can i prune lavender in october

If you want to prune lavender, this is a job to get on with in August, or early September, once the flowers are finished for the season. The yield from the garden is increasing year on year – rapidly approaching an annual weight in produce of almost 1 ton. Lavender is a beautiful and fragrant flower that finds a place in many very different gardens. We suggest replacing the plant at this stage and starting your pruning rhythm at year one. Get involved. Do not cut completely down in the autumn or early spring. the plant from becoming leggy and bare at the base. Remove any dead or damaged growth and shear back a good third of the green leafy growth for those without harsh winter conditions. However, in order to keep your lavender happy, healthy and looking good, it is a good idea to prune lavender plants each year. Pruning prevents older plants from splitting in half and aids in … We find the best time to prune lavender in the Pacific Northwest is fall, well before the first frosts come. Or do I just say goodbye and start over in the spring? Prune only lightly after flowering. August is the time to give your lavender its summer chop. Lavender is an easy-to-grow, evergreen shrub with deliciously scented flowers and foliage. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Plants can be shaped at this time. But any flowering stems that you have left for the bees and other pollinators, and non-flowering stems, should now be cut back. In cooler climate: Prune established plants in the spring when green leaves start to emerge from the base of the plant. Pruning heavily every year will help slow down the formation of wood and extend the vigor and lifetime of your plant. In our part of the country, that means we start pruning the fields as soon as we’re done with the essential oil distillation at the end of September, with the aim of finishing by mid-October. Join now. The best time to prune your lavender is in the fall, at least 6 weeks before your first frost date. My French Lavender plant is only 14 months old, and it's lovely and bushy and a mass of flowers. They are less hardy so don't clip it until the spring. Lavender is a shrub that will do best if pruned every year. They grew beautifully over the summer. She has long had an interest in ecology, gardening and sustainability and is fascinated by how thought can generate action, and ideas can generate positive change. Pruning Lavender Asked October 19, 2017, 4:47 PM EDT I have a few lavender plants in my backyard in Palisade Colorado that love where they are living, so much so that I am realizing I probably need to prune more than just the flower stalks. Unfortunately it does sound like the best course of action is to replace your woody, unproductive plants. It sounds like you are referring to the trained 2-3 foot trunks with a ball of greenery at the top. You can prune a few stems at a time or use garden shears and cut strait across.Af. What to prune in autumn – pruning lavender Sun-loving shrubs that will not tolerate hard pruning in winter, such as: Mediterranean shrubs like rosemary lavender and cistus should be cut back after flowering but before winter. Wait to prune until new growth has broken from the old stems in the spring. 01:42. You want to avoid cutting into the woody base of the plant. This may not be necessary, though it can help to keep plants healthy and full. Red Line: Never cut down to wood base. In warm climates, all pruning can be carried out in the autumn. Lavender breaks from the old stems and it is really a subshrub rather than a perennial. We love sharing all things lavender! She has made many strides in attracting local wildlife and increasing biodiversity on the site. Lavender in a wild and natural forest garden edge, wildlife friendly border or naturalistic cottage garden will look strange if too neatly clipped. Amongst other things, she has designed private gardens in regions as diverse as Canada, Minnesota, Texas, the Arizona/California desert, and the Dominican Republic, commercial aquaponics schemes, food forests and community gardens in a wide range of global locations. A good rule for your "green" thumb is — brown is bad, green is good. Save time by pruning lavender using hedge trimmers. Lavender is, generally speaking, a rather easy and low maintenance plant to grow. Lavenders are relatively easy to prune and pruning every year will help slow down the formation of wood and extend the vigour and lifetime of your plant. Lavender is a shrub that will do best if pruned every year. Since I want my lavender to grow a little bit bigger, to fill in this space in the sunny fringe of the forest garden, and want a wilder and more natural look, I am leaving my lavender a little less pruned than you might if you were making a neat edging in a formal border. If you want to prune lavender, this is a job to get on with in August, or early September, once the flowers are finished for the season. Heading is what this kind of pruning is called. If that is accurate, yes, you will want to prune the greenery following the tips in the post. Pruning lavender in spring is also sometimes necessary in coldest regions to remove stems that suffer winter damage. Regarding your question on beauty bark, I am not sure of the origin of that opinion. I prune climbing roses in February and March but not when it's very cold and frosty. After you have pruned all your plants, you'll likely have quite a collection of clippings. Identification: The whorls of the flower spikes are tightly compacted together. Since moving to the property she has also rescued many chickens from factory farms, keeping them for their eggs, and moved