The lush lavender fields of Provence are usually harvested in August. This is where the recommendation to prune lavender in late summer comes from. However, the southern French province has a Mediterranean climate, where it is still quite warm even late in autumn. However, different rules apply to lavender grown in Germany.
When should you cut spent lavender?
Once the lavender has faded, you should prune it to allow a second bloom. The ideal time for this is between mid-July and early August. Cut the plant back by about a third, but avoid cutting into the wood.
Cut in time for a second flowering
Divorce your lavender regularly - i.e. H. at least once a year - so that it does not become woody and thus bald. However, the plants, which originally come from the Mediterranean region, should be pruned in spring when there is no longer any threat of frost. For plant protection reasons, autumn pruning should be avoided, as late pruning robs the lavender of the strength it needs to overwinter. However, you can prune your lavender as soon as it begins to fade. For most types of lavender, this time is already mid to late July. Lavender produces seeds immediately after flowering and then no longer sprouts new shoots. However, if you remove the spent branches, the plant will bloom a second time. However, the flowers should be cut at the beginning of August at the latest.
Don’t cut the lavender too far away
With this flower cut you can shorten the plant by about a third, but you should not cut into the wood here either. However, if you have missed the right time, it is advisable to forego it. In this case, you can only remove the dried - and unsightly - flowers, although for lavender plants that have overwintered outside, it is better to leave the inflorescences and not cut the bush again until spring. Always make sure that when cutting back you always cut in the “green” wood.
When to harvest flowers?
Once the lavender has faded, it is already too late to harvest. The right time to harvest flowers is when the panicle blooms in the middle part. Cut off the flowers and stems past the first pair of leaves and hang them up to dry. Lavender is traditionally harvested in the midday sun. Lavender flowers can be used for many purposes, such as as a spice in the kitchen, as a home remedy for sleep disorders and nervousness, in a scented sachet against clothes moths (€10.00 on Amazon) or as a fragrant additive in bath water.
Tips & Tricks
If lavender gets too big, you can transplant it. The best time for this is directly after flowering in July/August, as the plant then has enough time to take root vigorously. At the same time you should prune it as described.
