Lavender Blue (dilly dilly)

[nightshade]

My Lavender always disappoints me,the bees love it but no matter how I prune them they go "leggy" this is when they disappear overnight (with a stern warning not to buy anymore) any sure fire methods please

[ChrisJB]

I had a similar problem with lavender. However, it was really in the wrong position (too shady and damp). Thus, I moved it into a drier location, in full sun and a well drained soil, which seemed to help.
My pruning regime is to prune after the blooms have faded, in late summer. This gives the new shoots a chance to 'harden off' before the winter. Also, only prune into stems that are still green. If you prune into brown, woody stems, you will not get any new growth.
I hope this is of some use.

Regards, Chris

[Susie]

I totally agree with ChrisJB, the secret to keeping your lavender looking good is a really hard prune back as soon as they have finished flowering, but not into the brown wood as that will kill it.

A trick I was taught is if you have a lavender which has gone very leggy and cannot be pruned well what you have to do is dig it up and replant it in a very deep hole, deep enough for all the leggy stems to be covered by earth and only the green remaining above ground. Leave it for a year and then dig it up. All the leggy stems will have rooted and this plant can then be divided into lots of healthy lavender plants.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by Susie

A trick I was taught is if you have a lavender which has gone very leggy and cannot be pruned well what you have to do is dig it up and replant it in a very deep hole, deep enough for all the leggy stems to be covered by earth and only the green remaining above ground. Leave it for a year and then dig it up. All the leggy stems will have rooted and this plant can then be divided into lots of healthy lavender plants.

Susie - this sounds like a good idea - I will try this. I've been trying to root cuttings of Munstead for months, but they haven't taken. This method sounds fool-proof

[Susie]

It must be - it worked for me!

If you do try this then please let me know how you get on.

[Kayleigh]

I grow mine a in a wall it all spreads and flows over the wall it look lovely.