It’s important to prune your lavender in the spring to ensure a healthy plant and a good harvest. This guide will show you how to correctly prune your lavender so that it flourishes.
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When to Prune
Lavender (Lavandula) is a wonderful herb to grow in the garden. Not only is it beautiful, with its colorful flowers and fragrant leaves, but it is also quite versatile. You can use lavender in cooking, as a decoration, or even to make your own beauty products.
If you want to get the most out of your lavender plants, it is important to prune them properly. Lavender should be pruned in the spring, just before new growth begins. This will ensure that your plants are healthy and produce plenty of flowers.
How to Prune
Lavender (Lavandula) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, narrow leaves and violet-blue flowers. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, which also includes rosemary, sage, basil, and thyme. The most common type of lavender grown in gardens is English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).
Cut above the leaf node
When pruning lavender in the spring, cut back the dead wood from the previous season and any other areas that appear to be dying back. Cut just above a leaf node (the point where a leaf meets the stem). This will encourage new growth.
Cut at a 45-degree angle
To encourage new growth, cut the stems of your lavender at a 45-degree angle about 1/2 inch above where the leaves meet the stem. This allows rainwater to run off the stem instead of pooling and encourages new growth.
Cut 1/4 inch above the wood
Using sharp, clean pruning shears, cut 1/4 inch above the wood on all sides of the plant. This will help to promote new growth and encourage a fuller plant. Be sure to remove any dead or damaged leaves or stems as well.
What to Do With the Cuttings
Spring is the time to prune your lavender so that it will be nice and full for the summer. You can use the cuttings to make lavender wands, sachets, or oil.
Dry the lavender
Once you have cut the lavender, you will need to dry it. The best way to do this is by hanging it upside down in small bundles in a dark, dry place with good air circulation. You can also lay the lavender out on a drying rack or screen. If you are using a rack or screen, make sure to turn the lavender regularly so that all sides have a chance to dry evenly. It should take about two weeks for the lavender to fully dry.
Make a lavender wreath
Lavender wreaths are a beautiful addition to your home décor, and they’re surprisingly easy to make! All you need is a wire wreath frame, some lavender cuttings, and some wire or twine.
To start, strip the leaves off of your lavender cuttings and discard them. Then, take a small bunch of lavender and tie it to the wire frame with the wire or twine. Continue adding small bunches of lavender around the frame until it is covered. That’s it!
Hang your lavender wreath in a location that gets good light but isn’t in direct sunlight, and enjoy the fresh fragrance all spring and summer long.
Make lavender sachets
One of the best things you can do with your lavender cuttings is make sachets. Sachets are small packets filled with dried herbs, flowers, and other fragrant items. They are often used to scent drawers and closets, but you can also use them to scent your bed linens or to keep in your car.
To make a sachet, you will need:
-a small square of fabric (muslin or cheesecloth work well)
-a needle and thread
-scissors
-dried lavender blossoms
Cut the fabric into a square that is about 6 inches across. Fold the square in half, then in half again so that it forms a smaller square. Sew around three sides of the square, leaving one side open. Turn the sachet inside out so that the seams are on the inside.
Fill the sachet with lavender blossoms, using as much or as little as you like. Once it is full, sew the remaining side closed. You can use your sachet right away or hang it in a cool, dark place to let the lavender continue to dry and release its fragrance.
