General Chat

bite the bullet....just buy a new one

Thanks for all of the tips of cutting back a Lavender bush i havent cut it back to the hard wood its just had a nice trim would hate to lose it Margaret

Was told the same advice, Moyra, from Heacham Lavender, I have managed to destroy plenty by cutting them right down!. Love that smell of Lavender, particularly the old varieties, I like Spica, Grosso, and Vera, lovely for cutting and drying!.

Margaret, As a nurserywoman, I hope I am in time to save your lavender! Ideally you should trim them after blooming but only back on new growth. You cannot prune lavender back as you would other shrubs. If you cut back to hard wood you will kill it alas. I only hope I am in time in advising you!

Instructions on taking lavender cuttings please. When should I do it? Which bits should I use? Covered or not? Advice please. Beth :)

STOP ALL YOU HACKERS Those of you who say trim only the soft growth are perfectly correct - DO NOT CUT BACK THE HARD WOOD - THE PLANT WILL DIE. Take off one third of the soft growth only to promote new healthy growth.

I had some beautiful lavender bushes in my front garden, the full length of the drive and my husband's friend told me they needed chopping right back. I did this and they all died. I was not happy! Elf :-(

Every time I've cut lavender back hard into the old wood at the base of the plant, the bush has died. Dee :-(

Margaret You can be fairly brutal. Lavenders are quite tough. You need to trim to enable a good bush shape next year. In my experience the more you hack off a plant the better it blooms the following year. nell

You can tell I'm a keen gardener, I snip the flowers off just before they're about to die and dry them in the airing cupboard to make lavender bags (and decorate handmade cards). Haven't a clue what I'm supposed to do with the bush - only got one this year - so I'm going to take note of all your replies! Mandy :)

Margaret - I'd be careful of going into the old wood - you may potentially NOT get any regrowth :((

Margaret I always trim them now to tidy them and cut them back into the hard wood at the end of March beginning of April. It's a bi risky and I have lost one before but u get a far better plant and flower when all the growth is new:)

Hi Christine Thank you looking at it now i think i will have to cut it down completly as there is a lot of hard wood underneath its a shame as it blooms lovely i did take some cuttings from it last year which are nice plants at the moment but not big enough to replace this one Margaret

I am about to give my lavender bush a trim it is about four foot high and very bushy how much do i cut off some people say cut it right down some say just give it a trim, i waiting because it has to be done today Thanks Margaret