Garden Q&A: What's the best time of year to cut back lavender?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

August is a good time to cut back lavender. File pictures

Question

Should I cut back lavender now?

Answer

Yes, August is a good time to cut back lavender, once the main flush of flowers has finished. 

The aim is to keep the plant compact and prevent it becoming woody and leggy. 

Use shears or secateurs to remove the faded flower stems and lightly trim the current year’s soft growth, shaping the plant as you go.

Do not cut hard down into old, bare wood, as lavender often will not regrow well from that. 

Always leave some green growth on the plant and think of it as a light haircut rather than a hard prune.

If the flowers are still full of bees, leave them a little longer. 

Lavender is hugely valuable to pollinators, so there is no rush. 

A tidy trim after flowering will help keep it healthy for next year.

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