Are you a lavender lover looking to extend the life of your precious plants? Look no further! In this article, we will provide you with expert tips and tricks for pruning and propagating your lavenders to ensure they thrive for years to come.
Lavenders are prized for their beautiful flowers, fragrant foliage, and versatility in gardens and landscapes. However, as they mature, they can become woody, damaged, and misshapen, which can shorten their lifespan.
But fear not, with proper pruning and propagation techniques, you can keep your lavenders healthy and beautiful for years to come. So, grab your pruning shears and let’s get started on the journey to mastering lavender care!
Key Takeaways
- Lavenders become more woody as they mature and require significant pruning in spring and a light prune in fall to extend their life.
- Pruning lavenders back every year slows down the formation of wood and stimulates blooms.
- Propagating lavender from cuttings is easy and cheaper than buying new plants. Take cuttings of soft green healthy-looking growth in the summer and plant in potting compost and sand or grit mix.
- Lavenders should be pruned to form a rounded mound shape to deflect snowfall and resist snow, ice, and water from getting into the plant and rotting the wood. Never cut back into the woody growth of lavender as it will not rejuvenate or produce new growth that will bloom.
Lavender Pruning Basics
Let’s talk about lavender pruning basics. Did you know that regular pruning can extend the life of your lavender plant to over 10 years? With appropriate care, it can produce quality blooms, oil, and fragrance every season. Pruning techniques are essential to prevent woody growth, which can cause damage to the plant, reduce the number of flowers produced, and distort the overall shape of the plant. Pruning also stimulates new growth and encourages more blooms to form.
When pruning lavender, it’s best to do it in the spring and fall. The spring pruning prepares the plant for the growing season, while the fall pruning helps the plant prepare for winter. It’s important to prune about a third of the new growth to form a robust, dense mound shape that resists damage from weather and stimulates blooms. It’s also essential to prune lavender to form a rounded mound shape to deflect snowfall and resist snow, ice, and water from getting into the plant and rotting the wood.
Remember never to cut back into the woody growth of lavender as it won’t rejuvenate or produce new growth that will bloom.
Propagating Lavender from Cuttings
We can easily propagate lavender from cuttings during the summer months on non-flowering shoots. To do this, we need to select healthy-looking growth and take a cutting of approximately 4 inches long.
Then, delicately remove the leaves of the bottom two inches of the cutting with a sterile knife or fine scissors and dip the bottom tip of the cutting into hormone rooting powder to stimulate root growth.
Next, prepare a pot with about 70% potting compost and 30% sand or grit. Plant the bottom 2 inches of the cutting into the soil and firm the soil around it to provide support. Keep the soil slightly moist but not wet and mist the leaves with a sprayer.
Move the pot into a warm place and wait for the roots to establish, which usually takes 4-6 weeks. Once the roots have developed, you can transplant the lavender to either a larger pot or into your garden.
Care and Maintenance Tips
For good care and maintenance of our lavender plants, it’s important to regularly prune and shape them to resist damage from weather and encourage new growth. This includes both spring and fall pruning.
In the spring, we should prune back about a third of the new growth to form a robust, dense mound shape that deflects snowfall and resists damage from snow, ice, and water. This will also stimulate blooms and prevent the formation of woody growth.
In the fall, we should lightly prune the lavender to prepare it for winter. Additionally, we should never cut back into the woody growth of the plant, as it won’t rejuvenate or produce new growth that will bloom. Preventing woody growth is crucial for the longevity of the plant.
Once the wood of lavender has split, it doesn’t usually regrow nor will flowering stems be produced. Regular pruning extends the life of the lavender, maintains an attractive shape, and encourages new growth to produce more flowers.
Proper seasonal care includes pruning, shaping, and protecting the lavender from harsh weather conditions. With good care and significant pruning, lavenders can live over 10 years, producing quality blooms, oil, and fragrance every season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lavender be propagated from seeds or is cuttings the only way?
Growing lavender from seeds can be a gamble, with varying success rates and unpredictable results. Cuttings offer a more reliable and cost-effective way to propagate lavender, with higher success rates and the ability to clone the desired characteristics of the parent plant.
How often should I fertilize my lavender plant?
We fertilize our lavender plant twice a year, once in early spring and again in late summer. Lavenders prefer a lean soil, so we use a balanced, organic fertilizer and avoid overfeeding. We also use organic pest control options to keep our plant healthy.
Can I prune my lavender in the winter?
Did you know that improper winter pruning can cause serious damage to your lavender? To ensure healthy and vibrant blooms, prune your lavender in the spring and lightly in the fall. Lavender maintenance is key to a thriving and long-lasting plant.
What is the ideal temperature range for growing lavender?
The ideal temperature range for growing lavender is between 60-85°F with well-draining soil and full sun exposure. Lavenders thrive in hot, dry conditions and do not tolerate humidity. Proper growing conditions will result in healthy plants and abundant blooms.
Can I grow lavender indoors?
Sure, let’s grow lavender indoors! It’s easy-peasy with container gardening. Just keep in mind that lavender needs ample sunlight, good drainage, and air circulation. With proper care, you’ll have fragrant blooms all year round.
