Lavandin: when and how to prune

Lavandin: when to prune it?

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Twice a year: at the end of August, after flowering, and lightly in April.

What else to prune in those months? April · August

Lavandin: how to prune it?

1. After flowering, cut off the flower stems together with 2–3 cm of the leafy growth, so the shrub stays nicely rounded.
2. In April, trim lightly again to keep it compact, always within the green, leafy part.
3. Never cut into bare wood: it will not regrow from there.
4. An old, bare, sprawling shrub is better replaced with a young plant: it rarely survives hard pruning.

How much to cut, and how often?

• There are 2 pruning periods a year: April and August. You don’t have to prune in every one.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in April and August can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Lavandin flowers in July–August, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
• If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• French lavender
• Lavender
• Blackcurrant
• Blackthorn
• Bluebeard
• Box (buxus)

Plant profile: Lavandin · Pruning calendar and basic rules