Lavender can become leggy and untidy if not properly cared for
Lavender can become leggy and untidy if not cared for correctly. Here’s how to keep it looking its best(Image: Caroline Gauvin via Getty Images)
Lavender is a striking and fragrant addition to any garden, and spring marks the start of its flowering season. However, if you neglected to give your lavender the attention it deserved last year, you could be facing a straggly and unruly plant.
Fortunately, all is not lost. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Michael Griffiths has urged fellow gardeners to carry out a small yet vital task right now, before the plant gets out of hand. Michael said, “If you missed pruning your lavender in late summer or it’s looking untidy or frost-damaged, now, in mid to late spring, when this new growth appears, is the perfect time to prune.”
Ideally, lavender should be pruned in late summer, preferably in August or September. However, if you missed that window, March is your last chance to get the plant under control before the flowers arrive.
Don’t cut into the old wood, as the plant will struggle to regrow(Image: Getty)
Michael pointed out that the earliest signs of fresh growth on lavender present the ideal opportunity to tidy things up. A prune in early spring will help stop the plant from turning leggy and woody.
A good trim will keep the plant neat and attractive while encouraging new growth. Failing to prune correctly or at the right time can leave lavender looking sparse and woody, reports the Express.
Michael said: “You can prune lavender as hard as you like as long as you’re not cutting into old wood, and you leave some new growth beneath the cutting point.”
When pruning lavender in spring, you’ll need to distinguish between old and new wood. The old wood will appear brown, displaying “almost white foliage”, while the new growth will be a vibrant green.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Steer clear of trimming at the base, and instead cut just above the old wood, taking back roughly a third of the plant. The gardening expert cautioned: “If you do cut down into old wood, that area may not regrow, and you could lose the plant, so if in doubt, stay above that new growth.
Michael noted that a spring prune could hold back the flowering of the lavender, but gardeners will be rewarded with a “stronger, better-shaped plant that lasts for years”.
When it comes to planting lavender properly, ensure it’s positioned in a spot that receives plenty of sunshine and use free-draining soil.
Gardeners’ World warned: “Lavender can become very leggy, bearing few flowers. The reason for this is lack of, or poor, pruning. Many gardeners just deadhead hardy types, which also leads to leggy plants and not many flowers. Looked after in this way, the plant will be very short-lived.”
Comments are closed.