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Woody Lavender

GardeningN00bGardeningN00b Posts: 8
in Fruit & veg

Hi, I've had a couple of (french i think) lavender bushes for a year or two, grown in pots because I was renting. I didn't know you're supposed to prune them and they're a bit tall and woody. Still have green leaves on the top. 

My question is, is there any way to fix them? Make them full and bushy? Or is it a case of throw out and buy new?

Thanks!

Posts

  • RainbowfishRainbowfish Posts: 276

    Unfortunately lavender doesn't grow from old wood so they will never be the same as young plants. You could try taking cuttings from them rather than throw them away.

    I am trying that with my Kew Red that I forgot to water image lower leaves dies but there is good new growth on top.

  • ChuffChuff Posts: 16

    All the books say they don't sprout from old wood, but if you are going to replace them anyway, I think it's worth a try to cut them back hard. What have you got to lose? I did this to an overgrown hedge I inherited and had a surprisingly good success rate with growth from very low down in old wood. It just needed a bit of spot re-planting. Unfortunately I don't know the variety I've got.

  • angie4angie4 Posts: 44

    I wouldn't cut back into the old wood, but cut back as far as the lowest live buds You can see. you say they're tall - are they getting enough light? The more sunlight the better for lavenders. May have outgrown their pots too? 

  • PalaisglidePalaisglide Posts: 3,414

    Must agree with Verdun you can get lots of varieties at a GC for £3-4 a pot. Saying that  my Daughter had one grown out of the pot and woody, I dug a deep hole and dropped it in covering most of the ugly bits and it thrived. Was it my magic touch? Probably the wet summer we had and being in the right place when the sun did shine.

    I take cuttings all the time most take, lavender usually only lasts eight years so out it comes and a potted cutting goes in. After flowering trim lightly that is only trim green wood never brown you can get a nicely rounded bush that way.

    Frank

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    I too agree with Verdun. Unless it has some sentimental value, get rid and buy another .

    They're not expensive ,as has been said, and you'll be doing your bit to support local nursery.

    Devon.
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