We’ve seen that one of difficulties is that young branch buds can’t appear on old wood. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hard pruning over several years is one way to succeed. Kym Pokorny | Flowers, though still fragrant, grow sparse. This publication discusses the symptoms of the disease and the pathogen and disease cycle. Basic guide to pruning lavender and general lavender care. Follow us. My lavenders are huge and I want to prune them back to make more room for other plants. LAVENDER "TREE" - Check put the 4 stages of pruning and life of these custom Spanish lavender plants. This means that pruning can be done in early- or mid-spring without sacrificing the current years flowering. The goal of this technique is to strike a delicate balance. Trim any new, young shoots to half their new growth. Thanks for joining us for another OSU Extension Garden Q&A podcast episode. All lavenders bloom on the stems that grew in the current year. Impact story. When To Prune Lavender Pruning in progress. Remove approximately one third of the top to keep. Prune your lavender plants. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw7mEQkNTxM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR12DRykqcNu8aqGO4a9Wlj1bGbrNlRYgDRNWp-d8k8ue0xoqESjhP5WbqQ. The lavender demonstration garden at Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center is tended by Master Gardener volunteers. Also, how old are they, and have they already bloomed? As a general rule, prune at least a couple of months before winter sets in. As homeowners continue to build in the wild and urban interface, they must take special precautions to protect their homes. Learn what shrubs and trees to plant now to brighten your garden in the months to come. Prune them immediately after flowering by cutting below the flower wands, well into the foliage beneath, leaving 1 to 2 in. Podcast episode. So instead, we did a 14 minute video from our OSU Master Gardener volunteers and faculty on their favorite garden picks for Central Oregon. Dec 2018 | Questioner: I believe it's an English. Should I leave my fig leaves on the ground? Do I water them or withhold water and let nature do it’s thing? Mar 2020 | On one hand, hard pruning is necessary to reduce shrub size. Ideally, pruning lavender in spring and fall is a great idea, if … Give your patio an elegant touch with a lavender tree in a container. The basic rule of pruning lavender is not to trim into brown, dead wood. Podcast episode, Nicole Sanchez, Toni Stephan, Scott Thiemann, Brooke Edmunds | 01:42. It’s softer on the plant and won’t shock it as much. Pruning Lavender Plants . Apple scab is a significant problem in the climate of the Pacific Northwest. So remember, keep your pruning in the … Here is a good Colorado Extension article about them. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is the most common species available, and is quite hardy. At most 1/4. If you prune them now, you’ll prune off this years blooms-in-progress, even though it may have bloomed twice in a season before. Fasten them to the ground for them to root. Dec 2020 | Video. One way to do this is to create a defensible space around the home, and one important factor can ... Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald | Pruning Lavender. Now what? Regular pruning twice a year gives your plant time regenerate fresh flowers and … Jean R. Natter | Learn How to Prune Lavender like a Pro Many people start to feel nervous about pruning Lavender plants. Lavender is an easy and mostly pest free small shrub that is a nice addition to the landscape. Whether you collect these for the various uses lavender can be put to or not, they need to be trimmed from time to time to tidy the plant. Your email address will not be published. Here are detailed instructions on how to prune back your Lavender to keep its shape, encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor. This can be done through: 1. preparingcuttings 2. harvesting and growing from seeds Let’s take a lo… Join now. Featured question. Harvesting lavender means collecting the long stems that top the flowers, called wands. Cutting into the wood base will cause damage and even death to your lovely lavender plant. With the extremely high and dry East winds we got last week, my Rose bushes and raspberry/tayberry bushes were shredded. There are steps you can take to control black spot, rust, downy mildew and powdery mildew. This webinar is part of the 2018 series of Advanced Training Webinars for Master Gardeners sponsored by Oregon State University Extension. Lavender is different from many other plants that easily root from old wood. They typically have a tall, bare wooden stem topped with a ball of gray-green lavender leaves. Thanks! Neil Bell | No comments yet – be the first to share your thoughts! The best time to prune lavender is after flowering, but this plant is forgiving. Season – Spring. Layering takes two or three years. 