As a general rule, it’s best to trim lavender plants annually in late summer, just after flowering has finished.
But how to prune the plant depends on the variety you have; English and French lavender are the most common varieties.
How to prune lavender:
English lavender
Also called True Lavender or Common Lavender, this type is often associated with the famous purple fields of France. It is not native to England but to the Mediterranean.
Flower colours vary from blue-purple, lavender, violet-blue or white-pink depending upon the cultivar.
Wispy flowers adorn the tips of each upright stem from early to mid-summer and are aromatic when brushed against or crushed.
English Lavender is hardier than other varieties and needs to be pruned the most.
After the lavender has finished flowering in late August or September, Thompson & Morgan recommends cutting the plant back around 22cm or nine inches.
The gardening experts explained: “Traditional advice used to be that you should never cut into the old wood. However, opinions have changed. What is critical, is that you cut to just above a group of new shoots. Go any lower and the lavender will die.”
French lavender
This variety of lavender has ‘ears’ above the flowers and is only frost-hardy, rather than completely hardy. As a result, it needs to be treated more gently.
French lavender should be pruned no later than mid-September, the gardening experts recommend.
They added: “Frost-hardy lavenders flower for longer, so prune after the first flush of flowers has faded by following the same guidelines as for hardy lavender.
“After that, just keep deadheading and, if needed, tidy up at the end of the season. Don’t cut them any later than mid-September.”
What to do with lavender cuttings
Carpet deodoriser
Sprinkle dried lavender on carpets for a few hours before vacuuming to banish odours.
You can even walk over them barefoot and crush the buds to release their fragrance.
Then, as the vacuum runs, a more lavender aroma will be released while lifting the unpleasant stench from the fabric.
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Wardrobe freshener
Take a bundle of lavender cuttings and tie a piece of ribbon around the bottom of the stems.
They can then be hung on a coat hanger or the wardrobe railing itself.
The darkness will help the lavender retain its colour, and drying it upside down helps the lavender retain its blossom shape.
Bath salts
Use lavender for creating calming bath salts to relieve tension, stress, and insomnia.
To make the fragrant salts, mix the following ingredients into a clean glass jar:
- One cup of Epsom salt
- Half a cup of blended oats
- Two tablespoons of dried lavender buds
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- Eight to 10 drops of lavender essential oil
Place the lid on the jar, shake well, and leave to sit for a few days to infuse the salts.
Add a handful of lavender bath salts to warm bath water.
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