Cutting back lavenders

justflowers · September 2022

I am about to cut back my lavenders and have read that they should be cut back by one third. However, I have also read conflicting advice on whether it is possible to cut back into the old wood - this month's Gardener's World magazine said definitely not, whereas I've read elsewhere (can't honestly remember where!) that it doesn't matter at all. Can any one give me advice on this?

Many thanks!

Pete.8 · September 2022

I cut mine back in the spring just as there are signs of growth - which is probably the wrong time of year.
I look for any sign of green low down on the stems of the woody framework and prune somewhere above that, doing the same for each of the stems. It seems to work

RubyRoss · September 2022

I've been wondering the same. I read this article saying a hard prune can be suitable: https://www.themiddlesizedgarden.co.uk/absolutely-best-way-prune-english-lavender-beautifully/

I don't think I'll risk it this year.

JennyJ · September 2022

Hmm, conflicting advice in that article.

"August is the time to give your lavender its summer chop. You can tell when it’s ready because the flowers have gone grey. There won’t be any bees humming around the stalks."

Mine are still in full bloom now, early September, and covered in bees, and I expect them to keep going for a few weeks yet. It's usually into October before they're done flowering and the bees lose interest, and by then I think it's too close to winter to be cutting back hard.

purplerallim · September 2022

I have Munstead lavender, a replacement plant in an order.
I have just cut off the tops at the moment, but I'm amazed it's still alive! It is in poor clay soil, surrounded on three sides by paths, and under a tree, all wrong, and I forget to water it, but its ticking along. If it survives the winter, will try to cut it back a bit more.

justflowers · September 2022

Thanks for all your comments and advice - interesting article @RubyRoss , thank you. Mine have gone grey now @JennyJ so I think I will go ahead and give a fairly hard prune - I may regret it! I grow a mix of Munstead and Hidcote, but, to be honest, I have forgotten which is which, so they all get the same treatment. Again, I've read not to prune in Spring but just 'tidy up' if necessary, but, if it works for you @Pete.8, why change?

Busy-Lizzie · September 2022

I had a lavender hedge in my old garden in SW France. I used to cut it in spring as the winters could be hard and local advice was to leave growth for protection. I cut it with a hedgecutter, quite hard but not right into the lower woody part.

Desi_in_London · September 2022

@justflowers - I'd say depends where you are based ( re how cold and wet winters are ) re whether to cut in autumn or early spring.
English lavender is very hardy ( both munstead and hidcote ) -- when the experts say don't cut back to old wood what that means is you need to have green shoots / buds below the level you cut to ( basically what @Pete.8 said) .The main "stem " itself that you are cutting back can be brown, that is not an issue ( apologies if this is stating the obvious, but I didn't appreciate that when I was starting out)

justflowers · September 2022

Thanks @Busy-Lizzie - I have got two lavender hedges and am now considering cutting one back now and leaving the other until Spring to see which works best - may have to come back with feedback next year!

justflowers · September 2022

Thanks @Desi_in_London - we are in Shropshire, so pretty much in the middle of England and our garden is fairly sheltered. Thanks for the clarification re the brown growth - not stating the obvious for me!

Plantminded · September 2022

I read advice somewhere once to cut lavender by 8cm on the 8th of August every year (8 cm on the 8th of the 8th). I’ve followed this advice this year, luckily the flower stalks were about that height!

Cutting back lavenders

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