Can my lavender be saved?

onlyroz

ClareTeaches wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what would prevent this from happening to lavender? Regular light pruning? (If so, when?)

I think I read that you should cut the plant back in the autumn leaving an inch or two of the new growth. I had just been cutting off the grassy stalks and so probably wasn't being viscious enough.

We still have a lavendar hedge in our other bed which is in good shape, and I'll make sure in the future that I prune it properly to try and preserve its life for longer.

lostinrates

Some people say prune in late spring, others after flowering.

We cut back after PLANTING, and then subsequently after flowering, into the new growth, not the old stuff though. The other thing is soil prep. If your soil isn't naturally well draining, making it so might help delay the woodi ness. But pruning well is going to be best. Plus you get to harvest the flower stalks for use so, win - win.

aggypanthus

Looks like you have put in heathers.? The are a bit too close as they will spread.

whats the big tall plant on the right? That may need attention .

onlyroz

aggypanthus wrote: »

Looks like you have put in heathers.? The are a bit too close as they will spread.

whats the big tall plant on the right? That may need attention .

The big tall plant on the right is what's left of the lavendar in that bed. We put the heathers in the front earlier this year and I'm keeping an eye on them. I could remove some later on if required.

The new plants are in the middle at the back - there are some dwarf lavendar varieties and another thing which I can't remember what it is but looked pretty in the picture .

As you can see, I tend to just wing it when it comes to gardening. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's usually good fun.

aggypanthus

Enjoyment is the main thing and learn as you go.

I like to cut a few sprigs of lavender to pop in tiny vase or old bottle, on the kitchen window.