Cutting lavender after summer is a fundamental step to keep the plant healthy and lush. And if done in the right way, this operation can really strengthen lavender in view of autumn.
Lavender, with its intense perfume and unmistakable color, is one of the most loved plants in the Mediterranean gardens. But to continue giving beauty and vitality year after year, it needs some more attention at the end of the hot season. Before challenging the shears, should the plant be observed well: does it still have some flowers? Are the branches too woody? Is the form losing itself? They are small details, but they make a big difference. And for those who want to keep it compact, fragrant and long -lived, there is a precise moment to intervene.
Sometimes a distracted look is enough to lose the right moment. Lavender speaks, even if it has no voice: it shows signs, changes shape, folds at time. And when you can grasp those signs, gardening becomes almost a dialogue. A look at the calendar and the color of the ears can reveal when acting to get the best.
When to prune lavender after the summer
The ideal time to prune lavender is Between the end of August and the beginning of Septemberwhen flowering is now at the end but the climate still allows a good vegetative recovery. Many limit themselves to removing dry flowers, but the truth is that one is needed more energetic pruning To reinvigorate the plant really. It is interesting to note how targeted pruning stimulates the production of new jets and keeps the plant dense and tidy. But there is a detail not to be overlooked: never go too much in the woody part, otherwise you risk compromising future growth.
In practice, it is better to proceed with sharp and well -cleaned shears, eliminate dry ears and shorten the green branches of about a third. Following the natural shape of the plant is always the safest choice. And if lavender is a little tired or dated, it is better to opt for light cuts. In this way, it is prevented that it opens in the center or flowing outwards.
The benefits of the autumn lavender pruning
There is something profoundly rewarding in taking care of green when summer turns to the end. A walk in the garden, Cesoie in hand and light thoughts, can become almost a ritual. The perfume that rises from the cut branches is capable of evoking memories and calm. And if you look good, each cutting order where the chaos reigned was previously reigned.
Often you don’t think about how simple a gesture can influence the entire following season. But just one pruning made well made to see the difference with your own eyes. Those who have already tried know it: it is an invisible cure that proves only over time.
Here’s what makes the autumn pruning of lavender really useful:
- Strengthen the structure of the plantpreparing it better to face the coldest months.
- Promotes more compact and orderly growthavoiding that the branches are frayed or open to the center.
- Stimulates a more generous flowering In the following season, with more numerous and fragrant ears.
- Reduces the risk of diseaseseliminating the dry or damaged parts that can attract mold or parasites.
- Allows you to reuse the cut earsperfect to dry to create fragrant bags or natural home decorations.
What mistakes to avoid and how to help lavender to recover
One of the most frequent mistakes? Cut too much low, in the now woody part. Another? Wait too much and intervene when the temperatures have already dropped too much. Without forgetting the classic error of leaving the plant too dense, increasing the risk of mold and rot.
To help lavender to leave after cutting, you need some extra attention. The ground must drain well, otherwise the roots risk rotting. In the event of a very dry climate, some light irrigation in the following weeks can make a difference. A light mulch at the base, then, helps to protect the roots from the first thermal changes.
What if you want to give an extra push? A little mature compost or organic fertilizer, without exaggerating, can favor vegetative recovery in a natural and gradual way.
Those who have the patience to follow these precautions will be widely rewarded. Lavender, when well cared for, returns every year stronger and more fragrant. And seeing it flourishing compact and full of life is one of the small joys that make every garden special.
There are those who cultivate it for the aroma, some for the color, who only for the beauty it gives.
But one thing is certain: lavender pruned at the right time always becomes the protagonist, season after season.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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