Lavender is among the easiest plants to care for. These fragrant shrubs are great in the garden and have many benefits, including being a great companion plant, deterring pests, and having destressing properties. However, according to one gardening expert, caring for lavender includes proper pruning.
Gardening and horticulture expert, Hamid Ali, from local services marketplace, Airtasker, said: “While keeping a lavender plant in your garden may be a breeze, proper care involves knowing how to prune it the right way.” While pruning depends on the season and type of lavender plant you are growing, there are three general steps to follow.
1. Deadheading
Deadheading lavender means removing the dead flowerheads and spikes of the plant.
It shouldn’t be necessary if you prune regularly, but it’s good practise if you want to keep your plant looking “fresh and attractive”.
If you’re too nervous to start heavy pruning, you can try deadheading first to get a feel of where to make deeper cuts.
2. Pruning
The expert said: “The general rule for pruning lavender is to avoid cutting back to the woody stems. This will hinder regrowth as the wood that grows on lavender does not rejuvenate.
“It is also prone to weakening and splitting. So, avoid over-pruning, as this may harm or kill your lavender plant.”
It’s also good practice to leave fresh new leaves on the stem, according to the expert.
3. Shaping
Shaping is done more to maintain the appearance of your lavender plants. It’s done to maintain an even, dome-like shape.
If you cut the outside stems shorter than the middle ones, it will encourage the desired growth pattern and lessen the need for shaping as your plant grows.
The expert continued: “Spring is one of the best times to prune lavender. It’s important to prune only if you see new growth in your plants.
“If not, give them more time to grow. Follow the rule of cutting just 5cm to 10cm from the woody base and deadhead for the rest of the season.”
It’s optional to prune lavender in the summer, but you can do a full pruning by January to prepare the plant for the winter and to encourage a healthy regrowth in the spring. You can also take this time to harvest lavender blooms for various uses.