Lavender is one of the easiest shrubs to grow, but timing is everything when it comes to keeping it healthy and looking its best.
Many gardeners enjoy the fragrant flowers throughout summer but then leave the plant untouched until autumn—or even the following spring. Unfortunately, that’s one of the quickest ways to end up with a woody, straggly shrub that produces fewer flowers each year.
If your lavender has just finished flowering, this is the week to give it a light trim.
Why Timing Matters
For most English lavenders (Lavandula angustifolia), the best time to prune is immediately after the main flush of flowers has faded, usually during late July or August in much of the UK.
Pruning at this stage encourages the plant to stay compact and directs its energy into producing fresh leafy growth before autumn arrives.
Wait too long, and the shrub may not have enough time to produce new shoots before colder weather sets in.
The Mistake That Ruins Lavender
The biggest mistake is allowing lavender to become woody.
Every year the plant naturally produces more woody stems near its base. If it isn’t trimmed regularly, these bare sections gradually expand while flowering growth becomes confined to the outer tips.
Eventually, the plant looks leggy, develops gaps in the middle and produces fewer blooms.
Once lavender has become heavily woody, it’s very difficult to restore it to its former shape.
How to Prune Lavender Correctly
Fortunately, pruning lavender is quick and straightforward.
After flowering:
- Remove the faded flower stems.
- Trim back this year’s soft green growth by around one-third.
- Shape the plant into a neat, rounded mound.
- Leave plenty of green growth on every stem.
The aim is to maintain a compact cushion rather than cutting deeply into the shrub.
Never Cut Into Old Wood
One rule matters more than any other: don’t cut into old, leafless wood unless there are healthy green shoots growing from it.
Unlike many shrubs, lavender doesn’t reliably produce new growth from bare woody stems. Cutting back too hard can leave permanent gaps or even kill sections of the plant.
If your lavender has already become woody, it’s usually better to improve its shape gradually over several years rather than attempting a severe renovation.
What If It’s Still Flowering?
Don’t rush to prune if your lavender is still providing a colourful display.
Flowers are an excellent source of nectar for bees, butterflies and other pollinators during summer. Wait until the majority of the blooms have faded before reaching for the secateurs.
You can always remove a few spent flower stems first while leaving fresh blooms for wildlife.
A Little Care Goes a Long Way
Lavender doesn’t ask for much.
Plant it in full sun, avoid heavy or waterlogged soil and give it a light annual trim after flowering. That’s often all it takes to keep plants compact, healthy and covered in fragrant blooms for many years.
Skipping one year’s pruning isn’t always disastrous, but making it a habit almost certainly leads to plants that become woody and less attractive over time.
Final Thoughts
If your lavender has finished flowering, don’t put off pruning for another week or two. A quick trim now helps maintain its shape, encourages healthy new growth and can dramatically improve the way it looks for years to come.
Spend just a few minutes with the secateurs this summer, and your lavender is far more likely to reward you with neat growth, abundant flowers and plenty of visits from bees every season.
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