When is the best time to cut back a Lavender to prevent it going woody?

Question

AK

When is the best time to cut back a Lavender to prevent it going woody?

by

Alex Kelly

8 years ago

5

Previously I've had Lavender that's gone very woody and with a recent purchase of a new shrub, I'm keen to learn how to prevent it happening again!

Becca Jackson · Answer 1 · 25th July 2016, 07:05:40

HI Alex, I'd really like to know this too. I've heard you should cut it right back, but am always a bit nervous to do that and when I actually braved it, I think I cut it back too much and it never seemed to recover, though it could have been a mix of that, weather conditions etc...

Andy McIndoe · Answer 2 · 25th July 2016, 18:14:19

Hi Alex and Becca. If its English lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, I recommend you cut back as soon as the flowers start to fade to just below the base of the flower stalks. This promotes new silver shoots which should stay looking good all winter. If you leave the flowers on over winter they usually end up as a soggy mess on the plants causing die back. French lavender, Lavandula stoechas is best dead headed during the flowering season, then trimmed in spring to encourage new growth. If you want to leave a few heads of either type for the finches by all means do, but for the health of the plants remove the faded blooms. Never cut lavender back into the old wood - it does nor regenerate. Andy

Elspeth Briscoe · Answer 3 · 25th July 2016, 18:20:11

Hi Becca and Alex - hope this is helpful.. Did you realise you got a reply from Andrew McIndoe, Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal record holder, acclaimed writer & one of our experts?! Thanks Andrew for popping over the wall from inside our classroom. Here's one of Andrew's courses.

Becca Jackson · Answer 4 · 26th July 2016, 08:46:22

Thank you so much for this Andy! I have both varieties here in my garden. Some of my English lavender has started to fade already so I'll start cutting that back. Thank you again for answering :)

Becca Jackson · Answer 5 · 26th July 2016, 17:22:13

I've cut back all the lavender today, looking very healthy! Thanks again :)

When is the best time to cut back a Lavender to prevent it going woody?

When is the best time to cut back a Lavender to prevent it going woody?

Alex Kelly

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