leggy lavender

Hello all,

I have a lavender shrub in my front garden which I have had quite a few years and I prune it back quite a bit but not right back and it is growing quite leggy and when it rains it gets bashed down and doesn't stay in a nice "clump". My question was how hard can they be pruned? Can I cut it back loads to try and make it less messy next year?

Thanks Kate

 

Hi Kate
its a 50/50 if you do, my mother hacked back her lavender hedge and I mean hack and to my amazment it grew back , it was at least 15 years old so I thought it had its day , she done this late summer after it has well finished flowering end of July begining of August ,, so I think its all in the timing.
So even though the books say dont ??? my mother did !!!!

Spruce

 

I was always told to replace lavender every 3-4yrs for optimum "prettiness" however I've recently been told that usually when it will go old and leggy and then pick up if you hack it back

 

Thanks Spruce and Aesculus!

Sooo... I can take a chance on it reviving if I hack it back or replace it if it doesn't work. :D It's still pretty even when leggy as I am not a "neat" gardener! It's just getting a bit out of hand!

I shall try that, thank you!

Kate