Regularly pruning lavender will help you grow healthier, fuller plants.
Knowing how to prunelavenderis an important part of keeping this plant healthy and looking its best.
This guide will help you time your pruning efforts appropriately and make the best cuts.
Credit:John Granen
John Granen
Why Prune Lavender?
Lavender plants often won’t grow when they are cut back into their woody sections.
Whengrowing lavender as a houseplant, a single pruning in spring is usually sufficient.
Dont prune lavender too late in the season, as plants prunedright before frostare most susceptible to cold damage.
You may also want to sharpen the blades before you work to ensure neat, clean cuts.
Make pruning cuts onlyin the green sections of lavender plants.
If you cut into the woody sections, theres a good chance the plant wont regrow.
Only remove woody sections of the plant if theyre damaged or spoil the overall form of the lavender.
This creates a refined, mounded plant silhouette, but dont worry too much about making your cuts perfect.
Spring pruning should only occur after the plant begins to sprout new leaves.
Can Woody Lavender Be Saved?
Most often, the suggested remedy for woody lavender is to pull out the plant and start over.
Theres no doubt that rehabbing woody lavender takes some time, and it isnt always successful.
Rejuvenating woody lavender is usually performed over the course of three or four years.
Its best to prune woody lavender in spring by cutting stems down by one-third to one-half.
After the blooms fade, snip off the old flowers with pruning shears or a sharp pair of scissors.
