How to Prune French Lavender

Overview

French lavender produces a very delicate and beautiful blossom during the warmer months of the year. It likes sandy soils with a pH of 7.0 for optimum growth and beauty. Annually, it's important to prune French lavender to extend the life of the plant and encourage blooms for next year.

Step 1

Pinch off dead blooms throughout the growing season of the French lavender. This will encourage new growth.

Step 2

Examine the French lavender weekly and prune any dead limbs. Hold your pruning shears at a 45-degree angle. Cut the dead branch off at the base, flush to the plant.

Step 3

Prune approximately 1/4 of the lower branches at the base of the lavender plant the first time you prune. The following year, prune approximately 1/3 of the lower branches at the base.

Step 4

Prune 1 to 2 inches from the tips of the branches beginning in the third year of the plant's growth.