Quote from bob on 29th November 2022, 10:57 am

Hello Elaine,

Normally I prune after flowering, this season has been quite long with the good sunshine, but I did cut back after flowering all be it a little later than normal, you said your plants are new, if they were mine, I would just leave them to over winter as they are, just because frosts are imminent, and then prune in spring, this may delay flowering, but the plant is being given more time to get a stronger root system.

Therefore, you can prune a little in springtime and again later in the season after they flower, do NOT cut back into the old wood, but saying that as and when the plant gets old, you can remove complete stems should they be damaged old and woody, allowing more air and light into the plant.

So, the most important time to prune lavender is after flowering is complete. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. This means pruning can be done in early or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year’s flowers, they may just come a little later.

Hope this helps

Bob

Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 29th November 2022, 2:17 pm

Quote from Elaine S on 25th November 2022, 1:04 pm

Hello all,

Could you please advise if it's OK to cut back my small lavender plants now.  They are new, planted in October and were in full flower until recently.

Very many thanks 

Elaine 

Hi @elaine-s

Great question about pruning and cutting back lavender. It's a commonly asked question, and Bob's advice is spot on. Most new gardeners either fail to prune lavender causing awkward straggly specimens over the years or prune too much at the wrong time. Like Bob said if you cut back too harshly then you run the risk of it not growing back at all.

Let me guide you as to how and when to prune lavender based on my experience:

Step 1: Only prune lavender once it's finished flowering for that year. You can tell this as the flowers will have dried up or turned a grey colour, rather than their bright purple mid summer colouring.

Step 2: Using clean sharp secateurs, take back 2-6 inches, depending on the size and age of the plant. With young or new plants take off 2 inches whereas a sizeable mature plant can sometimes cope with 6 inches of pruning.

Step 3: You can be quite brutal with the pruning you don't need to cut at angles etc. A quick prune is the easiest with lavender compared to the carefully placed pruning of roses.

Step 4: You can then use the cuttings to dry for aromatherapy purposes, a scent for the home or to make oils. Alternatively, you can compost these clippings.

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That's pretty much it!

Happy gardening.

Lee

Quote from Elaine S on 30th November 2022, 9:45 am

Thank you Bob and Lee,

I was worried about the frost so your answers have really helped.  I'll just leave it be for this year.

Many thanks 

Elaine