Lavender has many wonderful uses in daily life, and they bloom with delicate purple flowers in the spring and summer, depending on the climate around the world, presenting a beautiful sight. Experts say that if you have lavender planted in your garden, timely pruning is essential to ensure they flower as much as possible.
Michael Griffiths, a gardening expert who runs the “The Mediterranean Gardener” channel on YouTube, suggests that towards the end of summer or early autumn when lavender stops blooming, it is the perfect time to prune the plant. However, if you miss this timing, you can also prune them before the lavender’s flowering season starts in May.
Lavender should be pruned at least once a year, otherwise the stems will become thin and woody, hindering the plant from flowering abundantly the following year.
Griffiths emphasizes that pruning lavender is quick and easy, requiring sharp pruning tools. However, avoid cutting more than two-thirds of the plant, as the entire shrub may struggle to grow back.
As long as you avoid cutting the brown, mature, woody parts of the stems, the other green growth can be pruned as much as possible.
The brown woody parts do not flower much but provide structural support to the plant. Removing them will stress the plant, making it weaker and potentially leading to decreased flowering or even death.
Trim about 2 to 3 inches above the brown woody parts to remove the later green growth. The outer stems can be shortened slightly to give the plant a round shape.
Also, remove any dead or damaged branches to help your lavender prepare to bloom beautifully in the summer.
Griffiths notes, “Pruning in spring may delay flowering slightly, but you will ultimately have a more aesthetically pleasing shrub that lasts longer.”
Lavender is a perennial plant that can grow up to 60 cm tall. This fragrant herb is known for its calming and relaxing properties, making it a natural pest deterrent, especially against rodents due to its strong odor that mice dislike. Planting lavender in your garden can help keep rodents away.
In addition to rodents, lavender can also be used to repel mosquitoes, flies, and moths. Planting lavender at the entrance of your home, windows, or other areas where spiders may frequent can help prevent their invasion into your house.