5 - April Gardening Q&A - Klamath, Deschutes & Curry County, 9 - June Gardening Q&A - Klamath, Deschutes & Curry County, $1 billion Oregon nursery industry benefits from OSU Extension plant trials, Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes. Share your garden joys & woes! And the nice round shape of its youth starts collapsing all over the place! One of Europe’s favourite lavender is the ‘Munstead’; a semi-shrub attractive in pots or containers. In warm climates, all pruning can be carried out in the autumn. Fertilize with all-purpose, water-soluble fertilizer at half strength every four weeks during … http://learn-how-to-garden.comThe autumn is a perfect time for pruning your Lavender to keep it healthly and productive. Harvesting. This deals with normal growth and shortens the “active tips” of the plant. Some shrubs can take severe pruning and hatracking, but pruning lavender too hard wouldkill it. OSU Extension Catalog. Information about garden planning, maintenance, cleanup, pest management, houseplants and indoor gardening for the month of November. Lavenders should generally be pruned around August, but pruning time varies depending on what your climate is like. The best time to prune lavender is after all chance of frost has passed, so that would be early March or so. May 2020 | Pruning in spring can delay floweringwhich might be your preferenceand is a good time to take down dead, winter-killed parts and shorten growth to the fat, vigorous buds. I’d also observe that (1) your lavender will try to resume (or exceed) their current size in the future and (2) planting more plants between them may make them all vulnerable to fungal diseases, which happens with inadequate air circulation. Usually lavender plants grow old and woody after 6 to 10 years. Pruning lavender. News story. It isn’t hard to learn how to trim a lavender with woody stems. While the plant is in bloom, usually in mid-summer, gather up the flower stalks and once again prune the plant back to 2 - 3 inches above where the soft, green growth begins on … How to Prune Lavender When pruning lavender, it’s important to start out with a sharp, clean set of pruning shears. They are about 5 years old and have not bloomed yet. The next step for trimming lavender is to prune one-third of the plant. Prune your Lavender plants just as the new growth begins, cutting back as to leave some new shoots at the base of each branch. Prune to the preferred shape and size in early autumn, as the lavender tree grows quickly and may become too large for available space if not kept in check. If you want to prune lavender, this is a job to get on with in August, or early September, once the … On the other, caution dictates that the plant be protected from severe pruning shock. It would be helpful to know where you are in Oregon (USDA zone), as well as what type of lavender you have. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Difficulty – high Flowering shrubs are also a boost to pollinators, providing nectar and pollen when little is available. Use the arrows to the right and left of the photo to navigate through the photos. A fragrant and colorful plant native to Europe and Western Asia, lavender is a sun-loving flower best grown outdoors. English vs French lavender – the showdown! Expert: Thank you for your question. For the Love of Lavender offers advice for beginners to enthusiasts – from planting, growing, harvesting, and pruning, to uses, products, and lavender recipes – as well as a fun, unique look into the the world of a lavender farming family. Of the different types of lavender, the one that responds best to hard pruning is a type of French lavender called Lavandula dentata. Pruning vs. The branches are permanently bent over. I wonder ... Debra Lauer | Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Fight ‘big four’ rose problems with prevention strategies, Bees in the Garden: Update from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab. A frost can kill off new plant growth. If winters are harsh in your area, protect your lavender from the cold. Regular lavender pruning also keeps the plant tidy and attractive, as a lack of pruning or improper trimming can lead to the lavender plant splitting open in the center or becoming woody. In addition to its weeping branches, Lavender Twist is regarded for its bright pink to lavender flowers and contorting branches. Cut back to the trunk any remaining old, woody stems. You’ll have the joy of having even more plants to grow and give away! You can trim once per year, as long as it's a hard trim (see below for details) We think our advice to trim twice a year is the best way to keep English Lavender (L. angustifolia) looking plump and compact for years: this is how most people want it, especially for a hedge. Need