Lavender—to Trim or Not to Trim
Forum Archives
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Sep-07-2004 at 8:28pm
Okay so everything I have read says to prune lavender in the early spring. But I find gardening rules are made to be broken and I do break many from time to time, so does lavender have to be trimmed back and why or why not? Mine have all lovely growth on them and last time I pruned something that was supposed to be pruned it never grew correctly since! (it was caryopteris/blue beard)
tia
~BakingBarb
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Sep-08-2004 at 8:35am
Bakingbarb, I trim mine right after they bloom which is more like late spring, early summer. Then I get a second flush of blooms around mid to late summer. And since they are actively growing the new growth fills out nicely. I wouldn't prune them now unless they are really out of shape, then I would do so with a light hand. I'm, by no means, an expert so maybe someone more knowledgeable will chime in.
Theresa
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Sep-11-2004 at 5:32pm
I did not prune and got a second flush of flowers.
I am just wondering if it really makes a difference.
I planted three this spring but one was an older transplant. I did not prune the transplant because I did not want to stress the plant. It has put on beautiful growth but never flowered.
I am cautious about pruning any of them next spring though so that is why I am asking about pruning. thanks
~BakingBarb
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Sep-11-2004 at 8:38pm
I did a search this morning on care of Lavender--and some of the sites said prune last years growth in the spring, another said not to do that. (Personally, I would be inclined NOT to prune in the spring--I've done both, pruned and not pruned, and I think mine did better without it.)
I have never pruned the flowers after blooming--I've heard you get a second growth of blooms, but mine bloom from June on--they are still blooming now.
I don't know what the answer would be, considering that the experts don't always agree, either.
Barb
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Sep-11-2004 at 10:24pm
Well when the experts don't agree then I will have to just go with what I think. Trial and error will help too LOL I won't prune them this coming spring unless they get leggy or broken stems or such. If there isn't much in the way of flowers then the next year I will prune. thanks
~BakingBarb
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Sep-12-2004 at 11:53am
The only caution I have heard is not to prune into old wood. I think they do not regenerate when cut back that hard - or so I've heard. I've been the lazy or forgetful sort with my few lavenders and my pruning habits aren't something to be copied.
I have heard that regular pruning will keep them from becoming too woody, which means you might get more years out of them. Once they become very woody, most experts suggest replacement of old lavenders with younger ones. IIRC, this is about 4-5 years or so.
hollysue
Location: Washington, Southwestern
Posted: Sep-12-2004 at 12:18pm
Regular pruning will also keep them from getting too floppy (they can fall open in the middle). My favorite lavender farm, Purple Haze Lavender in Sequim, has good info on growing lavender, and I've had good luck with mine following their info.
They even have a whole page dedicated to "sprawl" - what I called getting floppy.
Holly
mdvaden
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Sep-12-2004 at 3:47pm
A few days ago, I tried searching and reading to find out what growth these bloom on. For example, forsythia blooms on what was new growth last year. So forsythia must be done after the flowers.
I could not locate that information for lavender, but I have a feeling I would not trim it early spring before it blooms.
Mine has not been pruned for 3 years so it can get some size, and it bloomed twice each season.
My choice would be after first blooming for a few reasons:
1. I don't think it would threaten the first blooming.
2. It would keep the plant from getting to floppy.
3. There would be enough new growth reoccuring to prevent it from looking "just-pruned" all the way through the cold season.
M.D. Vaden
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Sep-14-2004 at 9:53pm
M.D. Thank you for the info. I went and checked out the site, very informative and love the instant color. btw I checked out your photos, Nice.
~BakingBarb
Plantsman
Location: Outside the Maritime Pacific Northwest
Posted: Sep-21-2004 at 4:29pm
A little late to add my bit, but anyway.....In the Lavender growing fields of Norfolk, England they prune immediately after flowering – at least to leaf level to maintain a compact and tidy bush. They never prune in spring. I find that if you don't prune well annually you end up with a woody leafless base that won't regenerate if pruned into -Rosemarinus has a similar trait. Of course, different lavenders exhibit different growth habits. The ones we see a lot of in gardens here are -
Lavandula 'Hidcote' syn L.angustifolia 'Hidcote' and Lavandula 'Munstead' syn L.angustifolia 'Munstead'. I like the French lavender L. stoechas and dentata.
Peter
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Sep-22-2004 at 8:10pm
Peter is it ever too late to answer a garden question!
I think I will lightly prune now! That way I am not really pruning but harvesting what is left of the flowers to use in whatever wonderful thing I can come up with. Actually have you ever seen those kiosks in malls selling herbal heat wraps-they tried to sell us for 30 to $40. Ouch no way make my own thank you. A little lavender (or mint) and some hops and or buckwheat.
~BakingBarb
Plantsman
Location: Outside the Maritime Pacific Northwest
Posted: Sep-23-2004 at 9:27am
Good on you - I recall many lavender sachets/bags made up by my grandmother and strewn about everywhere. What is in the malls these days is a mystery to me I'm an Internet shopper and get all my groceries delivered by Asda (Walmart now). For a matter of £4.20p extra per order it makes life for a male housekeeper very much pleasanter :).
Yes - pruning is perhaps a misunderstood word in Lavandula cultivation because all it consists of is harvesting the flowers a little deeper than needs be and taking a little non flowering growth away with them. Not really pruning as we usually think of it.
In the lavender fields it is all done by machinery of course
Peter
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Sep-23-2004 at 9:31am
One of our members has made many things with lavender (LeAnn, where are you?). I can't recall the whole list she told me but it included the usual suspects and lavender vodka - she said it had a unique taste, IIRC.
Peter, what does a £ translate to these days? When I lived there, it was roughly equal to $2.50 US.
Plantsman
Location: Outside the Maritime Pacific Northwest
Posted: Sep-23-2004 at 10:59am
Present exchange rate is - 1 pound sterling = 1.79 USD and 2.29 CAD - I'm off to Canada
Peter
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Sep-23-2004 at 7:14pm Here is a link to those herbal packs. I plan on using barley I think. Also wanting to make dream sachets.
http://www.esgmassage.com/heat_packs.htm
~BakingBarb
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: Mar-07-2005 at 2:40pm
I was just reading somewhere that you shouldn't prune lavender back into the woody part of the stems, that they won't regenerate from there. So I guess just give it a light haircut for shaping.
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