Generally, the Lavenders are not well suited to the humid tropical and subtropical regions of Queensland, yet many gardeners in the region like to try growing these classic cottage garden plants. Italian lavender has two brightly coloured wings at the top of each flower, while the French variety has serrated leaves. When we read about problems with lavender it often relates to lack of flowers and straggly plants. Not only is lavender incredibly versatile and low maintenance, lavender is easy to prune too! Each shoot should be cut back to around a third of its height, providing that old woody growth around the base of the plant is not affected. Conduct two good prunings a year, after flowering, to cut back half of the current season’s growth. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Main flowering occurs in winter and early spring but it often has flowers all year, French lavender is a vigorous lavender growing to 1.5m x 1.5m but there is also a dwarf form available. Unpruned lavender plants often look woody and unhealthy, so a good prune every year or two is always needed to avoid this. The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. To prune in a moderate fashion, just remove the immature growth. Growing lavender is extremely rewarding - not only does it have an intoxicating scent, but the delicate flowers look simply divine and are perfect for attracting bees to your garden.Full sunlight and well-draining soil are two of the most crucial things you’ll need to achieve in order to grow lavender successfully, whether you’re planting it in the garden, in a pot or even indoors. This will provide better air circulation. All of this information is listed below. Pruning. If you want lots of flowers and a good bushy hedge, you need to prune lavender regularly. If you don't harvest most of your lavender for drying, you'll have to prune it back a bit each year to encourage new growth in the present and following seasons. Your plant should be quite a bit larger this year, with more blooms. Facts about hard pruning lavender. Lavender is an easy-to-grow, evergreen shrub with deliciously scented flowers and foliage. The main types grown in New Zealand are English lavender, Lavandula stoechas and French lavender. While there is no shortage of all three of these oils, a stable supply of high quality lavender oil similar to that produced in France and Tasmania is likely to always have a market. There are many different types of lavender, but most fall in one of two categories: English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) or French lavender (Lavandula dentata). It’s an aromatic dwarf shrub with narrow, greyish leaves, and bears dense, oval heads of small purple flowers topped with with a tuft of purple bracts. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. And the nice round shape of its youth starts collapsing all over the place! No need to replace it if you go for hard pruning!. When do you prune Lavender plants will be discussed below. Second Year Lavender Pruning . A frost can kill off new plant growth. Join now. Lavandula stoechas is commonly referred to as French lavender. Prune for rejuvenation in spring when new growth begins showing on the stems. How to Trim a Lavender with Woody Stems. Here in this segment of Blooming in Brisbane from Season 3 I talk about what lavenders are worth growing. promotes fuller growth and more flowers for next season. From Italian to French … Because of the long stems, you might need to prune as much as half the plant’s size. You'll sometimes see L. stoechas. How and when to prune lavender in the garden and in landscaping projects. Here’s how to prune lavender. Mauve flowers on long stems are held above the foliage in winter and spring. "And, yes, I know you are probably not in Australia -- but good advice comes from all over and lavender is lavender! Garden Design Containers Garden Tips Plant Perfect Edibles Life & Style View All. It also continues to spot flower throughout the year. If you prune right after bloom you may get a second bloom later in the season and the lavender should be pruned again after the second bloom. Basic guide to pruning lavender and general lavender care. But pruning a lavender plant will prolong its life, maintain an attractive shape and ensure plenty of flowers the following year. More project guides & articles. 01:42. Flowers, though still fragrant, grow sparse. lavender oils for all but the most expensive products. French lavender likes the dry heat of the Mediterranean, but don't let that discourage you from giving it a try. Trim in early January. Lavender is very tolerant of cold winters provided the soil remains free-draining, waterlogged winter soils are not suitable for lavender. New shoots will quickly appear at the base of the bush and these will have enough time to grow and harden up before winter comes. Follow us. If your lavender … It can be confusing, however French Lavender usually means Lavendula dentata in todays terms. Lavender comes in three main types, English, Italian and French. Hidcote Blue lavender - seed – HIdcote Blue is a popular variety of English lavender beloved for its deep purple-blue flowers; the upright bushy habit suited to informal edging and low hedges, and wildlife gardens. Lavender Lavandula species, hybrids and cultivars Family: Lamiaceae. Lavender With Love is famed for its attractive