Lavender plants are a sight to behold in the summer months with their striking purple flowers and silvery foliage.
However, gardeners should be aware that older lavenders can become woody, leggy and unsightly due to poor drainage, under-watering, over-watering, extreme temperatures or improper pruning.
Lavender growing expert @withinyoufarm on Pennsylvania family-run TikTok site @withinyoufarm has shared how you can keep your lavender plants “looking amazing year after year” and avoid them turning into a “woody mess”.
Green-fingered pros mentioned that it’s “common” for lavender plants to look great the first few years, but then become “woody and overgrown.”
An expert insists that every gardener should follow five key steps to keep your lavenders looking great for years to come.
1. Cut lavender buds in the first year
When you notice buds forming in the first year, do not cut them immediately.
It can be hard to say goodbye to those lovely purple flowers, but cutting them off directs energy to the roots instead of the blooms.
2. Prune lavender aggressively at the end of the growing season
According to the expert, the most important annual task is to give the plants a good, aggressive pruning.
They advised, “At the end of the growing season, well before frost, here we do it in August and early September, is to aggressively cut lavender plants back.
“So my general rule of thumb is lavender has some sort of woody center, and you want to cut at least 3-4 inches above that, and then I just shape them into a nice dome, and that’s it. Make for a year and leave them there until spring. Here’s my #1 tip: cut aggressively.”
3. Cut off the dead parts in the spring
In the spring, garden enthusiasts may notice dead areas in their plants. They should be cut off to give the plant more air before it starts growing. If done correctly, healthy-looking buds will sprout in the plant’s second year.
4. Cut lavender flowers after flowering to avoid stress
Lavender plants really shine in the summer months and bloom with gorgeous fragrant purple flowers.
While it may be tempting to let these linger on plants throughout the summer and into the fall, an expert advised gardeners to cut off the flowers toward the end of summer.
Keeping flowers on the plant for long periods of time can actually “stress the plant”. When you get rid of the spent flower heads, the plant can channel more energy into its roots.
5. Cut once more
As the year draws to a close, gardeners have to give their lavenders another plum to prepare them for the coming winter.
