Lavender won't turn 'leggy' if gardeners do 1 important task in August

A gardening expert has urged fellow green thumbs not to waver over one essential job that needs to be carried out for beautiful lavender. You don't want to leave it too late - or your lavender may be ruined.

Michael, more popularly known as The Mediterranean Gardener on TikTok, warned lavender owners that the plants can become 'leggy' if they are not given a summer prune. Lavender becomes 'leggy' when the plant develops long, sparse, and woody stems with fewer leaves and flowers than a healthy, properly pruned plant. This is how you can ensure that your lavender stays perfect and protected through the colder months.

Michael explained that to keep summer lavender in check, it's essential to give it a good prune. He said, "Don't leave this job too late, gardeners. Now is the time to prune your lavender."

Not giving your lavender a summer prune can run the risk of it becoming leggy and twiggy, as it wasn't done at the correct time. He continued: "This is very much a mid to late summer activity. I get the feeling some believe this to be a late autumn activity, as you're getting the garden ready for winter.

"When in mid to late summer is entirely dependent on the plant. But what you're looking for is when the flowers are going past their best, you don't really want to wait until they're going to seed and turning brown, so this plant here is ready for a prune."

Michael explained that you can prune "as hard as you like" but you have to make sure you leave some new growth beneath the point where you've cut. If you cut too far down into old wood, you run the risk of it not regrowing and blooming new lavender.

He continued: "The idea is to create a nice compact shape."

The lavender will produce some regrowth of a few inches which you should avoid cutting back, as this will help protect the plant throughout winter. The new compact shape will then be ready in the next spring to produce some new flower buds.

There are a few other measures you can take to prevent the lavender from becoming leggy, including making sure your lavender is planted in the correct location. Garden designer Ish advised that lavender "loves a full sun border", i.e. the more sun, the better. Ish recommended using a free draining soil for lavender, explaining that it's "crucial" for plant health.

Avoid planting lavender in clay or substances that are too "moggy." Ish said, "Introduce things like grit and sand to increase the drainage, and this should absolutely thrive."

Speaking on the issue of watering lavender, Ish explained that the plant really doesn't need a lot of it. One common occurrence he noted is that when people lose their lavender, it's usually down to overwatering.

The occasional water and rain can help keep the lavender hydrated. To ensure your lavender has got all the nutrients it needs, Ish recommends using a "good, healthy" compost.