When to Prune - Cutting Back Your Lavender Plant

When Is The Best Time To Prune?

    The question when to prune depends on what type of pruning is being done to your Lavender plant.

    Cutting back the old Lavender flower stems can be done anytime after flowering to remove the old flower stems and improve the plants appearance. You should cut an inch or two into the green growth to give the plant a more compact shape and encourage dense growth. Shape the plant into a slightly mounded cushion.

    This same rule may be applied to dead wood or branches.  You may trim out dead growth at anytime you happen to notice it without harming the plant.  This often times improves air circulation around the healthy parts of the plant as well.

Hard Pruning or Cutting Back of Lavender- When Is The Best Time?

    When to give your Lavender plant a hard pruning depends on what geographical location you are in.  Hard pruning is defined as cutting back the plant by 1/3 or more.  Remember never to cut back to the point where you are only left with woody stems.

     For those of you who experience harsh freezing winter weather it is best to wait until spring to cut back your plant.  Your plant will have a better winter appearance in your garden and will have a healthier start at new growth come springtime.  Leaving the added plant material alone may also help insulate the plant too during the cold weather especially helpful if you receive snow.

     Waiting to prune back hard until much of the harsh winter weather has subsided will mean less stress to your plant and also allow you to remove any winter killed growth that sometimes happens over cold winter.

      In early spring you may notice the tiny sprouts of new growth which will help you decide what to prune off to give your plant the desired shape and gives insight as to the direction of the new growth. Learn how to prune your Lavender like a pro.