When to prune lavender to make it bloom several times and how to do it correctly

Lavender blooms not only decorate a garden or flower bed, but also fill the space with a wonderful fragrance that attracts pollinating insects and repels pests. But did you know that the plant can be made to bloom again not only during the season, but also in early fall?

According to gardening experts, you need to prune it properly and in time. OBOZ.UA found out all the nuances.

When to prune lavender

The right time to shorten the plant's shoots comes three times a year - spring, summer and autumn. Spring pruning is considered the most important. It stimulates the growth of new shoots and makes lavender set more buds. In the summer, you need to take care of the flower in the season when it is actively blooming or already fading. This will help the lavender bushes retain more strength for a second wave of flowering. Autumn pruning helps prepare the plant for wintering.

How to do it right

Summer pruning is carried out when the first inflorescences begin to fade on the lavender bushes. They need to be removed, including the stems that do not have leaves with them. In this way, you will remove the parts that consume resources in vain and the lavender will have the strength to form new buds.

When the sanitary pruning is complete, cut the tops of the branches by about a third. This will not only help to shape the entire bush beautifully, but will also stimulate the development of young shoots and re-flowering. The ideal shape for lavender is a ball. This ensures optimal air circulation between the branches and reduces the risk of fungal diseases.

If you haven't pruned your lavender bushes before, you can remove even more than a third of the length of the branches. However, try not to damage the vascular bundles in the stem. They feed the plant, and their injury can even lead to the death of the entire bush. On the contrary, with young lavender, it will be enough to pinch only the tops.

Safety precautions

Choose a dry and preferably cloudy day for the procedure. Prune during the daytime. At this time, the concentration of essential oils in the flowers is the highest and this will help the lavender to dry the slices faster and protect them from infections.

Before pruning lavender, be sure to disinfect the tool. To do this, treat the blades of secateurs, garden shears, or a brush cutter if you are cutting large bushes with alcohol, steam, or a solution of potassium permanganate.

When the procedure is complete, gently water the lavender at the root to prevent water from getting on the cuts. You can also apply fertilizer to stimulate the growth of new branches. In this case, your plant will bloom especially magnificently in the fall.

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