Gardening tips: Expert on how to grow lavender at home
Lavenders demand full sun, and will grow well in borders and containers, thriving for many years in the same location, if it is pruned.
William Mitchell, of Sutton Manor Nursery, said: “The best time to prune is around five or six weeks before the first frost is due.
“This means that the best time to prune lavender is between September and October.”
Left to grow on its own, lavender can become “bushy” and “leggy “which can prevent growth and look unsightly.
Pruning annually will help to keep its nice shape and stop it from getting too big, unless this is the aim.
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The gardening expert explained: “It is good to prune lavender around this time so that the pruned areas of the lavender plant have a good amount of time to become established before the harder weather comes in.
“When pruning lavender, you should simply trim a third of the plant’s growth from the flowering season over summer.
“Try not to cut back too far though as it could make them susceptible to frosts over the winter months.”
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If gardeners forget to prune their plants after summer has finished, then it is best to wait until the following spring, especially if you have less hardy varieties.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) added: “Even if pruned annually, older lavender plants can become straggly, very woody and misshapen so, as they are fast growing and establish quickly, they are best replaced if you want to keep everything looking neat.”
Gardeners should look for some signs of life in the form of growth nodes below the cutting point. If the plant is cut beyond this, the stems may not recover.
Make sure to use sterilised secateurs when pruning, cutting at an angle to prevent diseases.
With climate change impacting the UK’s weather, lavender is a great plant to have in the garden as it is drought-tolerant.
The RHS noted: “Some types of lavender are not hardy and won’t survive the winter outside – check plant labels carefully and buy a hardy lavender if you want to leave it outside permanently.”
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