How To Cut Back Woody Lavender

You can cut back woody lavender by pruning it hard in early spring, just as new growth starts to appear at the base of the plant.

 

This is the best time because lavender is a Mediterranean plant that responds well to a good annual trim.

 

When you cut back woody lavender, you remove the old, twisted stems that have stopped producing flowers.

 

In this post, we will look at exactly how to cut back woody lavender, when to do it, and how much you can safely take off.

 

Let’s jump in.

How to Cut Back Woody Lavender the Right Way

Cutting back woody lavender is not complicated, but you do need to follow a few key rules so you don’t kill the plant.

 

1. Never Cut Into the Old Wood

This is the single most important rule when you cut back woody lavender.

 

Lavender rarely regrows from old, leafless wood.

 

So if you cut too far down into the brown, woody base, that part of the plant simply won’t come back.

 

When you cut back woody lavender, always stay within the green, leafy growth.

 

A good rule is to cut back to about two-thirds of the way up each stem, leaving plenty of green growth behind.

 

So instead of cutting back woody lavender all the way to the ground, you cut back the soft, gray-green shoots.

 

2. Use Sharp, Clean Tools

When you cut back woody lavender, always use clean, sharp scissors or bypass pruners.

 

Dull blades crush the stems and invite disease into the plant.

 

Wipe your blades with rubbing alcohol before you cut back woody lavender to keep things sanitary.

 

3. Cut Just Above a Leaf Node

Every time you cut back woody lavender, make your cut just above a set of leaves or a new bud.

 

Cutting at the wrong spot leaves an ugly stub that can rot.

 

This little habit makes a big difference over the years.

 

4. Shape as You Go

As you cut back woody lavender, remove the stems that have flopped open in the middle.

 

This opens up the center of the plant for airflow and sunlight.

 

Always think about the shape you want when you cut back woody lavender, aiming for a rounded, slightly mounded form.

 

5. Don’t Go Overboard in One Session

If your plant is very old and woody, don’t try to cut back woody lavender all at once.

 

Take about a third of the plant down each year instead.

 

This gives the plant time to recover while you gradually cut back woody lavender and encourage fresh growth.

 

When to Cut Back Woody Lavender

When to cut back woody lavender matters just as much as how you do it.

 

1. Early Spring Is Best

For a hard cut back woody lavender, early spring is your window.

 

You want to prune when you see the first tiny green shoots appearing at the base of the stems.

 

This is when the plant is waking up and can heal fast.

 

When you cut back woody lavender at this point, the new growth comes in strong and bushy.

 

2. Light Trimming After Flowering

The other time to cut back woody lavender is right after the flowers fade in summer.

 

This is just a light tidy-up, not a hard prune.

 

Snip off the spent flower spikes and a couple of inches of green growth.

 

This keeps the plant compact and encourages a second flush in some varieties.

 

3. Avoid Late Autumn Pruning

Never cut back woody lavender in late autumn.

 

Cutting back woody lavender before winter leaves the plant with open wounds and no time to harden off.

 

Cold and damp can then get into the cuts, and that’s how lavender dies.

 

If you’re wondering when to cut back woody lavender, spring is always the safer answer.

 

What Happens If You Cut Back Woody Lavender Too Hard?

Sometimes you cut back woody lavender too far and end up with bare, woody stems.

 

If that happens, don’t panic right away.

 

The plant may sucker from the base if it’s healthy.

 

But if you cut back woody lavender below the lowest green growth, that section usually won’t sprout again.

 

So always leave some green shoots behind and you’ll be fine.

 

So, How Do You Cut Back Woody Lavender?

You can cut back woody lavender by pruning in early spring, staying within the green growth, and never cutting into the old wood.

 

Just make sure your tools are sharp, your cuts are clean, and you don’t go too hard all at once.

 

In this post, we’ve covered the right way to cut back woody lavender, the best timing, and what to do if you go too far.

 

Lavender rewards you for it.