When Do You Cut Back English Lavender?

Many gardeners desire to have full, lush, English lavender (Lavender angustifolia) plants, topped by abundant, fragrant flowers. Easy to grow, lavender requires proper pruning to keep it from becoming leggy and help it reach its full potential.

Spring Trimming

• English lavender should be trimmed in early spring just as the buds begin to swell near the center of the plant. Cut the plant back by about half into a round or mounded shape.

Repeat Blooming

• Lavender also can be pruned in early summer after the blooms fade to encourage blooming in late summer. Cut each stem back by about half as its flower fades. Harvesting the blooms to enjoy as cut flowers achieves the same thing.

Size Control

• If you want to reduce the size of English lavender, cut it back hard, within a few inches of the crown, during spring pruning. Never cut below the swollen buds.