How to Trim Lavender Properly 🌿 | Garden Tip #3, by Knot & Nail on YouTube. 1 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Wait until flowering has finished, usually late summer. Trim on a dry day so the cut stems are not sitting wet.
Put on gloves and look over the plant. Find the line where soft green growth meets the older brown woody stems.
Cut the flower stems back first. Take them down to just above the green leaves on the current year's growth.
Shape the sides and top of the plant with light cuts. Keep the shears level so the bush stays rounded and compact.
Stop each cut a few centimetres above the woody base. Never cut into the bare brown wood, as it rarely grows back.
Check the whole plant for straggly stems and trim any you missed. Step back to check the shape as you go.
Gather the clippings into a bag. Do not leave them piled on the plant, as that can trap damp.
Tips and common mistakes
If you cut too far into old wood, the plant may not regrow from that point, so stay in the green growth.
Trim lightly in early spring too, just removing dead tips and keeping the shape.
Do not cut lavender hard back into bare woody stems, even if it looks untidy.
Sharpen your shears first so the stems are cut cleanly rather than crushed.
Questions
Can I cut lavender right down to the old wood?
No. Lavender rarely regrows from bare woody stems, so keep cuts in the soft green growth just above the wood.
When is the best time to trim lavender?
Trim after flowering finishes in late summer, then give it a light tidy in early spring.
Will trimming make my lavender bushier?
Yes. Regular light trimming keeps it compact and encourages fresh green growth the next season.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
