Gardeners' World expert Monty Don has shared a simple yet crucial summer pruning tip to keep lavender plants from becoming leggy and untidy. The Mediterranean shrub, prized for its fragrant foliage and bee-friendly blooms, can quickly develop sparse, woody stems if not properly cared for.
According to Don, the key is to prune in mid-August, cutting back to 'just above the green shoots'. He advises doing this when the flowers have faded but before they turn brown or set seed. 'You don't want to wait until the flowers have turned brown. Just as soon as they're past their best, cut it back,' he said.
Don warns against cutting into bare wood, as this can prevent regrowth. 'If you cut just down to bare wood, sometimes they don't regrow at all, and that's it - you lose them,' he explained. Instead, he recommends leaving some new growth beneath the cutting point to establish a compact shape and avoid legginess.
After pruning, the plant will produce fresh growth that provides winter protection. 'Next spring, it will be ready to form its flower buds coming out of a nice, well-shaped shrub,' Don added. However, if new shoots don't appear within a month, he suggests starting again with a new plant.
