Monty Don says gardeners can do 1 simple task to avoid 'woody' and 'leggy' lavender plants

Lavender stands as a beloved garden staple for countless people who cherish its aromatic and colourful blooms. Yet, when neglected throughout the summer months, numerous lavender plants risk becoming "woody" with its characteristic purple hues fading to brown. This transformation can swiftly convert your lavender bushes from a horticultural gem into a visual eyesore.

Nevertheless, with some care right now, you can guarantee your lavender stays vigorous and thriving come next year. According to gardening guru Monty Don, the secret to stopping your lavender from turning "woody" and "leggy" rests in well-timed action.

He stated: "To avoid woody, leggy plants, lavender should be pruned every year. The best time to do this is as soon as the flowers start to fade."

For most gardeners, this means taking action now - if you haven't already. Monty emphasised the crucial nature of avoiding delays with this job, encouraging gardeners to act immediately.

"Do not wait for the seed heads to form or the flowers to turn brown as you want to allow the maximum amount of time for regrowth before winter," he said.

Pruning also extends beyond simply tidying the plant for improved appearance. To genuinely revitalise your lavender plant, Monty recommends cutting it back "aggressively" whilst ensuring that fresh shoots remain on each stem.

These fresh shoots will develop quickly, delivering a new and vigorous covering to shield the plant throughout winter and establishing the groundwork for next year's spectacular show.

More established lavender plants, however, may appear irredeemable despite consistent pruning. Should that be the situation, Monty advises contemplating a complete replacement.

For French, Spanish, and Italian lavender varieties, it's advisable to wait until spring for the next pruning opportunity as these plants can be less resilient.

Speaking on the subject, gardening author Anya Lautenbach said: "Pruning your plants correctly will prevent your plant from becoming woody, extend their lifespan and it will encourage more flowers next year."

Anya, who authored a Sunday Times Bestseller - The Money-Saving Gardener: Create Your Dream Garden at a Fraction of the Cost - stated: "Pruning your plants hard will result in bushy air plants and more flowers the following year."