How do you fix leggy lavender plants?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Leggy lavender requires strategic pruning to regain its shape. I fix mine every spring by snipping back to a visible bud. Be sure to leverage woody stems; don't go below the green growth of your plant. You can remove up to 1/3 of the overgrowth each season. This will encourage new shoots to grow back from the stem. Your plant will appear bushier in no time.
Initial Assessment
- Identify living green growth above woody sections
- Mark stems needing removal with garden tape
- Check bud locations before cutting
- Avoid plants under drought stress
Shaping Technique
- Create dome shape: shorter center, longer sides
- Cut at 45° angles away from buds
- Remove crossed branches first
- Step back frequently to check symmetry
Recovery care dictates success. Lightly water after pruning. I use half a gallon per plant. Place organic mulch around the base. Inspect every week for new silvery-green shoots. Eight weeks with no growth is bad; test stem flexibility. If stems are brittle, it's time to step in.
Prevent leggy growth with annual maintenance practices. I cut back my lavender every spring without fail. Summer deadheading helps to keep everything bushy. Check the amount of sunlight your plants receive. Lavender prefers full sun for bushy growth. If you are keeping potted plants, rotate them often.
If a plant is severely overgrown, it will require a two-year rehabilitation. In the first spring, I trimmed it back by one-third. I left the remaining two-thirds until the next year. This helps reduce shock. I lightly fertilized it with a low-nitrogen formula. By the second summer, it was fuller and thicker. Waiting was definitely worth it because the blooms were impressive.
Read the full article: When to Prune Lavender for Best Results
