Lavender can be found in almost every garden, but it doesn't bloom splendidly everywhere. One way to bloom is to cut it correctly.
Of the Real lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an absolute classic in the garden. But it does not always want to bloom as lusciously and magnificently as its owner would like it to be. This is often due to a bad cut or not performed at all, because many mistakes can be made when cutting. The pruning of the lavender is supposed to prevent the plant from becoming too lignified in the lower part and from developing only a few long shoots with few leaves and flowers.
contents
- When to cut lavender
- How to properly cut lavender
- Cut lavender to dry
Regular pruning will keep the lavender in shape and promote plant health. In addition, a rich branching counteracts the balding of older lavender bushes. We list for you what you need to do when shortening the popular purple mint family (Lamiaceae) should pay attention to.
When to cut lavender
Ideally, lavender is cut twice a year: once in spring and once in summer. When cutting lavender in the spring, timing is critical. If it is cut too early and the lavender is still experiencing severe frosts, serious damage to the plant can occur. Therefore, the first cut is best done before budding at the end of March to the beginning of April. You should make the second cut in summer just before it fades, i.e. in July or August. This enables a second flowering phase in autumn.
Should you cut lavender in autumn too?
An autumn pruning, which is common for most shrubs, is not recommended for lavender. Because if it is cut too late, the lavender no longer has enough power to sprout and winter, so that the interfaces could quickly lead to serious frost damage. In this case, there will be no flowering and, in the worst case, the winter hardiness is significantly reduced. The lavender could wake up clearly marked from its hibernation next year.
How to properly cut lavender
When cutting the lavender, you should definitely not cut too deeply. Depending on the growth and growth phase, the cut should also vary in strength. In spring it is best to cut back about one to two thirds of the lavender just before budding. After it has faded in summer, you can cut it back halfway. In principle, young lavender plants should be cut back more than older ones. You can cut the shoots up to a maximum of half in order to promote compact growth.
With older lavender bushes, however, special caution is required. First, remove any withered inflorescences. Then cut rather cautiously and not too deep (about 10 cm) in a bushy shape. The lavender can only sprout with great effort or not at all from the branches that are too woody and close to the ground.
In contrast, a cut that is too high does not harm the plant, but it also does not contribute to high-quality care. Without a regular cut, the lavender can become very lignified under optimal growing conditions. If it has not been pruned for a few years, it is therefore advisable to rejuvenate the lavender in small steps over several years so that the plant is not damaged.
As is Cut lavender right?
- Cut twice a year
- Spring pruning in March to April: one third to two thirds
- Summer cut in July or August: a third to a half
- Young plants can be pruned harder than older ones
- Do not cut into parts of the plant that are too lignified
More about the right one Care of lavender can also be found here in our special article.
Cut lavender to dry
The fragrant lavender flowers can be harvested and used to make various products. Tea, sachets and lavender oil are just a few well-known examples. The flowering branch tips are used for this. For the harvest, the whole lavender bush is cut back at the right time (mid-July). It is best to cut the stems about 10 cm below the base of the flower. You can then tie small bouquets and hang them upside down in a dry, airy place.
As It is best to dry lavender, we explain in detail in our special article.