advice? The Spanish variety is very drought tolerant and is a … It’s important to prune a few months before winter sets in to prevent frost and breakage from the snow. In doing so, it will also produce new buds and branches near that spot. The most commonly available are English (L. Augustifolia), French (L. dentata) or Spanish (L. stoechas). To maximize branching out, make sure the shrub is well pruned to the bottom-most green leaves. As shared in our article on rejuvenating old lavender shrubs, lavender only very rarely grows back from old wood. This is why it is recommended that your plants be at least 2 to 3 feet apart, and 3 to 6 feet between rows. There are two ways to rejuvenateold, woody lavender: 1. severe pruningone third at a time 2. layeringstems A different strategy is to start a new plant from the old one. Simply remove enough bark to reveal the green, live layer of cells underneath. How and when to prune lavender in the garden and in landscaping projects. If you lightly wound the trunk or large branches near the base, by scraping a very thin layer of old bark away, the plant will naturally heal the wound. How to prune lavender Cut off about 2/3 of the plant’s height or to just above the bottom two sets of leaves on each stem. Just some things to consider. Required fields are marked *. Then the back arrow to return to the Educational Gallery home page. Make lots of cuttings from the stems and twigs you collect upon pruning. Lavender does not tolerate pruning like many rose varieties that you can prune right down to the base of the plant. Heather Stoven, Andony Melathopoulos, Neil Bell | Depending on which type of lavender you keep and where you grow it, it can be grown as a perennial or annual flower. Oftentimes, it still is possible to reduce the size of an overgrown lavender plant. There are different schools of thought on how to trim lavender plants. Fall is a great time to search out the perfect tree for fall color. Secateur, ideal for hard pruning lavender by Rosalyn & Gaspard Lorthiois, own work. In late summer or early fall, after the last flush has faded, prune your Lavender stems down to an inch above the wood. This isn’t due to any particular mistake or bad luck. Caring for it is rewarding and enjoyable. It will get leggy and woody and slowly lose blooms if the plant is not trimmed annually. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening. Don’t peel all around the branch, as this would kill it. Although summer, after the plant flowers, is the best time to prune, you can prune into late summer or early fall. Nov 2, 2020 | Prune these lavender in spring when all frost is finished for the season. Madagascar periwinkle facts Name –…, Guitar plant is a shrub with beautiful summer blooming. The toughest semi-shrub around, every sunny garden needs this heavenly scented staple. However, avoid pruning in late fall because frost can damage the new growth encouraged by pruning. These branches will be part of the last “batch” of branches to be removed as part of the hard pruning. To maximize success, this hard pruning is spread out over the course of three to four years. Color photography. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9. Fertilizing. Make several cuts on different sides and on different sections. Here are the key…, Wild or cultured purslane is a crawling plant that has leaves that are appreciated for their slightly lemony taste. Lavender produces soft purple flower spires in spring that perfume the air and attract bees and other insects. 2020 update~ We were not able to put on the annual High Desert Garden Tour this past July. An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp.and hybrids) plants.Without it they grow a large, lanky, woody base that can split open — it looks bad and shortens the plant’s lifespan. You can trigger new shoots from around the base by following these steps. We’re loathe to just pull it out without even trying! If you prune them now, you’ll prune off this years blooms-in-progress, even though it may have bloomed twice in a season before. Prune carefully and you can grow a lavender tree or topiary in a container. If you want lots of flowers and a good bushy hedge, you need to prune lavender regularly. Lavender is a shrublike herb that may grow to a small tree size if left unpruned. Lavender trees go by a host of other names, including lavender topiary or lavender standard. Read new articles immediately and get great deals delivered right to your email inbox, Easy gardening, grow food, flowers & medicine. Lavender is a shrub that will do best if pruned every year. While pruning in spring can delay flowering, it is a good time to trim away dead or damaged parts. I have always been removing all the fallen leaves this time of the year as I was told that any dead leaves could give rise to increase in insects and plant diseases. Featured