pink flowers that are at their peak throughout late winter and spring. Get involved. This is a Lavender well suited to Australian … A must-have for keen gardeners. The English variety is known as true lavender and is the most popular with home growers. You prune English lavender by cutting it back by two thirds in the second half of August and you can cut into the bare wood, if needed. If you’re wondering how to prune lavender and when to prune lavender at the correct time, have no fear. Lavandula stoechas: Sometimes called Spanish or French lavender, this is the least hardy of the lavenders. Pruning lavender is important in keeping a lavender plant producing the type of fragrant foliage that most gardeners seek. Garden centres have the best range available in spring. Generally the best time to prune lavender is once the flowers have faded, so now sounds good. Ensure a good clean cut so that the lavender will always heal easily and is at less risk of winter loss. Prune these lavender in spring when all frost is finished for the season. Using secateurs or shears, trim it back in summer, leaving no flower stalks. When to Prune Lavender Bushes. Unpruned lavender plants become woody and often split open in … This prolongs the flowering and creates new growth the following April/May. French Lavender (Lavandula dentata) needs to be controlled, especially if it's a hedge. How to look after your bonsai. Toothed lavender is the other common name for this long-lived, trouble-free lavender, referring to the serrated leaves which makes it easy to identify. Excellent for warmer, humid areas. Hard pruning is defined as cutting back the plant by 1/3 or more. When to Prune Lavender. French lavender Lavandula dentata. The technique in this post is for English lavender, not French lavender but the method is similar. In late August you can give your French lavender a slightly more vigorous prune to prepare it for the upcoming winter and encourage a … Pruning Lavender For Winter Spanish lavender has a short, full flower spike with open petals at the top, distinguishing it from other types. When to give your Lavender plant a hard pruning depends on what geographical location you are in. Pruning lavender is a great way to ensure that the plant produces fresh new shoots. The best practice is to prune lightly just after your French lavender has had its first flowering, and then keep deadheading and shaping throughout the growing season. Though lavender oils bring higher prices, the higher yield of lavandin makes it worthy of consideration. NON-ENGLISH (French, Spanish, Wooly, etc.) Lavender is best grown in neatly clipped hedges, in pots, in a herb circle, knot garden or courtyard.Coastal gardens, rocky slopes and planter boxes are all good environments for lavender. Unlike other lavenders, the flowers are born close to the plant, which has a tight, compact mounded habit, with aromatic grey green foliage. Start pruning after its first season in the soil. It isn’t hard to learn how to trim a lavender with woody stems. When to Prune Lavender. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back as to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch. ... <———– Riverina Thomas French Lavender, zone 5 – 9. If you begin by pinching out the tips of the new growth when the plant is very young, it will respond by forming an aesthetically pleasing and easy to follow pruning shape with lots of blooming growth to work with later. French lavender is shorter-lived and less hardy, so more likely to be affected by frost or poor weather. Pruning lavender (Lavandula spp.) While the plant is in bloom, usually in mid-summer, gather up the flower stalks and once again prune the plant back to 2 - 3 inches above where the soft, green growth begins on the lower part of the plant. French lavender (Lavandula dentata) French lavender is the most commonly grown species in Australia with lovely silvery, serrated leaves and soft mauve flowers. sold as French lavender but as we have both species, we like to keep them separate! Pruning lavender. Maybe it’s my French heritage but I just love lavender, but in subtropical climates it can be tricky to work out which ones are the most successful to grow. Remember never to cut back to the point where you are only left with woody stems. In most cases replacement is the best option, but you may be able to rejuvenate the lavender with careful pruning. If lavender isn’t pruned regularly, it will become woody and produce fewer fragrant leaves and flowers. When to prune lavender Lavenders are native to windswept areas of the Mediterranean coast so they respond well to pruning and can become leggy and woody at the base without it. Here, the experts at Lavender Fields share their tips: Deadheading. Usually lavender plants grow old and woody after 6 to 10 years. If left to its own devices, lavender can become bare and straggly. French Lavender – Lavandula dentata. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ... Australia's bestselling and most trusted gardening guide in its 44th edition! How to Prune French Lavender. How and when to prune lavender varies depending on the type of lavender you’re growing. And it blooms the earliest in spring. In late summer or early fall, after the last flush has faded, prune your Lavender stems down to an inch above the wood. 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