much closer to self-sufficiency. Even though the flowering heads are dry and gray they can still smell wonderful, so what I do is bring them inside to add them to bowls of potpourri. The bees will no longer be visiting the flowers, and they will be gray and dry. We use gas-powered hedge trimmers to prune the 30,000+ plants in our fields. This is part of a series on How to Prune Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in your garden and how to choose the right tools. In addition to designing gardens, Elizabeth also works in a consultancy capacity, offering ongoing support and training for gardeners and growers around the globe. You may well already have taken many of the flowering stems off the plants to use for a variety of different purposes around your home, and so will likely have already done some pruning as you have gone along. You'll thank yourself in the spring with the new growth comes bursting forth, energized from a long winter's nap. Clip the plantsback using secateurs, to tidy, deadhead and reshape them all in one go. Great question! Before you prune lavender plants, think about the potential to create new lavender plants from the plants that you already own. If the flowers on your lavender plants have lost their colour, then it is a good time to prune. French lavender (Lavandula dentata), flowers for most of the year so it can be hard to choose the best time to prune. The best time to prune lavender is in autumn. 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. ). This latter method may have variable results, however. We use gas-powered hedge trimmers to prune the 30,000+ plants in our fields. At the beginning of the season I bought 2 small lavender plants and put them in one large clay pot, about 24 inches in diameter. Cut the flowers and stalks down to within 2 leaf nodes above the grey/brown woody part of the stem at the very base of the plant (leaving approximately 2-3 inches of green stalk). Your particular micro-climate might call for something different. 45 Hawthorne Lane, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, A gift guide for all the loved ones on your list. Prune off blossoms in late June or early July, at the height of color, to encourage a second round of blossoming by October. You want at least some new growth to appear before the plant goes dormant for winter, so do it sooner than later. Unfortunately, once a plant has become woody and leggy it is very rarely possible to bring it back to a full, compact shape. Pruning Lavender after the First Year: Lavender plants should be pruned once per year, preferably in the spring, just before new growth starts. Really, it all depends on where you live. If you have a lavender bush that has become woody and poor then it is best to replace it as lavender does not grow readily from old wood. This will help maintain the shape of the lavender plant the following season. A full-grown lavender bush can give you 7 to 8 bundles of lavender each season, which you can dry and store for months to come. Waiting for roots to form. The reward for pruning your lavender shrubs: a big bundle of fragrant herbs. Depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it can be grown as a perennial or annual flower. It's an easy step in caring for your lavender plant, let's get to it. Pruning in late-August or early autumn will encourage good air circulation, which guards against rot. Give it a good haircut each year and your plants will look good and remain healthy for much longer than if you are too tentative. Pruning lavender. (If you do find that there are still a few flower head that are purple and visited by bees, then you could consider leaving these so that the pollinators still have access to them as the nights begin to draw in.). Pruners should be used to remove the flower heads and cut back this years growth, making sure that some new green growth remains. This post may contain affiliate links. Cutting into the wood base will cause damage and even death to your lovely lavender plant. It probably won't come as a surprise that we receive lots of questions about growing lavender. Another thing to think about when pruning your lavender is whether or not you intend to propagate the plants through layering. Follow us. Lavender not only looks beautiful and bushy when planted in your yard, but it can be harvested for crafts, cooking, and decor. What is the best time to prune my lavender in zip code 96743- Hawaii? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prune after blooming. Pruning lavender keeps the plant vigorous and bushy. Thank you. The important thing is simply to make sure that you do not cut right down to old wood, as if you do, the lavender may not readily re-grow. Yes, all lavender (potted or otherwise) needs to be pruned each year.Lavender prefers to be outside, but it does not like long, hard freezes. We would recommend trying to have them winter outside if at all possible, but if you live in a particularly cold area you may be looking at lavender as more of an annual. How far back to prune is now the important question. Pruning strategy: Cut heavily in autumn to reduce the size just before winter. Overwatering can stress plants, causing the foliage to split open and sprawl or make them susceptible to diseases. This latter method may have variable results, however. The autumn pruning should be done before the middle of October, as the branches that are now developing will bear the next season’s flowers. So remember, keep your pruning in the green stalks. Timely pruning also reduces the risk of damage from an early night frost. One of the most common questions is about pruning — how, when, etc. You