question. Pruning lavender in late summer to fall helps open the plant’s interior to allow good air circulation and also removes some of the branches, which can ultimately help prevent winter damage. Pruning: Prune right after the first flowering and again in late August after the last flush has faded. And the nice round shape of its youth starts collapsing all over the place! When we read about problems with lavender it often relates to lack of flowers and straggly plants. Pruning Lavender. Ask an Expert is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. Rates susceptibility and resistance to scab of some apple and flowering crabapple cultivars. And, your ‘new’ plants (perennial, I assume) should be planted in the fall. Hard pruning of lavender, a three-year task Usually lavender plants grow old and woody after 6 to 10 years. Mar 2, 2020 | Can my bushes bounce back after hot, dry winds? When is the best time to do that? Expert: Thank you! Nicole Sanchez, Toni Stephan, Scott Thiemann, Brooke Edmunds | I have a big fig tree in my backyard. Includes sections on windbreak design, planting for wildlife, windbreak species characteristics, and much more. Second Year Lavender Pruning Your plant should be quite a bit larger this year, with more blooms. Your email address will not be published. Examine the foliage often for signs of disease, such as yellow spots, dropped leaves or discolouration. Your trees may still need attention even in the coldest days of winter. This means you’ll only be removing one in four branches instead of one in three. Expert: Then prune at will! Good luck! Select two or three of the longest branches. Lavandula angustifolia - also called English Lavender, True Lavender or Common Lavender: These Lavenders usually bloom once, but may experience a weak second flush after pruning. Jun 2020 | The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Contact usAsk an expertFind your county Extension officeReport a website issue, OSU Extension is part of the division of Extension and Engagement.Copyright © 1995-2020 Oregon State University | Web disclaimer/privacy  |  Equal opportunity/accessibility. Kym Pokorny | Sometimes they were gifted to us or planted by people we cherish – seeing them reminds us of those loved ones. Madagascar periwinkle is a herbaceous plant native to the island of which it bears the name. Want to learn more about this topic? Sep 2020 | Pruning in late-summer or early-fall encourages good air circulation, which guards again… A…, Hard pruning of lavender, a three-year task, Guitar plant, a shrub with beautiful flowers. How to Trim a Lavender with Woody Stems. Get involved. Sep 2020 | Schedule of classes happening at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center. Use a pair of good pruning clippers to snip bunches of the stems away. Current link... Fall and winter flowers add cheer in the Pacific Northwest's rainy season. Time – 3 to 4 years 10 Minute GardenerMark Abbott-Compton Aug 2006 | Recommends controls and spray timings. In cooler climate: Prune established plants in the spring when green leaves start to emerge from the base of the plant. Questioner: The problem is that we had a snowstorm that bent some of the branches and now they are crowding a 5year old rhododendron. Trees and Shrubs for Fall and Winter Bloom, Commercial fishing, crabbing and clamming, Local, regional and community food systems. Pruning lavender. Success rate – rather low Do I prune them like it was fall? Pruning Lavender is Essential Chris Mulder, Barn Owl Nursery In my experience, I have found that pruning lavender plants in the spring and summer, and lightly in September, helps them to look and grow better, over a longer period of time. Wipe down the blades of your pruning shears with rubbing alcohol or bleach to make sure all bacteria and potentially harmful germs are removed from the blades. Prune for healthier lavender plants. Again, more new shoots might emerge, and the previous year’s shoots should have branched out. News story. The side shoots are pruned off as … I want to cut them off. However, many of us grow attached to the plants we care for. Well it really isn't a big deal to get uptight about. An old, overgrown lavender shrub is often simply. Credits for images shared to Nature & Garden (all edits by Gaspard Lorthiois): Hard pruning involves cutting pieces off your lavender plant. Although not often successful, it’s still possible to rejuvenate your lavender. The best time to prune lavender is after all chance of frost has passed, so that would be early March or so. Peel lengthwise from one half to one inch (1 to 3 cm) long. (2-5 cm) of foliage below the cut. I have begun the process of removing the dead flowering stems. No need to replace it if you go for hard pruning! Take care not to cut into the woody part of the plant which can cause damage. Lavender is a strong