Pruning lavender now.

[carolinej]

I am moving back into my house, which has been rented out for a while. My row of lavender is well overgrown.

Would it be safe to cut it back this late in the season? I usually do it when the flowers are right for drying.

How hard dare I cut it back if I do?

Thanks.

[carolinej]

[grawrc]

Lavender doesn't "break" well from old wood, so normally you should only prune some of this year's wood. Like you I normally prune when the flowers are finished, but you could always give them a light tidy-up prune now and aim to prune more thoroughly next year. You could then prune out bare or woody bits selectively over a couple of prunings. The other thing would be to start off some cuttings. Lavender really doesn't respond well to hard pruning but if you have got some cuttings coming on you can always replace any plants that don't recover.

[carolinej]

Thanks for the info :o)

Would now be a good time to start off cuttings? I have a heated propagator I could use:O)

That way, I'd have belt and braces insurance. If the pruning doesnt work, I'd have the cuttings to pop in next spring :o)

They'd be a LOT smaller though,lol

[grawrc]

i think normally this would be a job for August or September when you'd normally prune but I'd be willing to give it a go now. I think the key things would be restricting moisture (vermiculite/ infrequent watering) and restricting heat. The plants are dormant from now through to spring so you don't want to encourage too much top growth.

There's a good guide to lavender cuttings at http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/creative-projects/how-to-take-lavender-cuttings/176.html.

I've never done this at this time of year but you've got nothing - or very little - to lose giving it a go.

[carolinej]

Thanks. I'll give it a go and cross my fingers 

[green lily]

I've got a big lavender front hedge that flowers later than most. We trimmed it back on Thursday -- to please the neighbours. Leaving the heads on all winter can protect the new growth if the winter is a tough one. I don't think timing is critical. Just do it when you can.

[carolinej]

Thanks 

I went for it a few days ago. It is looking a bit woody on the one side , unfortunately the most visible Still some green there though, so I am hoping for a miraculous growth spurt in the spring

[Garden Manager]

I don't recommend it. Lavender should be lightly trimmed after flowering and then if needed pruned harder in spring.if you are lucky to get new shoots from the base then prune to those, if not cut to the lowest shoots (which sometimes stimulates basal growth). If the plant has become too big and overgrown then it may have to be replaced. Sorry!

Hope this helps.

[carolinej]

Thanks for the reply

I decided to go for it and give it a bit of a trip, and hope that there will be enough growth to make a good hedge next year. I'm not hopeful though. Shame, as it was really nice and bushy. My little bit of France here in Wales