Autumn is the time of the year to take care of your lavenders. In New Zealand, autumn is around March to May. Lavender is a semi-shrub plant. The word "Shrub" describes small to medium sized woody bushes. Lavender looks like a perennial flower because most of it is soft green growth. The green part will turn to wood after a few years old.
Pruning the lavender once a year is very important. It will slow down the formation of wood and prolong the lifetime of your plant.
When to Prune Lavender
The best time to prune lavender is in the late summer or early fall, just after it has finished flowering. Pruning during this time will help to promote bushier growth and prevent the plant from becoming too woody. It's also important to avoid pruning lavender in the winter or early spring, as this can damage the new growth and reduce the number of flowers the plant produces.
How to Prune your Lavender Plant?
It is easy, simple and only have few key points:
- Prune 1/3 of the entire plant, reshaping into a nice mound shape.
- For those "leggy" verities, you might need to pay more attention to keep them in a nice shape.
- Go heavier on an old plant but never cut down to the wood base.
Why you need to prune lavender?
The lavender will develop a woody center and stop producing new shoots. It means flower will be only on the outside edges, not in the center, destroying its overall appearance.
One of the joys of pruning lavender is the scent. It makes you feel cheerful and clearheaded. There is no doubt that lavender is calming and antidepressant for aromatherapy.
Lavenders is easy to take care. Just spend a little time in autumn it will appropriate with beautiful aroma in summer.
This is our lavender plant after pruning in our field in autumn. We normally use a machine to give them a hair cut. There is no need for it to be perfect but it is an essential process for their health of growing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pruning Lavender for a Healthy and Beautiful Plant
Summing it up, pruning lavender is an important part of maintaining a healthy and attractive plant. Follow these simple steps to learn how to prune your lavender:
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Timing is key. The best time to prune lavender is in the late summer, just after the plant has finished blooming. This will give the plant enough time to grow new growth before the cold weather arrives.
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Remove dead flowers. Use a pair of pruning shears to remove the spent flower stalks. Cut them off just above the first set of leaves. This will encourage the plant to produce more flowers and prevent the plant from wasting energy on dead blooms.
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Cut back the stems. Use a sharp pair of shears to trim back the stems by about one-third to one-half of their length. Make sure to cut just above a set of leaves. This will help the plant to maintain its shape and promote new growth.
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Don't cut into the woody stems. Avoid cutting into the woody stems of the plant, as this can cause damage and reduce the plant's lifespan. Instead, focus on cutting back the green stems.
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Remove any dead or damaged stems. If you notice any dead or damaged stems, remove them by cutting them off at the base. This will help to prevent disease from spreading and promote healthy growth.
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Avoid over-pruning. While it's important to prune lavender regularly, over-pruning can be harmful to the plant. Aim to prune the plant once a year in late summer, and avoid pruning more than one-third of the plant at a time.
By following these simple steps, you can keep your lavender plants healthy and beautiful year after year.
Healthy lavender plants produce high quality lavender essential oil. Try our lavender essential oil, the strong, sweet, smelling scent will make you fall in love with them.
As a lavender farm in New Zealand, we grow mostly Lavandula x Intermedia for lavender essential oil distillation. If you would like to learn more about our farm click here to discover our farm.
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