Once established, lavender is very low-maintenance, but should be
pruned annually
. Plants that aren’t pruned have a tendency to get woody and sprawl, leaving a hole in the middle. In Zone 7 and colder, pruning should be done after flowering in the spring. In Zones 8 and above, prune back after summer flowering.
Are lavender bushes low maintenance?
Lavenders are low maintenance plants
and needing little watering, unless planted in containers. They cope well with both drought and frosts are will reliably come back, year after year.
Is lavender easy to keep?
Lavender is prized for its richly fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage. This
easy-to-grow shrub
thrives in a sunny spot, in free-draining soil or a container.
Does lavender have to be cut back every year?
An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender
(Lavandula spp. and hybrids) plants. Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan.
How long can lavender last?
Lavenders are not long-lived plants. Expect
tender varieties to live for about five years
. If pruned correctly, hardy types can live for about 15 years (as many as 20 years, in some cases).
Does lavender come up every year?
Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial
And this beauty will come back to your garden every year
, for about 3-5 years, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
Should lavender be cut back in the spring?
Spring is the time for pruning your lavender harder to minimize the development of woody stems and encourage fresh new growth
. You should do this early in the season, to give the plant plenty of time to reestablish itself.
Does lavender stay green in winter?
Lavender is a bushy, strong-scented perennial plant from the Mediterranean.
In warmer regions, its gray to green foliage stays evergreen throughout the year
, and the herb thrives in some of the toughest of garden conditions.
Do you cut back lavender in the fall?
Unlike many perennial plants and shrubs that can be pruned now,
it is best to wait to prune lavender until after bloom in spring or in early fall before any danger of frost
. Pruning now can cause dieback that may kill the plant.
What are the side effects of lavender?
Side effects might include
constipation, diarrhea, and headache
. When applied to the skin: Lavender is possibly safe. It’s usually well-tolerated, but can sometimes cause skin irritation. When inhaled: Lavender essential oil is possibly safe.
What do you do with lavender in the winter?
English Lavenders are cold hardy and can be left outside over winter. Non English lavenders will only survive winter in mild climates and need to be transferred into pots and brought inside over winter. Prepare your lavender for winter by
pruning them into a mound shape that resists winter weather and tidy away leaves
.
Does lavender smell good?
Restful, serene and floral, lavender is
one of the most beloved scents we use today
. Its soft purple buds clustered around a tall sprig symbolize grace, calmness and even luxury.
How do you prune lavender for first year?
Can I prune lavender in March?
March through May, early spring is the best time to prune
. Remove any dead branches all the way down to the hedge bottom. (see image) Following a harsh winter season as seen during the winter of 2013-14 (see 2014 Winter Blog) you may want to prune the entire lavender bush down to the bare woody hedge.
Do lavender plants spread?
Lavender is a small shrub that usually grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. The height includes the flower stalks, so when not in bloom, the foliage may be only a foot tall.
The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to
.
What is the life cycle of lavender?
Lavenders are perennial sub shrubs that can live for
10 -15 years
with the optimal care. In cold climates, non English lavenders will only last a year if left outside due to frost. French lavenders tend to be much more then short lived then English lavenders with 5 years considered a long life span.
What month do you harvest lavender?
When to Harvest Lavender
The best time to harvest lavender is: early, on many levels!
Early spring
, early bloom, early morning. Harvesting lavender flowers in the early spring will give the plant ample time to produce another flush of blooms to enjoy again in the late summer to fall.
What month does lavender bloom?
English lavender blooms in
late spring to early summer
. If it’s pruned lightly just after its first flowering, it will likely flower again in late summer. After this second flowering, a full pruning—typically in late August—will prepare it for winter and encourage more blooms in spring.
Can I cut lavender back to the ground?
Just
don’t cut your subshrubs back to the ground
. Leave at least four to five obvious nodes above the ground where new growth can emerge. Some subshrubs may initiate new growth from the roots, but don’t depend on it.
Does lavender grow back?
Lavender is a perennial sub shrub the
does come back after Winter
and lives for many years with the right care, growing in the appropriate climate and conditions. Spanish and French lavenders may not come back after Winter in cold climates as they not as cold hardy as English lavenders.
Does lavender need a lot of water?
Lavender is drought-tolerant, which means
mature plants don’t need to be watered all the time
like your other garden plants. Too much water can leave them susceptible to root rot and fungal disease. Young, newly planted lavender does need regular watering until established (either by irrigation or adequate rainfall).
How do you stop lavender going woody?
Preventing Woody Lavender
Plant your lavender in well-drained, rocky soil, on a slope (if possible) to ensure drainage
. Fertilize them lightly the very first year after planting. After that, do not fertilize regularly. Prune lavender lightly to maintain the rounded shape.
Should you cover lavender in winter?
Lavender is a drought tolerant plant and prefers to be dry, so you want to ensure good drainage. A slope or small raised bed would help ensure the plant has good drainage and stays dry and happy. Third,
it is important to cover your Lavender plants (zone 5 and below) with winter protection
.
Does lavender grow year round indoors?
While
some readers want to grow lavender indoors all year round
, others are interested in transplanting them between outside and inside as weather allows. This is actually fine. You can move your lavender plants indoors from late fall to early spring and then place them back outside when weather allows.
Why is my lavender turning GREY?
Lavender can turn gray because of
frost damage or as a result of a fungal disease, caused by over watering or slow draining soils
. Usually the fungus botrytis spp is responsible for lavender leaves turning gray although there are a few pathogens that may cause lavenders to turn gray.
