How to Prune French lavender?

(Lavandula dentata)

French lavender, also known as Toothed lavender

Esteemed for its fragrant, gray-green foliage and purple blooms, french lavender thrives with regular pruning. To promote bushy growth, remove spent flowers and lightly shape after blooming, ideally in late summer or early fall. Pruning back up to one-third annually rejuvenates the plant. Avoid cutting into old wood, as new shoots may not regenerate. Pruning enhances air circulation and flowering in french lavender, keeping it compact and healthy.

What Are the Benefits of Pruning French Lavender?

Pruning french lavender encourages prolific blooming, stimulates robust growth, and maintains a compact, attractive form. Regular cutting back helps french lavender avoid becoming leggy and sparse, ensuring a healthier, more aesthetically pleasing plant.

What Is the Best Time for Pruning French Lavender?

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Late winter to early spring is ideal for pruning french lavender as it is generally before the onset of the new growth cycle. This timing allows gardeners to shape the plant and remove any frost damage without impeding the growth of new shoots. Pruning after flowering takes advantage of the natural growth cycle when french lavender has expended energy on bloom production and is ready to put forth new growth, ensuring the health of the plant and promoting vigorous blooms for the next season. Pruning during these periods also helps maintain french lavender's compact shape and prevents it from becoming woody.

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What Tools Do I Need to Prune French Lavender?

Hand Pruners

For precise cutting and shaping of french lavender, a sharp pair of hand pruners is ideal. They allow the gardener to make clean cuts without damaging the woody stems.

Pruning Shears

These are suitable for snipping off old blooms and light shaping. Due to french lavender's relatively small size and delicate stems, pruning shears facilitate quick touch-ups and help maintain plant health.

Gloves

Wearing gloves while pruning french lavender protects the gardener's hands from its oil-rich foliage, which can cause skin irritation in some individuals.

Pruning Saw

If dealing with older, woodier specimens of french lavender, a small pruning saw may be necessary for removing dead or thick branches that hand pruners cannot handle.

How to Prune French Lavender

Step1: Tool Preparation and Sanitization

Prepare the necessary pruning tools, such as sharp bypass pruners or garden shears, and sanitize them to prevent the spread of disease. Wear garden gloves for protection.

Step2: Identifying and Deadheading Flowers

Evaluate french lavender to identify all dead flowers. Deadheading, or removing dead flowers, encourages more blooms and a healthier plant.

Step3: Proper Cutting Technique

Begin pruning by cutting the dead flowers with the pruners. Make cuts approximately 1/4 inch above a leaf node or set of leaves, ensuring that there are at least two sets of leaves below the cut to keep the plant thriving.

Step4: Identifying Overgrown Stems

Locate overgrown stems that disrupt the shape of french lavender or impede airflow through the plant. Overgrown stems can also be identified as those that extend significantly beyond the natural silhouette of french lavender.

Step5: Pruning Overgrown Stems

Prune off these overgrown stems by cutting back to just above a leaf node, cutting at a 45-degree angle to foster new growth and maintain the desired shape of french lavender.

Step6: Addressing Woody Growth

Inspect the base of french lavender for any sections that have become woody. These woody bases can reduce the plant's vigor and flowering capability.

Step7: Trimming Woody Base

Carefully trim away some of the woody base, cutting back to where there is still green growth. Avoid cutting into the woody parts where there are no green shoots, as this might harm french lavender.

Step8: Structural Shaping

Shape french lavender by selectively pruning to maintain a neat, rounded form, removing any stray or awkwardly growing stems to encourage a dense and well-structured plant.

Step9: Cleanup of Clippings

Clean up all clippings and dispose of them properly, as decaying plant material can harbor pests and diseases.

Step10: Post-Pruning Hydration

Water french lavender deeply after pruning to help reduce stress on the plant and aid in recovery.

Step11: Fertilization After Pruning

Apply a light application of balanced, slow-release fertilizer to provide nutrients and support new growth following the pruning session.

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Post-Pruning Care for French Lavender

After pruning french lavender, immediately water the plant to encourage recovery. Ensure it is positioned to receive full sunlight and maintain a consistent temperature between 65-75°F. Humidity should be moderate. Feed french lavender with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to support new growth. Regularly inspect for signs of wilting, discoloration, or infection. At any symptom of stress, adjust care and consult a horticulture expert for potential treatment.

Common Pruning Mistakes with French Lavender

Overly Aggressive Pruning to Woody Base

Pruning too aggressively, which can lead to cutting into the woody base of french lavender, where new growth may not occur. This can drastically reduce the plant's ability to produce blooms.

Not Deadheading Faded Blooms

Neglecting to remove dead or fading flowers, which can prevent french lavender from directing its energy into producing new growth and flowers.

Using Dull or Unclean Tools

Using dull or unclean pruning tools, which can cause damage to french lavender's stems and possibly introduce disease to the plant.

Disregarding Plant's Natural Shape

Ignoring the plant's natural shape and form during pruning, which can result in a less aesthetically pleasing appearance and may inhibit the plant's growth.

Not Thinning Overcrowded Stems

Failing to thin out overcrowded stems, which can lead to poor air circulation within the plant and may increase susceptibility to pests and diseases.

Common Pruning Tips for French Lavender

Use Sharp, Clean Shears for Pruning

Make sure to use sharp, clean shears or pruners to create clean cuts that will heal quickly, reducing the chance of disease affecting french lavender.

Prune to Natural Shape, Avoid Old Wood

Prune for shape by following french lavender's natural mound-forming habit; lightly shape the plant without cutting into the old wood to maintain its compact and attractive form.

Deadhead Spent Blooms After Flowering

After flowering, deadhead spent blooms to encourage a second flush of flowers. This will keep french lavender looking tidy and may extend the blooming period.

Light, Regular Pruning for Vigor and Blooms

Prune lightly but regularly, cutting back up to a third of the current season's growth to maintain the health and vigor of french lavender, and to promote denser foliage and more blooms.

Remove Dead or Damaged Stems Promptly

Look out for any dead, diseased, or damaged stems and remove them promptly to maintain the health of french lavender, ensuring you make cuts just above a healthy leaf node or set of leaves.