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Struggling with small lavender blooms?
You might be pruning it all wrong.
Learn the right way to prune lavender and enjoy big, beautiful blooms every year.
Want to know how?
Let’s get started!
Benefits of Pruning Lavender
Pruning your lavender is essential for several reasons. Promoting healthy growth involves regular trimming to prevent the plant from becoming excessively woody, fostering the development of new shoots and leaves. Enhancing blooming is another benefit, as pruning encourages the plant to produce more flowers by redirecting energy towards creating fresh blooms. Additionally, maintaining shape is crucial; pruning keeps the lavender plant bushy and visually appealing.
Optimal Pruning Times
The timing of pruning your lavender is essential for its health and blooming. For English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), you should perform light pruning right after the first bloom in spring or early summer. This encourages a second bloom later in the season. A more extensive pruning is best done in early spring when you see new growth.
French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) follows a similar schedule. After the first flowering, light pruning helps maintain its shape, and a heavier pruning in early spring prepares the plant for the growing season.
Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) also requires light pruning after the first bloom and a more significant cut in early spring to ensure a healthy structure and robust blooming.
Pruning Techniques
Pruning lavender is essential to maintain its shape, encourage new growth, and extend its lifespan. When pruning, you should always use clean, sharp shears to make precise cuts.
Steps for Pruning Lavender:
- Timing: Prune twice a year—once in early spring and again in late summer.
- Initial Cut: In early spring, remove any deadwood and cut back up to one-third of the plant’s height.
- Shaping: In late summer, trim about one-third of the new growth, shaping the plant into a rounded mound.
- Avoid Cutting into Old Wood: Lavender does not regenerate well from old wood, so avoid cutting into it.
Tools Required:
Tool Name | Purpose |
---|---|
Pruning Shears | For cutting stems |
Bypass Loppers | For thicker branches |
Gardening Gloves | To protect your hands |
Regular Maintenance: Prune lightly throughout the growing season to keep the plant tidy and promote airflow, reducing the risk of disease.
By following these techniques, you can ensure your lavender remains healthy and vibrant year after year.
Pruning Guide
Gather Tools
Use clean and sharp pruning shears to avoid damaging the plant.
Deadhead Blooms
After the initial bloom, pinch or snip off faded flowers just above the foliage.
Perform Light Pruning
Trim back the top one-third of the plant to encourage bushier growth. Be mindful of the leaves at the base of the stems.
Conduct Rejuvenation Pruning
Every few years, cut back around one-third of the plant’s size, including woody stems, to promote new growth.
Clean Up Trimmings
Remove pruned material from the area to prevent disease and pests.