stems close up Pruning has started Continuing the process of cutting overgrown branches back Tiny leaves indicate the stem is alive The stopping point on pruning my 5 year old lavender Key Points To Know When Pruning Woody Lavender. They always cut well. The same lavender in July 2019. I planted lavender last fall, fully grown, from a nursery.they are now flowering — in April, 2020 – and bees are having at them. French lavender is shorter-lived and less hardy, so more likely to be affected by frost or poor weather. According to Monty Don, as soon as it's finished flowering, but before the flowers have completely dried out. Even the RHS cautions against cutting into the woody part of lavender. It plumped up again before Christmas, and made elegant grey mounds for the winter garden. Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. I think it would be best to wait till spring. Hi Brenda, we like to do our cuttings during spring time. The secateurs method does take alot longer than clipping it with shears but I briefly went back to shears this morning. How to hard prune lavender. There is no doubt that lavender is calming and antidepressant for aromatherapy. How to Prune Lavender Pruning is absolutely required for good flower development and to prevent woody stalks. Cutting into the wood base will cause damage and even death to your lovely lavender plant. Pruning the lavender once a year is very important. But in the first year, it will be fine to prune less severely because hard pruning keeps the shape tight. Proper pruning will maintain your lavender’s attractive shape Image: Shutterstock/Jeanette Dieti: Using either secateurs or hand shears simply trim back the whole plant by 2.5-5cm (1-2"). When you are pruning lavender, it is best to do it regularly and spring is a great time to start. As a rule of thumb, you need to plan on pruning lavender at planting time and every year right after it blooms. Thanks so much. Below are tips on where to plant a lavender shrub, and how best to grow, care and prune lavender at the end of the season. And repeat. Get involved. Lavender as a plant can be used as an insecticide. − 4 = 1, Complete Guide to Garden Privacy - Downloadable PDF, Complete Guide to Garden Privacy - Kindle & Paperback, The Middlesized Garden is a participant in the Amazon Associates LLC, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. ENGLISH LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia) This is the classic English lavender is beloved not only for it’s memorable fragrance, but also for the silvery foliage and stems that add texture to a border. Autumn is the time of the year to take care of your lavenders. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Privacy is a big issue for middle-sized gardens, because high hedges and fences block light. Hidcote and Munstead are the most popular Lavandula angustifolia throughout the UK. If you begin by pinching out the tips of the new growth when the plant is very young, it will respond by forming an aesthetically pleasing and easy to follow pruning shape with lots of blooming growth to work with later. It’s nearly the end of September- is it too late to prune lavender ( I’m in Oxford). Pinch back newly planted Lavender plants. It grows in a strip garden under my eaves. I haven’t quite dared to take it down to 9″, but I have remembered that next door do cut their lavender very low. ‘Never cut lavender back to the wood’ is in every list of gardening dos and don’ts. Privacy garden trees can make a big difference to how much you enjoy your garden. Hi guys, thanks for the blue line/ red line diagram. It will probably die. Shipping calculated at checkout. Pruning lavender can be very crucial to how it will turn out and whether or not it will eventually thrive like a plant. All year round, check the plant for dead or dying shoots and remove them promptly with a pair of sanitized pruning shears. At midsummer, it is humming with bees and other pollinating insects. Painting your shed transforms your garden. The time in which you prune your lavender plants is very crucial and tricky. In this post here from Doddington Place Gardens, Amicia de Moubray explains the difference between English lavenders, which help you sleep, and French lavenders which make you feel more alert. Although you could always experiment and see what happens! Everything you need to know about choosing the right lavender for you. But now I know that we amateur gardeners often misinterpret that. There are different ways to prune both the French and the English lavender, each has its ups and downs, but we will discover both of them. e. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Waiting to prune lets the plant form oldereventually woodygrowth that responds less well to pruning. Jun 22, 2020 12:03am. Go Back To Lavender Care Search. Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. Rosalie, Hi.when is the best time to take cuttings?.. It’s super helpful! You’ll know when that is as they’ll be more grey than blue, and you won’t see any bees or other pollinators buzzing around them. (and the bees will appreciate!). t: It will slow down the formation of wood and prolong the lifetime of your plant. Pruning lavender plants and bushes are essential at least once a year to make sure the plant is healthy and it lives longer. Join now. At the moment there are still flowers though, even new ones coming, it seems a shame to cut them off and I end up leaving it too late. The best time to prune your lavender is in the fall, at least 6 weeks before your first frost date. I’m just amazed at how many plant sellers say ‘just give lavender a light prune in spring’. I’m looking out at some lavender that’s ready to be trimmed, but is already starting to look a little leggy in the middle. Pruning Lavender in spring should be done very early on to avoid pruning off undeveloped flowers about the same time you would plant spring bulbs. I am just about to prune an ancient English lavender bush and will be braver than usual. Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. I couldn’t work out why next door’s lavender is still healthy and bushy after fourteen years. I used to prune my lavender rather warily. Pruning lavender helps to trigger bushy growth, and gives you tons of flowers too. The next step for trimming lavender is to prune one-third of the plant. There was also some lavender around the beds and that went completely woody and stalky. The experts also say that you should use good secateurs for cutting lavender. How to prune lavender. When to Prune Lavender. I haven’t been able to get out and trim off the flowers and wondered if I did this now (07 November) if it might be too late as the weather is getting colder? Use this same technique every year as new growth starts to appear. I planted two rows of English lavender last year either side of a large stone staircase and it has thrived this year, I’m so pleased as I’m definitely an ‘amateur’ gardener. The central lavender is beginning to get too stalky. I followed advice to ‘prune lightly in spring’ Those bushes got spindly within a few years. 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 … Second Year Lavender Pruning . Lavender illustration by M. Jeng. 01:42. I have the same problem except my lavenders aren’t newly planted! I was too frightened I’d kill it. Looked after in this way the plant will be very short lived. I have started literally pruning out the spent flower stalks and areas around the flowering stalks, time consuming but hopefully the lavender won’t mind this sporadic pruning? I’ve taken them out. Yes, it’s such a dilemma, isn’t it? Why prune lavender? Perhaps you have a neighbour’s window over-looking your garden?…, Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Disclosure Policy, © 2020 The Middle-Sized Garden - Gardening Blog. 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. Start pruning after its first season in the soil. I purchased my French lavender plants in October and planted them out They were in two litre pots. This encourages the plant to branch. It’s true that I hardly pruned the lavender on the edge of the beds at all. Pruning your Lavender will help the plant from retaining its vigor by slowing down its process of becoming woody. 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. If you plan your summer holiday to New Zealand, pick your own (PYO) blueberries is a Must Thing to do with your family a, We need to use lip balm to moisturise our lips. Thank you – I think Jekka McVicar is indeed the ultimate guru. Blue Line: We prune our lavender in early April (New Zealand autumn).Prune back all shoots at least 1/3 of the plant. English Lavender; French Lavender. The word "Shrub" describes small to medium sized woody bushes. Lavenders is easy to take care. I too was told at some point that it wasn’t possible to cut lavender back down into the woody bit – but as mine looked so straggly, I ignored the advice one year and it grew again! Thanks brenda, Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. Never cut lavender back to wood below all of the growth, because lavender will not grow back from old wood. 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