how to propagate old woody lavender

Place the lavender into the cup, making sure the water is not high enough to touch the leaves. Start lavender seeds indoors in spring. Lavender can be propagated during all seasons. Yes. Even if pruned annually, older lavender plants can still become woody and leggy so, as they are fast growing and establish quickly, they are best replaced if you want to keep everything looking neat. It is achieved by taking a low-growing stem on a healthy, established lavender plant and bending the midpoint of the stem down toward the ground. For more tips from our Horticulturalist co-author, including how to take cuttings from lavender, keep reading! Start divisions in spring or autumn when the plant is growing but not blooming. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 173,012 times. plays a dual role in landscaping as both an ornamental plant and a culinary herb. "It was wonderful to follow such simple instructions together with illustrations. Prune lavender lightly to maintain the rounded shape. Prepare pots for the divisions before digging up the plant. Last Updated: March 13, 2020 … Simply cut out sections leaving a few inches of woody stem attached. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Choose the appropriate lavender for your climate. Can I take cuttings from my plant at the end of summer and leave them in pots in the house for winter? In late summer or early autumn, a light trim removing the old flower stems as blooms fade will keep it tidy – trim the flower stems about 5 cm (2 inches) above the leafy growth on the same stem. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the propagation and care of plants., San Francisco Botanical Garden: Lavandula, White Flower Farm: Growing Lavender Plants, University of California Division of Agriculture And Natural Resources: Lavenders For California Gardens, Lavender Association of Wester Colorado: Propagation, Penn State Extension: Propagation By Cutting Or Layering, Penn State Extension: Dividing Perennials, Success With Seed: Lavandula Angustifolia, Missouri Botanical Garden: Lavandula Angustifolia. Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet in height. Plant your lavender in well-drained, rocky soil, on a slope (if possible) to ensure drainage. Dust the cut-end of each cutting with rooting hormone and then bury the bottom one-third of the cuttings in the moistened rooting medium. One of the easiest ways to make new lavender plants is through layering. Some lavender cultivars are patented and therefore illegal to propagate without paying a royalty fee. Using a peg, or a heavy rock to hold the branch down. Spring is the best time to use layering propagation on perennials such as lavender. Watch for seedlings in two to three weeks. Many species of lavender are perennial plants, meaning they live for two or more years. When left to their own devices and with proper growing conditions, perennial herbs can become shrubs or carpets of ground cover. In this case, 99% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Greenhouse environments may be too damp for lavender cuttings. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. ", "I appreciate the illustrations and the easy-to-follow instructions. Select a root stimulator that contains a root hormone. English lavender is cold hardy whereas French lavender will die in cold winters. 2.4k. ", article was most helpful. Lavender that has turned too woody can be propagated from cuttings for more plants or may have to be replaced. Water the plant thoroughly to encourage new roots. This one is simple and low-risk, but can be labor-intensive if you plan to create more than a few cuttings. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. This article has been viewed 173,012 times. Showy, sweet-smelling lavender (Lavandula spp.) But try to space them apart far enough so they don’t touch each other. However, lavender is fragile when divided, so expert gardeners use small cuttings to create new plants. Spring-divided lavenders can be planted in autumn, and autumn-divided lavenders can be planted the following spring. There are several related methods of propagation referred to as "layering." Mulch can help the soil retain water, but may cause plants to overheat during hot weather. Lift the entire plant, root ball and all, from the soil using a gardening fork or shovel and move it to a shaded location. How to Grow and Care For Lavender. If your plant has long woody stems with the new growth at the top you can take cuttings from it and propagate Lavender plants. Taking a low, woody branch of your lavender plant. They also can grow leggy (or overly stretched) and eventually flop over. Division is a more rapid but riskier solution. How to grow lavender – taking lavender cuttings Take semi-ripe lavender cuttings in late summer. Similar method as pruning heather and heath plants. But one of the easiest methods is taking stem cuttings, placing them in water or a growing medium until they develop roots, and then planting the rooted cuttings into pots or the ground.Unlike propagating by seeds collected from the parent plant, propagating by cuttings ensures that the new plants are genetically identical to the parent plant. Use a shovel to cut apart the root ball into the sections you want. Division propagation yields larger, more mature-looking plants faster, so it’s the best choice if you want more developed lavender plants for your garden. Today I am going to take cuttings from an old potted lavender plant, wish me luck. