In general, lavender is considered a fairly easy-care plant. However, that doesn't mean you can leave the fast-growing plant to its own devices. Above all, the Mediterranean plant needs regular pruning, otherwise it will become very lignified and bare.

Why do you have to cut back lavender?

Botanically, lavender is a subshrub. As such, the vigorously growing plant - many lavender cultivars can grow up to a meter tall and just as wide - tends to become woody from below as it ages. Where the lavender has already become woody, neither new leaves nor flowers will grow. In gardeners' language, this phenomenon is referred to as "baldness". With good care, lavender bushes can live for at least 10, sometimes even 20 to 30 years - and then, uncut, look very bare. Only regular pruning prevents the lavender from doing this and ensures that it drives out new shoots and flowers every year.

It depends on the right time

In Germany, trees and shrubs are usually pruned in autumn. However, an autumn cut is fatal for the sensitive lavender, as it robs it of the strength to overwinter. In particular, the faded inflorescences offer the plant a degree of protection from the cold. It is better to cut the lavender in early spring, before the first new shoots appear. As soon as the plant flowers again - which can be the case with French lavender as early as May - it is already too late for a topiary. Ergo, you should cut back your lavender in March or April at the latest, weather permitting. A warmer period without frost but with lots of sun is ideal.

Cut faded?

If you cut back the faded inflorescences in July, or at the latest in early to mid-August, you will encourage your lavender to flower a second time. However, you should not prune later if possible, otherwise the plant cannot mature - and there is a high probability that it will die in winter.

Cut lavender properly

When cutting the lavender, you should definitely pay attention to the following points:

  • Cut with a sharp and clean tool, preferably hedge trimmers or rose shears.
  • Cut the entire bush by at least half.
  • However, do not cut into the old wood, otherwise the lavender will no longer sprout.
  • You should also leave a few centimeters of "green wood" - i.e. young shoots - so that the bush can sprout again.

Can you rejuvenate woody lavender?

Rejuvenating heavily woody lavender is a difficult endeavor. Bushes that have been severely cut back usually do not survive such a measure, because lavender only very rarely sprout from the old wood. Dividing very old plants is usually not possible due to the strong woodiness. Instead, it is better to propagate the plant with cuttings and start over. This time, however, you should pay attention to a regular shape cut.

tips and tricks

Lavender can often also be wonderfully trained as a little tree, although regular and correct pruning is all the more important in this case.

IJA

Category:

Herbs