Gardening expert Monty Don has shared that August is the ideal time to prune lavender to prevent it from becoming "woody" and "leggy". He advises that annual pruning, carried out when the blooms begin to fade, helps the plant withstand colder conditions and continue flowering vibrantly.
Pruning lavender for longevity
The pruning window runs from midsummer to the end of August, but gardeners should not wait until flowers turn brown or seed heads develop. Allowing as much time as possible for regeneration before winter is key.
Monty Don recommends cutting lavender back into a neat, compact shape, leaving sufficient new shoots on each stem. This is because lavender often fails to regrow from bare wood.
He explains: "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."
Benefits of consistent pruning
When pruned each year, a robust lavender plant can flourish for up to 10 years. Without regular pruning, its lifespan may shorten, with diminishing flowers appearing year after year.
Deadheading dahlias for extended blooms
Another task recommended for August is deadheading dahlias. These plants continue producing blooms through autumn if deadheaded regularly.
The easiest way to distinguish a finished flower from a developing bud is by shape: a bud is rounded, while a spent flower is pointed and cone-shaped. The cones should be removed.
Monty Don stated: "Always cut back to the next side shoot - even if it means taking a long stem - as this will stimulate new flowers and avoid ugly spikes of stem." He maintains that nothing else is "so effective" in extending summer blooms as frequent deadheading.
