When to prune lavender the second time: complete guide

Why prune lavender a second time?

After your spring pruning in March, your lavender grows happily. But around July-August it is time for pruning number two. Without it, your lavender sprawls, flowers fade brown and shabby, and your plant looks hairy and unwell. With good second pruning, you keep your lavender compact, encourage new blooms, and prevent early aging.

The second pruning is much harder than the first. You can cut more aggressively than in March. The plant is now strong enough to handle it.

When to prune lavender the second time: timing

Prune your lavender the second time in July through mid-August. This is ideal because:

• The plant has now finished spring growth
• First flowers are faded (or finished)
• Still much summer growth ahead, so cuts heal fast
• The plant is still actively growing, not dormant

Not in September or later. Late pruning triggers soft growth that gets frost damage. July-August is perfect.

How to prune lavender the second time: practical steps

The second pruning can be harder. This time you cut back about half the plant. This encourages dense, compact growth and new blooms.

Step 1: Examine your plant. Look at the whole shrub. Where have flowers faded? Where does it look shabby? Much growth in the middle or sides?

Step 2: Cut off flowers with stem. This is different from March. Cut your pruners or hedge shears at a slant below the flower spikes, taking roughly five to ten centimetres of green wood below. This is much more than in March. Work around.

Step 3: Work toward a half-round shape. After this pruning your lavender should look like a neat half-ball. Ensure nothing sticks out. Remove long, thin twigs growing upward.

Step 4: Remove aged wood. Find thick, grey branches in the middle that do not bear many flowers. Cut them away to the base. This gives light for new growth.

Types of pruning: hard pruning versus light pruning

There are two approaches for second pruning:

Hard pruning (July): Cut back half the plant. Use this if your lavender grows wild, has many dead flowers, or has lost form. Hard pruning encourages dense growth and many new blooms in August-September. Risk: the plant may suffer a setback, but usually recovers well.

Light pruning (late August): Cut only flowers and about five centimetres of green. Use this if your lavender grows neatly and you mainly want dead flowers off. Less plant stress, but less shape transformation.

For most gardeners, hard pruning is better. Your plant comes back stronger.

Frequently asked questions

Does my lavender bloom again after July pruning?

Yes. Usually you get four to six weeks of new flowers after cutting. Not as many as June, but enough for a second bloom wave. Helpful for bees and your garden.

Can I prune lavender after September?

Better not. September and later is too late. Cuts heal slowly, and your plant enters rest without full energy for recovery. October-November pruning is a poor idea. Wait until March.

My lavender does not bloom much after July pruning - why?

Maybe you do not cut hard enough. Or your plant is underfed. Lavender blooms better in poor soil and with regular pruning. Check drainage. Lavender in wet soil grows shabby.

Can I compost lavender prunings?

Yes. Lavender waste goes into your compost bin. It dries quickly. Many gardeners dry it for potpourri or tea.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Choose July or early August

Check the calendar. Average temperature above 15 degrees? Good. No frost expected? Perfect.

Step 2: Assess your plant

Walk around your lavender. Many brown flowers? Lots of green? Long and sprawled or neat?

Step 3: Cut off flowers and wood

Cut at a slant below flower spikes. Take at least five to ten centimetres of green wood below. For hard pruning: cut to halfway down the plant.

Step 4: Work toward shape

Work around. Half-round shape. Ensure base stays compact, not sprawled.

Step 5: Water

Water if dry. No fertiliser. New growth appears in weeks.

Cultivars and their response to second pruning

'Hidcote': Responds perfectly to hard July pruning. Comes back dense. Many new blooms.

'Munstead': Also good. Slightly more cautious - do not cut straight to halfway, but two-thirds back.

'Rosea': Clear pink stays more visible after hard pruning. Very suitable.

'Grosso': This large type tolerates hard pruning well. Cut to one-third of height.

Discover your own garden design

At [gardenworld.app](https://gardenworld.app) you can upload your front yard and see how lavender fits - with realistic growth shapes for the whole season. Plan your lavender border before you prune.