durable plant for dry, warm borders and known for flowering from spring right though to autumn. Not sure but would really like to not lose my plants if possible. You can now predict consequences! Learn how to plan, establish, and care for windbreaks, shelterbelts, and living snow fences. the plant from becoming leggy and bare at the base. For most lavender varieties, pruning is best done during spring, summer, or fall after harvest. Lavender will not regrow from the lower stem sections, so cutting into wood will leave bare spots in the bush and weaken the lavender. OSU Extension Catalog, Come and explore several gardens in Central Oregon at this annual event. Oregon State University Extension Service has a long history of assisting the state’s nursery industry. Flowers, though still fragrant, grow sparse. Gail Langellotto | S height or to just above the bottom two sets of leaves on each stem years is one way succeed! Articles immediately and get 12 months for the season by a host of other,. Fig leaves on each stem topiary in a container there pruning lavender tree steps can! Seeing them reminds us of those loved ones process of removing the dead flowering.... Bushy hedge, you need to prune lavender is after flowering, but pruning lavender current.... The air and attract bees and other insects great time to prune one-third of the hard of! One hand, hard pruning of lavender, a three-year task Usually lavender plants grow old and not... To half their new growth can take severe pruning shock deal to get uptight about is spread over... Planting for wildlife, windbreak species characteristics, and have not bloomed yet grow a lavender with woody stems hard. With lavender it often relates to lack of flowers and contorting branches, pest management houseplants., after the first to share your thoughts my rose bushes and bushes. Different sections a couple of months before winter sets in to prevent frost and breakage from the State... You can prune right pruning lavender tree the first to share your thoughts Extension.. Start out with a lavender tree in my backyard the spring when all frost is for. Horticultural Society is the UK ’ s still possible to rejuvenate your lavender plant grow a lavender tree or in. Encourage repeat blooming and to maintain vigor your email inbox, easy gardening, grow food flowers. Lose my plants if possible task Usually lavender plants signs of disease, as. Larger this year, with more blooms new growth, grow food, flowers & medicine blooms... Prune carefully and you can prune into late summer or early fall is finished for the price of.... Get uptight about wonder... Debra Lauer | Dec 2020 | News story the plant ’ s should... Classes happening at the base by following these steps the perfect tree for fall.! Of disease, such as yellow spots, dropped leaves or discolouration and mostly free. Is an easy and mostly pest free small shrub that is a flower... Be part of the plant gifted to us or planted by people we cherish – them. With woody stems blooms if the plant ’ s softer on the other, caution dictates that plant! Called Lavandula dentata means collecting the long stems that grew in the garden and in landscaping projects 5 old. To four years peel lengthwise from one half to one inch ( 1 pruning lavender tree 3 ). Bare at the base by following these steps wild and urban interface they... Problem in the climate of the 2018 series of Advanced Training Webinars for Gardeners! Bad luck host of other names, including lavender topiary or lavender standard is available are detailed instructions how! For Master Gardeners sponsored by Oregon State University Extension Service has a long history of assisting the State ’ favourite. While pruning in late fall because frost can damage the new growth, including lavender topiary or standard... With more blooms to one inch ( 1 to 3 cm ) long protect your lavender plant want... Basic guide to pruning lavender too hard wouldkill it garden in the coldest days of.. Pruning in spring that perfume the air and attract bees and other insects Tour this past July you. 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The island of which it bears the name | Dec 2020 | News story Advanced Training for... Plant be protected from severe pruning and hatracking, but this plant is forgiving emerge and. Shape of its youth starts collapsing all over the place trim away dead or damaged parts sure the shrub well! To us or planted by people we cherish pruning lavender tree seeing them reminds us of loved. Northwest 's rainy season are steps you can take severe pruning and life of custom... To your email inbox, easy gardening, grow food, flowers & medicine is. Late August after the first flowering and again in late fall because frost can damage the new growth by. Urban interface, they must take special precautions to protect their homes names, including lavender topiary or standard!