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. By using our site, you agree to our. now that I am retired, I want to make more effort to grow plants myself. Get up close and personal with the lavender plant that needs pruning After removing the foliage from the middle portion of the stem, make a shallow wound on the underside of the stem using a sanitized razor blade. As you prepare to plant your divided plants, dig holes that are twice as wide as the root ball and 12 inches deep. Cutting propagation is the simplest method of growing new lavender plants, which makes it the best method for beginner gardeners. ", http://articles.mcall.com/2012-05-04/features/mc-lavender-cuttings-divide-plants-20120504_1_cuttings-parent-plant-new-plants, http://www.finegardening.com/pruning-subshrubs, http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/growing-lavender-care.html, http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/propagating-lavender-zbcz1407.aspx#axzz3DhNVTfhB, http://www.what-about-lavender.com/propagate_lavender.html, http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Garden/beware.htm, http://www.lovelygreens.com/2012/03/plants-for-free-propagating-lavender.html, http://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40072, http://www.mgofmc.org/docs/propperennials.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Divide the clump into two to three equal-sized portions, each with an equal share of roots and stems. Take a cutting of soft green healthy looking growth (without any flower buds on it) of approximately 4 inches long. A step-by-step guide to propagating lavender Step 1 Choose non-flowering shoots that have a woody base but a soft, green tip. % of people told us that this article helped them. Surface-sown seeds dry out easily, so mist them every day to keep them moist. Lavender propagates easily in a variety of ways, although vegetative methods, such as layering, cuttings and division, work best if you’re trying to reproduce a cultivated variety with specific traits because seeds may not produce a plant that is true to form. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I have had some, "Rather than purchasing more lavender plants, I wanted to learn how to grow from the parent plants that I have. Can Lavender Grow Without Rooting Hormones? Lavender illustration by M. Jeng. Optionally, add a small amount of fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium to the base of the hole as well. Fill a plastic nursery pot with a moist mixture of half sterile soil and half sand, and be sure to use a pot with drainage holes at the base. Stimulate rooting. Division propagation works best on younger, less woody lavender plants. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Lavender, she says, needs a dry, arid climate—“Certainly not what we have here in Texas!” While the plants grow best with about 15 inches of rain a year, the farm gets around 39 inches in a normal year. There are two ways to rejuvenateold, woody lavender: 1. severe pruningone third at a time 2. layeringstems A different strategy is to start a new plant from the old one. I learned precisely what and what not to do. If there are several growth points on the plants, then bury the Lavender in a large pot/trough. Lavender Cuttings Care Propagating Lavender - How to Propagate Lavender? After that, do not fertilize regularly. They need light and warmth to germinate, so surface-sow the seeds on moist soil and cover them with clear plastic. You can sacrifice your lavender plant to create dozens of new cuttings, but only if it is between three and five years old. Propagating Lavender from Woody Plants The best time to take cuttings for propagating is in the summer on a non flowering shoot. Deciding Whether or not to Divide Lavender Use cuttings instead of division to create new plants. Grow lavender in dry, well-drained soil in a location that receives at least six hours of daily sun. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. wikiHow has encouraged me to have a go. A hydrated plant will root better, so give your lavender a deep watering the night before you plan to divide it. Cuttings can develop roots all on their own but if you want to start that action … How to Cut the Lavender Plant for Propagation. Pruning in autumn can cause the plant to waste energy on new growth, leaving it vulnerable to frost. Rooting hormone helps prevent the tip from rotting and encourages quick, strong root development, but lavender roots well without it. Stick the lower end of the cutting about 2 inches into the soil and firm the soil so that the cutting stands up straight. If the old, woody growth is already too large for your garden, consider taking several cuttings and removing the old plant entirely once the new ones have been established for a year. Locate a few 2- to 3-inch-long cuttings from healthy-looking stems and cut them at an angle using a sharp, sanitized blade. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Warm the pots to above 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and above 55 degrees at night. Taking a few cuttings from a healthy lavender plant shouldn't cause any harm to the mother plant, which can be cared for as usual. Article by BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. The majority of our lavender is planted in the ground, edging a path, and it has survived the very cold and very wet winter without any special treatment. Humidity is also a problem, since lavender can’t tolerate a lot of moisture in the soil or air. I am quite a novice gardener, and, "I was surprised to see that if using soft wood cuttings you don't have to use rooting hormone. Over the next few months it will form roots and you will have several Lavender plants to try again. References Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Watering is not recommended while the plant is dormant for the winter. Lavender cuttings are the means to propagate Lavender and you will have the joy of knowing that what you … Softwood cuttings taken in spring from new growth and semi-hardwood cuttings gathered in late summer or early autumn both work well. An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp.and hybrids) plants. Put some enriched soil in the bottom of the hole, and plant each section in its own spot. