Lavender — how (and when) to prune — and how to feed it well

Lavender is forgiving but sensitive to harsh pruning. With the right approach you’ll keep compact, healthy plants that flower reliably.

Short guide to Lavender care

• When to prune: Prune immediately after flowering, once the main flush of flowers has finished. This gives the plant time to produce fresh growth before winter. Avoid cutting into the old, woody core — lavender rarely regenerates from old wood. GardenAdvice specifically recommends cutting back lavender after flowering and warns against hard cuts into old wood.
• How to prune: Remove spent flower stalks and tidy the shape by trimming the soft green growth, keeping the plant’s rounded habit. Don’t remove more than about one third of the bush at once, and never cut down into the grey, woody stems. If a plant is very old, consider replacing the clump and using shredded old lavender as mulch for the new plants (great pH for lavender).
• Feeding programme: From spring onwards feed lightly to encourage basal shoots. GardenAdvice recommends a high-nitrogen feed such as Miracle-Gro to encourage fresh green growth and a fuller shape — apply according to the product instructions and avoid overfeeding. Start feeding in March through to September twice a month. For easy regular feeding, consider a hose-end feeder. See the GardenAdvice hose-end feeder notes for settings and approach: https://gardenadvice.co.uk/plant-hose-end-feeder-and-sprayer/