Expert shares essential lavender tip that must be done to prevent plant turning 'bare'

As the weather takes a more autumnal turn, it's prime time to give your lavender a prune - but be sure to follow the advice of one expert before you start snipping away

As the weather becomes more autumnal, your lavender plants may start to lose their vibrancy. If your lavender appears a bit lacklustre, now is the perfect time to give it a trim.

In a useful video for Crocus, gardening expert Helen shared her top tip for keeping lavender looking its best.

She explained that pruning at this point is crucial to maintain a "fresh-looking" appearance and stop the plants from becoming "leggy and bare" at the base.

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Lavender that isn't pruned can become unsightly, adopting a misshapen and spindly shape, and may eventually need replacing, reports the Express.

For those with individual plants, Helen suggests using secateurs, while those with hedges might prefer shears.

Helen then revealed her "golden rule" for maintaining lavender. She said: "The golden rule with lavenders is, when you're pruning them, don't cut into old woody growth.

"You don't want to cut below this current season's growth and you can see it's a slightly different colour. You can cut as hardback into this new growth as you like but don't cut below because it may not bounce back."

Holding the tops of the plants, Helen began shaping them, snipping until they formed neat, rounded domes.

Lavender should be pruned before any signs of frost appear and winter begins. While late summer or early autumn is the ideal time for pruning lavender, an April trim is also an option.

Nonetheless, garden enthusiasts should note that pruning in April will likely delay the flowering stage.

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