Of all lavender species, lavender (Lavandula stoechas) not only has the longest flowering period, but also begins to bloom at a very early stage.
What to do when lavender flowers have faded?
To encourage faded lavender to continue blooming, you should cut off the faded stems regularly. If necessary, pruning can be carried out in summer by about a third, staying in the green shoots.
Cleaning up faded lavender
As a rule, lavender begins to open its distinctive flowers in May and exude an intense, characteristic smell. This scent primarily attracts butterflies, but also hungry bees and bumblebees. If cared for well, this type of lavender will show its flowers well into September - but only if you regularly cut off the spent stems. In this way you encourage the plant to continue blooming, after all it is trying to produce seeds.
Pruning lavender in summer
If cleaning doesn't help, as with other lavender varieties, pruning in the summer can help. This should be carried out at the end of July at the latest, although the flowers must not have faded yet. When cutting in summer, cut the plant down by about a third. When cutting, stick to the green shoots because the lavender will no longer sprout from the woody parts. Use a clean and sharp cutting tool (e.g. rose scissors (€25.00 on Amazon)) so as not to unnecessarily crush or otherwise injure the branches.
Harvesting lavender
If you want to harvest the lavender flowers, you should not wait until they have faded. Lavender flowers should be harvested before they have fully bloomed. You can tell when the time is right because some buds on the panicle have already opened while others remain closed. It is best to harvest at midday when it is nice and warm and dry. Cut off the desired amount of flowers including the stem, then you can process them as desired. The fresh leaves - if young - are suitable as a spice used sparingly in the kitchen, the flowers can be dried or braided together with the stems.
Tips & Tricks
Sometimes the lavender is a bit slow to bloom. This is usually due to unfavorable location conditions, incorrect soil and/or suboptimal care.
