How to prune lavender

Late summer / early autumn immediately after flowers fade; light tidy in early spring. After flowering, cut back stems to about 2.5 cm (1 in) above the lowest green leaves, shaping the plant into a neat dome. In spring, remove only frost-damaged tips, not hard old wood.

Annually (twice: post-flower + spring tidy). Lavender must be pruned annually or it becomes an open, woody, short-lived plant. Cut back into the green growth after flowering each year to maintain a tight mound. A light trim in early spring removes any winter-damaged tips. Never cut into old grey-brown wood — it will not regenerate. Correct pruning annually can double the plant's productive lifespan.

After flowering, cut back stems to about 2.5 cm (1 in) above the lowest green leaves, shaping the plant into a neat dome. In spring, remove only frost-damaged tips, not hard old wood.