Lavender's biggest threat isn't cold or pests — it's kindness, in the form of rich soil and regular feeding.
Lavender is a Mediterranean shrub that actively dislikes rich soil and feeding, thriving instead on poor, free-draining ground and benign neglect. The one task that matters is an annual trim after flowering, cutting into the current season’s growth but never into old bare wood, which won’t reshoot.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prune | Prune in August | Prune in September | ||||||||||
| Job | Job in April |
Care details
- Job In April
Leave well alone otherwise — lavender prefers poor, free-draining soil and no feeding.
- Prune August – September
Trim off flower spikes and about an inch of leaf growth — never cut into old bare wood.
Growing tips & common problems
- Plant in the poorest, most free-draining spot in the garden; rich soil produces leggy, short-lived plants.
- Trim every year without fail after flowering — skip a year and the plant turns woody and bare at the base.
- Never cut back into old bare wood; established stems that lose their leaves usually won't reshoot.
Grows well with
Personalise your own weekend list →Become a better gardener in just 12 emails
Get one email per month with gardening tips on what to plant and do that month.
100% free • No spam • Unsubscribe any time