
Should I replace my old lavender plant?
When should I replace lavender? Because it is sometimes a short-lived plant, lavender can need replacing every five to six years. However, before you jump to this conclusion when your lavender plant stops thriving or appears leggy or woody, make some cultural changes or conduct a heavy pruning to see if you can you revive or rejuvenate it.
When to prune lavender plants?
When pruning lavender, if you cut woody stems, they will not grow back, but will simply die. In general, you should plan to prune lavender at planting time and every year right after it blooms. When planting lavender, prune the plants lightly, removing all the growing tips. This encourages the plant to branch. How do I protect my lavender in winter?
Is it OK to cut back Woody lavender?
Because it is sometimes a short-lived plant, lavender can need replacing every five to six years. However, before you jump to this conclusion when your lavender plant stops thriving or appears leggy or woody, make some cultural changes or conduct a heavy pruning to see if you can you revive or rejuvenate it.
What to do with Woody lavender plants?
Once they’ve grown, you can replace the mother plant with a cutting. Spring is the best time to make lavender cuttings. There are two ways to take lavender cuttings. Usually, “softwood tips” (green with leaves) are cut and rooted in water or soil mix. You can also take “heel cuttings“, where a young branch is pulled off from a main branch. The trailing sliver of bark is where new …
See more
When should I replace my lavender plants? Lavender does not break new growth easily from old stems so don’t cut back into the woody stems. Even if pruned annually, older lavender plants can become straggly, very woody and mis-shapen so, as they are fast growing and establish quickly, they are best replaced if you want to keep everything looking neat.

Do you need to replace lavender plants?
Small shoots emerging from the woody base indicate that stems should regenerate. 2 CUT OUT OLD GROWTH Carefully cut out the old growth above the young shoots to open up the middle of the plant. Use sharp secateurs to cut as close as you can to the new growth without harming it.Aug 12, 2019
How long should you keep a lavender plant?
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).Apr 12, 2021
How long can lavender last?
When sited correctly and pruned judiciously, lavenders should live for five to seven years. Although lavender is fairly drought tolerant, adequate moisture is required throughout the growing season. Most critical are the weeks after planting to ensure that soil around the rootball does not dry out.
Should I cut old lavender back?
The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. You'll usually find brown branches at the base of the plant. Remove them only when they are truly dead. Never cut them back, hoping to stimulate new growth.Jun 15, 2021
Does lavender live all year?
FOR a low-maintenance plant that looks good all year round, it's hard to beat lavender. When it comes to plants that earn their keep, lavender is in the top rank. It looks good all year round with its neat mounds of narrow grey leaves and the aroma they impart when brushed against is a great delight.Jul 12, 2014
Should lavender be cut back in the spring?
All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. This means pruning can be done in early or mid-spring without sacrificing the current year's flowers. Pruning in spring can delay flowering—which might be your preference—and it's a good time to take down dead portions and shorten growth to the buds.Jan 5, 2022
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.
Why does my lavender plant look dead?
The most common reasons for a Lavender plant dying are improper watering, over-fertilization, acidic soil pH, diseases, pests, or inadequate sunlight. Careful inspection of the plant and growing conditions are essential to help identify and fix the issue.
Will dead lavender grow back?
The lavender should revive by next growth season. Lavender needs to be pruned back once a year in the Spring or Fall to prevent it from turning woody. Prune the top third of the lavenders flexible growth back, but do not prune the woody growth.
Can I prune lavender in October?
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.Dec 23, 2017
What happens if you don't prune lavender?
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.Feb 28, 2018
How do you overwinter lavender?
If your plant will be inside for the winter, keep it in a cool, non-freezing location with sunlight and air circulation. Slow down watering of plants. Lavender prefers a dry soil, and the amount of rain that naturally falls will be sufficient for the plant.Oct 22, 2018
When should I replace my lavender plants?
Lavender does not break new growth easily from old stems so don’t cut back into the woody stems. Even if pruned annually, older lavender plants can become straggly, very woody and mis-shapen so, as they are fast growing and establish quickly, they are best replaced if you want to keep everything looking neat.
Do lavender plants come back 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. Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
How long do lavender plants stay in bloom?
Most mid-season blooming Lavenders belong to the Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender) group. Flowering typically occurs in June or July and tends to last 3-4 weeks.
How do you maintain a lavender plant?