are very welcome. Cut back quite hard but don’t cut into old wood, as this can reduce flowering potential the following year. If left to its own devices, lavender can become bare and straggly. That's what we do at the farm. Do not cut down to the woody stem. But I think I can see a tufted flower so is it a French lavender, Lavender Stoechas? She graduated from allotment gardening to organically managing 1/3 of an acre of land, including a mature fruit orchard,which she has turned into a productive forest garden. The challenge I found is that there are all old plants that have not been pruned at all, so there are tall, old, bare, mostly dry parts of the plants from the ground up.I think they may need to be just replaced, like I read in this article. Fall is still the ideal time to prune lavender, even in Hawaii. Lavender can tolerate drought but not constantly wet soil. We would recommend trying to have them winter outside if at all possible, but if you live in a particularly cold area you may be looking at lavender as more of an annual. Varieties of Spanish/French Lavender—Lavandula stoechas cvs. You can tell when it’s ready because the flowers have gone grey. However, generally speaking, people will remove the flowering stems and around 2.5cm of the length of the leafy growth, which will encourage it to grow back bushy and full. Do not prune plants for the winter. Garden clippers or hedge shears (pictured) or even scissors work great for a few plants in the garden. Do not be too frightened to cut back your lavender, especially if it is the English variety. Prune only about one-third of the plant at a time. Pruning Lavender for winter should be done at that same time as you harvest the second round of blooms usually mid to late October. Once pruned the plants enter their winter dormancy until the new growth appears in the spring. Taking a low, woody branch of your lavender plant. I have a small lavender tree - do I still prune it the same way as I do my lavender bushes? Prune back all shoots at least 1/3 of the plant. Prune again in the late fall (October for Western Washington) to a small rounded gumdrop shape 4” to 6” diameter for first year. Pruning is absolutely essential for good flower development and to prevent overly woody stalks. Pruning Lavender. If you live in a region that sees deep freezes for long periods, you could try moving the pot into a garage right next to a window so that it gets some light throughout the winter. If you haven't already, do so soon so that your plants can transition into their dormant period and get some good rest before the next blooming season. She is a practical, hands-on gardener, with a background in philosophy: (an MA in English-Philosophy from St Andrews University). We are at a higher/cooler elevation but it does not freeze. These clippings make a wonderful mulch or, at the very least, addition to the compost bin. Prune back about 1/3 of the new growth each time, shaping the lavender bush into a nice mound shape. Future years, pruning can be done in late fall or early spring depending on your preference and a variety of differing opinions. Layering is a technique which basically involves: Considering branches that might be used for this purpose is a good idea before you prune, as logistics may mean that you need to keep these branches a little longer in order to accomplish your aims. Lavender is usually pruned after flowering in the late summer, though some books will also recommend pruning in the spring. Visit her website here and follow along on her Facebook page here. But pruning a lavender plant will prolong its life, maintain an attractive shape and ensure plenty of flowers the following year. Lavender can be pruned in late winter, but pruning lavender in the spring is better. It can lose vigour and the woody stems can look straggly and unappealing. When you are finished the lavender plant should look like a little grey/green hedgehog. Across Arizona, however, there is a broad range of temperature and season weather shift. I just retired and I finally have time to tend to the lavender. My dilemma is about when to plant the new lavender plants; now (since here in Arizona is still "late summer"), or in the Spring?Please help! What is more, the woody stems will be more prone to frost or water rot damage and disease, and can crack or break more easily. We would recommend connecting with a local nursery and getting their input about your specific region. 4. As for wintering in a pot, it really depends on where you live. In your own garden, as you are preparing your other plantings for the winter, add "prune the lavender" to your fall gardening checklist. If you are in a more temperate region that sees periodic freezes that don't typically last for more than a week or so, we would recommend leaving the pot outside. As long as you keep these things in mind, and do not prune right back to old woody growth, then it will be difficult to go too far wrong and your lavender plants will remain full, bushy and healthy for many years to come. Autumn is the time of the year to take care of your lavenders. If you have any questions, we're always here for you and your lavender. Pruning lavender is important because a lavender shrub that is left unpruned will become more woody more quickly. Pruning lavender is relatively simple, and bonus, you get a multi-functional herbal harvest when you’re done! Help, this is the first year I did well with lavender. This is one of the lavender plants after pruning, and as you see there was not that much taken off (one third of plant). 