Does lavender dry out and fade? Reduce now in August

Lavender is a very popular plant in gardens and not only attracts many insects thanks to its fragrant flowers, but can also be used in various ways in the medicine cabinet. Pruning lavender is essential to keep the plant compact and healthy and encourage its regrowth. The best time to prune depends on the type of lavender and the climate in which it grows. In this article we explain why you should think about cutting back on lavender now.

Immediately after the first flowering in early summer

Most lavender varieties bloom in early summer. Once flowering has finished and the flowers have faded, you can easily cut the plant. This is usually the case in July. Cut spent flower stems and the top third of the current year’s growth. Be careful not to cut too deeply into the woody wood as this may affect future growth.

Light pruning in late summer or early autumn

Light pruning can be done in late summer or early autumn to keep the plant in shape and encourage branching before winter arrives. Be sure to allow enough time for the plant to harden off before cold temperatures.

These instructions refer to the most common type of lavender in German gardens, Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender). It is the best known variety of lavender and also one of the most common for culinary use. Because not all lavender is edible. You can find out which lavender can be used for culinary purposes in the article “Which lavender is edible and suitable for tea?» read more. The flowers of this lavender have a sweet, floral aroma and are ideal for refining desserts, pastries, teas and syrups.

Preserve wild herbs now

You can find the basics and exact recipes on how to preserve herbs in the gentlest way in our brand new book “Preserving wild herbs: the best methods and recipes“(available here). The book is only available in our Herbal Witches online store www.die-moderne-Kräuterhexe.de and not in bookstores. We’ve put so much love and knowledge into this book and can’t wait to inspire you with our fascination with great herbs.

Be careful when pruning lavender plants

It is important to note that some types of lavender, such as Lavandula stoechas (cup lavender) or Lavandula dentata (tooth lavender), should be pruned slightly differently. These varieties often do not tolerate such deep pruning, so it is best to remove only the faded flowers and otherwise leave the plant largely intact. If you are not sure what type of lavender you have and how to prune it, you can use, for example, a plant app. We found out which app is useful for identifying herbs in the article “The three best apps for determining herbs and plants» he explained.

What is the best time to plant lavender?

In most regions, spring, preferably late spring, is the ideal time to plant lavender. Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the ground has warmed. Mild spring weather allows lavender plants to get established and develop roots before the hot summer temperatures arrive. In milder climates with mild winters, lavender can also be planted in late fall. The soil is typically still warm enough to support root growth, and the plants have time to become established during the cooler months before active growth begins in the spring. It is important to note that lavender typically tolerates drought well, but requires regular watering during the initial growing period, especially the first year after planting. You can find out which herbs to cut in July in our article “You should cut these grasses in July„.

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