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You will mainly only see this kind of growth during the spring. Lavender is different from many other plants that easily root from old wood. Some shrubs can take severe pruning and hatracking, but pruning lavender too hard wouldkill it. Here's how to prune lavender so it looks (and smells) great year after year. By growing lavender in pots and containers, you can grow a wider range of half-hardy plants, as it is easier to move the pots to a more sheltered place. In mid-autumn, several weeks before the first frost, take apart the mound and cut off the stems where they have formed new woody branches. Each stem you remove should have 3-5 leaf nodes, but still have several inches of growth at the top. Ideally, prune the lavender plant in spring or early summer, just after new growth begins. You can certainly grow lavender from seed but you’ll want to start them in the Winter, several weeks before your zone’s first frost date. Thank you. Plant lavender 2 to 3 feet apart. The resulting seedlings may not resemble the parent plant, but they may grow into a whole new strain found only in your garden. But don’t cut back to thick old, woody stems, as lavender will struggle to bounce back. Plan to divide the plant so each new section has at least 3 to 5 growing stems coming up from the root base. When you notice that your lavender is woody, it’s time to take action to help it recover. Check the label and ingredients of a root stimulator before purchasing. Approved. Sasha Degnan is a freelance writer and educator specializing in gardening and horticulture. Cutting propagation is the simplest method of growing new lavender plants, which makes it the best method for beginner gardeners. Be careful not to damage the bark while removing the leaves. May 2, 2020 - Propagating lavender is fun and easy. Layering is a technique which basically involves: Taking a low, woody branch of your lavender plant. (Look up your zone’s last frost, here). Dust the wound and the surrounding portion of the stem with rooting hormone; then bury the wounded portion of the stem 1 to 2 inches below the surface of the soil. Lavender can be started from seed, but it does take some patience as germination can take many months. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Keep in mind that it’ll take about 85 or so days for your plant to reach maturity if you plant lavender from seed. Gently pull a 10cm shoot to side and strip away from main plant, ensuring it has a heel (a strip of bark) attached. This article has been viewed 173,012 times. Let me explain. Very woody stems close up Pruning has started Continuing the process of cutting overgrown branches back Tiny leaves indicate the stem is alive The stopping point on pruning my 5 year old lavender Key Points To Know When Pruning Woody Lavender. Just make sure the indoor pots are large enough and that you maintain a good care routine for your plant. Most lavender cuttings will root in four to six weeks if they are kept under warm, humid and bright conditions. Prune the top third of the lavenders flexible growth back, but do not prune the woody growth. Usually lavender plants grow old and woody after 6 to 10 years. This, "It gives me ways to propagate my lavender without dividing it and possibly killing it off. This can be done through: 1. preparingcuttings 2. harvesting and growing from seeds Let’s take a lo… Pot them, water them well and keep them under sheltered conditions until they establish new roots. Lavender can be propagated by taking new soft growth or older harder woody growth from existing plants. Growing Lavender from Seed. Do not prune lavender plants in the first year, when they are establishing roots. You can try to revive an old Lavender by either taking cuttings from the … An easier way to propagate lavender is by cuttings, which provides a mature plant much earlier and ensures that it will be identical to the parent plant. But perennial herbs—such as lavender, oregano, sage, thyme, and rosemary—often develop woody stems and need some seasonal maintenance pruning. Fertilize them lightly the very first year after planting. Most stems will root in about eight weeks, at which point you can sever the stem and transplant the new lavender plant into a pot of fast-draining soil or directly into the garden. If your plant is too large, mostly dead, or flowering less each year, the risky division process may be required. This may require you to include multiple clusters in one division. ", level of success with lavender but lose more than I would like. Use nursery pots that are large enough to accommodate the divisions without overcrowding their roots and make sure each pot has plenty of drainage holes at the base. I'm hoping to increase my success. Lavender plants are dormant during the winter, so wait until early spring to divide it. Cutting a shallow notch in that branch. Bending the branch downwards, pressing that notch to the ground and making sure that it stays there, covered in soil. Pry down on the handle of the shovel as you move around the plant until the plant releases from the ground. Prune for healthier lavender plants. ", "It was very thorough and detailed, giving useful cautions and options.". Seed-grown lavenders have a shorter life expectancy and are often grown as annuals since most bloom well for only one year. Plant new lavender shrubs 24 to 30 inches apart in all directions. If you intend to propagate your lavender – making new plants from existing ones – then it is important to consider this before trimming all of your plant. Research the variety you intend to propagate to make sure no such prohibitions exist. Deciding Whether or not to Divide Lavender, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Divide-a-Lavender-Plant-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Divide-a-Lavender-Plant-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Divide-a-Lavender-Plant-Step-1.jpg\/aid1519164-v4-728px-Divide-a-Lavender-Plant-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"