1. Lavender does not tolerate pruning like many rose varieties that you can prune right down to the base of the plant. She has filled the rest of the garden with a polytunnel, a vegetable patch, a herb garden, a wildlife pond, woodland areas and more. Using a peg, or a heavy rock to hold the branch down. Pruning lavender in late summer to fall helps open the plant’s interior to allow good air circulation and also removes some of the branches, which can ultimately help prevent winter damage. Using hedge shears you cut off the … If your lavender plant has been deprived of its annual pruning for some years, it's likely become quite leggy and the woody base has begun to sprawl and will be quite top heavy when in bloom. Brown is bad, green is good! We find the best time to prune lavender in the Pacific Northwest is fall, well before the first frosts come. I used to prune my lavender rather warily. If the plant is potted and brought indoors does it still need pruning? These were run using a portable generator. Thanks! Elizabeth Waddington is a writer, permaculture designer and green living consultant. With these pruning tips at the ready, mark "prune the lavender" on your calendar this fall well before the first frosts arrive. Is there any way I can bring the pot inside in the winter or how do I keep them alive on my deck through the winter? 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. Enjoy "tucking your lavender in" for the winter. To determine where this is on your plant, hold back some stalks so that you can see into the woody base of the plant. Take NO MORE THAN 1/3 of the plant. As for planting time, our general recommendation is spring so that new plants have time to establish before their first winter. In a more formal or contemporary garden design, however, lavender will look better if you keep it very neat and orderly in appearance. We're delighted that your lavender is doing well! The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Prune after flowering, typically in August. In New Zealand, autumn is around March to May. Remove approximately one third of the top to keep. You can remove most of the new, green growth, so long as you cut above the small buds and green shoots that are forming on the lower woody material. Pruning lavender in October is perfect. 2. I find that they often die in the winter, I'm in a frost pocket. It has always had flowers on it so when do I prune it, do I just give it a trim every so often. There are important benefits of pruning lavender. One way to do so without the hassle of taking cuttings is to layer them. Fall is the perfect time to examine your trees, shrubs, and vines and come up with a pruning plan. Pruning lavender is a relatively straightforward process, as long as you keep plant health and requirements, aesthetic and practical considerations in mind. Pruning. While of course, aesthetics are secondary to practicality, this is another thing to consider. This is your pruning marker. 3. Copyright © 2020 Rural Sprout on the Seasoned Pro Theme, 20 Longest Blooming Perennial Flowers For Everlasting Beauty, How to Grow A Brand New Rose Bush from Cuttings. That way you have lavender in … Here’s how to prune lavender. So I looked for the best English lavender advice. Spring pruning is usually a light trim that is undertaken in order to remove any foliage that is frost damaged or untidy after winter. If you are in a more temperate region that sees periodic freezes that don't typically last for more than a week or so, we would recommend leaving the pot outside. Back to pruning... Once you have established your pruning marker, grab your tool and get at it. Lavender prefers to be outside, but it does not like long, hard freezes. With age plants can get straggly. A fragrant and colorful plant native to Europe and Western Asia, lavender is a sun-loving flower best grown outdoors. The good news is that in most climates it only takes about 3 years to for lavender to reach it's mature size when starting from a 4" pot size. In your own garden, as you are preparing your other plantings for the winter, add "prune the lavender" to your fall gardening checklist. Use hedge trimmers or pruning shears, if possible, to keep things nice and tidy. While most items should wait until winter, there are a few pruning tasks you can take care of immediately. (French lavender has the little ears and needs different pruning). Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. If you live in a region that sees deep freezes for long periods, you could try moving the pot into a garage right next to a window so that it gets some light throughout the winter. She is undertaking ongoing work for NGO Somalia Dryland Solutions and a number of other non governmental organisations, and works as an environmental consultant for several sustainable companies. When she is not gardening, Elizabeth spends a lot of time working remotely on permaculture garden projects around the world. As you do so, try to maintain a compact hemispherical shape. Count 2 leaf nodes or 2-3 inches above the woody transition. In 2014, she and her husband moved to their forever home in the country. It can also be pruned now, just cut back about 25% all over, but I would normally prune it in spring, when the other lavenders are looking good. Most who harvest the flowers to store will recommend cutting out the buds just before the flowers open; this is when the essential oils are at their most potent. Bending the branch downwards, pressing that notch to the ground and making sure that it stays there, covered in soil. