What to do with mini lavender plants?

[Agoddessonamountaintop]

Have been nurturing about 30+ plants since buying them as plugs last spring. They're in small peat pots (I know now to use other plastic substitutes), and have doubled in size but are starting to look ratty and a bit tired/brown around the edges. Also roots are showing through the pots.

Should I pot them on again? They don't look 'root-bound' to me, but I don't want to plant them out yet. Maybe the rattiness is just what happens to lavender at this time of year (as per my mature plants)? Or maybe 'air pruning' is okay and won't halt their development?
I have no clue, but have moved them into my new greenhouse for the winter.

TLDR: how do you know when to pot on from peat pots?

[Agoddessonamountaintop]

Hopeful bump for the Sunday gardeners!

[Pithivier]

I would leave them in their pots as they are moving into their dormant season. My opinion is to lightly prune now, keep then cool and only slightly damp through winter. If you plant them out next spring the will not need another prune.

[Pithivier]

I have just noticed the are in peat pots. You could stand the pots in a tray of shallow compost so that the roots have somewhere to go. When you plant them out the whole pot can go into the ground.

[Agoddessonamountaintop]

Sorry just seen this - brilliant idea, thanks! And should I not bother pruning them (I had wondered about that, but they’re barely a couple of inces tall - yes it is a very labour-intensive way of getting a lavender hedge!)

[Pithivier]

for a lavender hedge I would, next year, dig out a trench about 2 inches deeper than the peat pots. Scatter some horticultural gravel into the trench and then spread the pots out evenly. Cover the top of the pots with garden soil by about one inch. The little green shoots that are appearing should be just touching the surface soil.

A relatively easy way to increase your hedge is by layering. Just lay the lowest side shoots along the ground and pin down. Some people scape away the underneath stem, but I think this is a bit of a faff.

I cut up wire coat hangers for the pins as they bend really easily and go deep into the ground. Keep watered for the first month then decrease the watering. Although lavender like to be dry once established, plugs will need a bit more in their first season in the soil.

[Agoddessonamountaintop]

You’re a gem Pithivier - thanks again!