French Lavender is a popular choice for gardens, known for its vibrant color and pleasant scent. Regular pruning is essential to keep this shrub healthy, vigorous, and blooming abundantly. Without it, French lavender can become woody and lose its attractive shape.
Benefits of Pruning French Lavender
Pruning French lavender encourages more blooms by redirecting energy to new flower formation. It helps maintain a compact, bushy, mounded shape, preventing leggy growth. This practice also improves air circulation, which can prevent fungal diseases. Consistent pruning extends the plant’s lifespan, keeping it productive and visually appealing.
When is the Best Time to Prune
The best time to prune French lavender is immediately after its first major bloom flush, in late spring or early summer. This encourages new growth and subsequent flowers. A lighter, second trim can be done in late summer or early fall if the plant reblooms. Avoid significant pruning too late in fall or during winter, as new growth may not harden off before frost, making it susceptible to cold damage.
Essential Pruning Tools
To effectively prune French lavender, a few basic tools are necessary. Use sharp, clean bypass pruners for precise cuts that promote quicker healing. For larger plants or hedges, clean hedge shears are also suitable. Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands from plant oils and thorns. Always ensure tools are clean to prevent disease spread between plants.
How to Prune French Lavender Step-by-Step
Begin by deadheading spent flower stalks to encourage continuous blooming. Snip the stem just above the first set of healthy leaves or a visible leaf node. This removes old blooms and directs energy into new ones.
For shaping and maintenance pruning, aim to trim back about one-third of the current year’s growth. This maintains the plant’s mounded form and encourages bushiness. Always make cuts just above a leaf node.
French lavender does not respond well to hard pruning into old, woody stems that lack green leaves. Unlike some other lavender types, cutting into leafless old wood can inhibit new growth and may even kill the plant. Focus on pruning only soft, green growth and avoid the woody base.
Rejuvenation pruning, cutting severely into old wood, is a gamble for French lavender and is typically not recommended unless absolutely necessary. If attempting to rejuvenate an overgrown plant, do so cautiously in early spring when new green growth appears, and only if you see signs of life on woody stems. The goal is to encourage branching and new growth from lower down.
Post-Pruning Care
After pruning, French lavender generally requires minimal care. If the soil is dry, a light watering can be beneficial, but avoid overwatering as lavender prefers drier conditions and is susceptible to root rot. Established lavender plants typically do not require regular fertilization, thriving in lean, well-draining soil. If the plant appears stressed, a light application of a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer can be considered. Monitor the plant for new growth and any signs of stress, adjusting care as needed.