Water plants deeply but infrequently, when the soil is almost dry. Prune every year immediately after bloom. For low-growing lavenders, trim back foliage 1 to 2 inches. Starting in a plant’s second year, all 2- to 4-foot lavenders should be cut back by about a third to keep the plant from getting overly woody.
Should I deadhead lavender?
Lavender requires a soil pH of 6.5 to 8. Position the lavender plants with plenty of space between them to encourage drying air circulation. Remove, or deadhead, spent blooms regularly for the entire blooming season. This prolongs the overall blooming duration and promotes bushier growth.
How do you stop lavender going woody?
Use sharp secateurs to cut as close as you can to the new growth without harming it. 3 KNOW WHEN TO STOP Continue until all the woody growth has been removed and you’re left with a neat stump of cut stems bearing new shoots. Apply a mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the plant.
How many times a year does lavender bloom?
It thrives in USDA zones 8 through 9. In areas with mild summers and winters, it may bloom up to three times – in early May, June and late summer or early fall, says Gardenia.
What is a good substitute for lavender?
Lavender is a member of the mint family and is closely related to rosemary. Both are fragrant and have assertive, pungent flavors. With rosemary, the flavor is reminiscent of sweet mint and pine needles with notes of tea and of ginger. Both of these herbs are pungent in both dried and fresh forms. In other words, you should exercise moderation when using rosemary as a lavender substitute. Rosemary is best used as a lavender substitute in savory dishes and will pair well with most of the other herbs and spices that typically accompany lavender in a recipe. Add about half as much rosemary as your recipe requires for lavender, taste it and add more if necessary.
What is English lavender?
English lavender is the variety most commonly used as a culinary herb. Its floral sweetness and citrus notes can complement a wide range of foods ranging from meats to desserts. While popular in many parts of the world, there are places where it may be difficult to find. If you are unable to get your hands on this herb, ...
Where is lavender from?
It is a blend of herbs that are common in the Provence region of France. Those herbs have played a key role in Provençal cuisine for a long time. Lavender is an important component of the herbs de Provence blends that you will find in the US. The flavor is pronounced enough to make it an effective lavender substitute.
Is lemon thyme the same as lavender?
Lemon thyme is in the mint family, which means that it is related to lavender. It has the same woody notes that you get from thyme along with a strong lemon fragrance that can take the place of lavender’s floral notes. Mint is also similar to lavender and is equally versatile as it is used to flavor a range of savory and sweet dishes.
Can you use rosemary as a substitute for lavender?
In other words, you should exercise moderation when using rosemary as a lavender substitute. Rosemary is best used as a lavender substitute in savory dishes and will pair well with most of the other herbs and spices that typically accompany lavender in a recipe.
What is a parfait d'amour?
In a pinch: Parfait d’Amour. Parfait d’Amour is a liqueur made with a curacao base, vanilla and flower petals. Lavender blossoms are among the flowers used in some versions. This liqueur has the sweet and floral notes that you would expect from lavender, which makes it perfect for some of the herb’s dessert applications.
What to do when your lavender is woody?
When you notice that your lavender is woody, it’s time to take action to help it recover. Here’s what to do with woody lavender plants: prune them. Pruning woody lavender plants is the key to rejuvenating them.
How long do lavender plants live?
Lavender shrubs bear bright, fragrant blossoms and can live for 20 years or more. However, after six or eight years, they can begin to look woody, filled with dead wood and bearing fewer of their sweet-smelling flowers. Don’t give up on these plants.
How to prevent woody lavender?
If you have young, healthy lavender plants, you can work at preventing woody lavender with appropriate planting and cultural care. The keys to lavender care are good drainage and minimal fertilizer. Plant your lavender in well-drained, rocky soil, on a slope (if possible) to ensure drainage.
How long does it take to trim back a sage tree?
You can trim branches back by one-third or one-half. Always be sure that there are green leaves still on the plant when you are done pruning. The entire restoration may take several years to accomplish, as you never want to do too much pruning at one time.
Can you trim lavender with dead wood?
It isn’ t hard to learn how to trim a lavender with woody stems. The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. You’ll usually find brown branches at the base of the plant. Remove them only when they are truly dead. Never cut them back, hoping to stimulate new growth. The plant cannot produce new growth from the woody parts.
Can you cut back lavender?
Never cut them back, hoping to stimulate new growth. The plant cannot produce new growth from the woody parts. When you’re pruning woody lavender plants, it’s also a good idea not to prune all of the plant at the same time. Instead, work slowly, trimming back each branch, but never cutting into the brown wood.