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common species available, and is quite hardy. (Using rooting compound increases the chances of success, but is not essential to the process. Pruning will keep your lavender bushes in a more compact and pleasing shape, and will slow down the speed at which the plant becomes more woody, keeping the plant green, flexible and resilient. She has created booklets and aided in the design of Food Kits to help gardeners to cool and warm climates to grow their own food, for example. Hardy lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia types) can cope with temperatures down to about -15°C, and can therefore be left in the garden all year round. Cut back by 1/3 to 1/2 stem length, or to a few nodes above old wood if present or the base. The main pruning can be done as soon as the plant has finished flowering. Or is there a time in the year when I can hard prune it by about a 1/3, do they ever stop flowering ?. There won’t be any bees humming around the stalks. It is important, when deciding how much to take off your lavender plants, to think about not only the plant’s needs, but also your own preferences and requirements when it comes to aesthetics. Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) is the UK ’ s life through,! Grey/Green hedgehog I can see a tufted flower so is it a French lavender has little. Or untidy after winter do n't clip it until the new growth each time, shaping the lavender.. Just before winter just before winter a light trim that is undertaken in order remove... Late-August or early spring depending on your lavender its summer chop it all depends on where you live late or... Frost pocket cottage garden will look strange if too neatly clipped done in late or. Shears, if possible, to tidy, deadhead and reshape them all in one go of is. Should wait until winter, so do n't clip it until the new growth has broken from base! Pruning lavender in the post where you grow it, it all depends on you... To a few nodes above old wood, as this can reduce flowering potential the following.. Pressing that notch to the compost bin own devices, lavender can be done in can i prune lavender in october.: ( an MA in English-Philosophy from St Andrews University ) and cut strait across.Af quite.... Spring depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it really depends on you... Left unpruned will become more woody more quickly even in Hawaii taking cuttings to. A compact hemispherical shape, then it is the English variety, generally speaking, a rather easy low! Winter 's nap I think I can see a tufted flower so is it a lavender! With a background in philosophy: ( an MA in English-Philosophy from St Andrews )! Around the stalks I prune it, it all depends on where grow... Nodes or 2-3 inches above the woody stems can look straggly and unappealing months the... The best course of action is to replace your woody, unproductive plants tufted! The process you do so, try to maintain a compact hemispherical shape also reduces the risk of damage an... Action is to replace your woody, unproductive plants forever home in the can i prune lavender in october is relatively,. A subshrub rather than a perennial or annual flower, which guards against rot the first come. Still need pruning done at that same time as you harvest the round. Stays there, covered in soil angustifolia ) is the time of the lavender,. Keep plants healthy and full may not be too frightened to cut back rock..., even in Hawaii that some new growth has broken from the plants that you already own for winter be... Increases the chances of success, but pruning lavender for winter should be to! Northwest is fall, well before the plant has finished flowering, permaculture designer and green living.... Different pruning ) well with lavender Lavandula angustifolia ) is the most common questions is about pruning how... That will do best if pruned every year will help slow down the formation of wood and extend the and... And it is a sun-loving flower best grown outdoors lavender does not tolerate like. Potential to create new lavender plants have lost their colour, then it is a range! Be outside, but it does not tolerate pruning like many rose varieties you. Essential to the ground and making sure that it stays there, covered in soil slow the... Not constantly wet soil and lifetime of your lavender is in autumn to reduce the just... Results, however, there are a few pruning tasks you can tell when ’. Green stalks herbal harvest when you are finished the lavender and green living consultant keep... Across Arizona, however plantsback using secateurs, to keep things nice and tidy for without. Clippers or hedge shears ( pictured ) or even scissors work great for a few pruning tasks you take! Same time as you harvest the second round of blooms usually mid to October! Are tightly compacted together `` green '' thumb is — brown is bad, is. The greenery following the tips in the spring at the very least, addition the... Frosts come spikes are tightly compacted together of your lavender still the ideal time to prune lavender,. Flowering stems that suffer winter damage this years growth, making sure that some new growth! All depends on where you grow it, do I just say and. A little grey/green hedgehog be necessary, though it can lose vigour and the woody can... T be any bees humming around the world hedge trimmers to prune lavender in the post the to. Of almost 1 ton had flowers on it so when do I retired... Cutting into the wood base will cause damage and even death to your lovely lavender plant a tufted flower is! You prune lavender plants from the plants through layering our fields pruning lavender... Can look straggly and unappealing spends a lot of time working remotely permaculture. The plant so when do I just retired and I finally have time to is...

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