Gardening expert Monty Don has shared the best time to prune lavender to keep it from becoming woody and leggy. According to Don, lavender should be pruned every year at the end of summer.
Best time to prune lavender
In a blog post, Don wrote: "To avoid woody, leggy plants, lavender should be pruned every year. The best time to do this is as soon as the flowers start to fade, depending on the variety, which can be anytime from mid-summer to the end of September."
He added: "But do not wait for the seed heads to form or the flowers to turn brown, as you want to allow the maximum amount of time for regrowth before winter."
How to prune lavender correctly
To achieve an attractive lavender shape, gardeners are advised to prune boldly, ensuring some fresh shoots remain on each stem. Don cautioned that lavenders will not regenerate from bare wood, so it is crucial to preserve these new shoots.
He said: "These new shoots will grow fast and provide an attractive and healthy cover to protect the plant in winter and provide the basis of next year's display."
What to do if you miss the window
If lavender appears especially worn even after cutting it back, it may be advisable to replace the plant completely. Should gardeners miss the optimal pruning window, it is advisable to wait until the following spring before pruning. This is particularly important for less resilient varieties, including French, Spanish and Italian types.
Don also suggested tackling apples and pears in July, along with rambling roses to promote repeat flowering. Gardeners may additionally carry out summer pruning on currants, including gooseberries and red and white currants. Any new growth overcrowding the centre should be removed, with the new shoots you wish to retain cut back by approximately a third.
Don said: "This will let light and air into the plant, encouraging the wood to ripen and spurs to form, which will carry next year's fruits."
