Lavender hedge getting a bit "past it!"

[petunia]

My lavender hedge has been in for about 4 1/2 years and is getting a bit woody. Is it better to to give it a good prune or dig the whole lot up and start again? I know you're not supposed to cut into old wood but this is what I'm thinking of. Would it survive if I did this?

[claricebeansmum]

i think with lavender it is a case of starting again

[claricebeansmum]

Could you take cuttings?

[petunia]

I could do. How do you take lavender cuttings? Is it just a case of choosing a decent looking shoot and sticking it in a pot of compost?

[contentiouscat]

If you cut the hedge back to the woody bit I dont think it will grow back but you are meant to prune them gently each year, this doesnt sound like a particularly old hedge to me so it may revive.

I know bog all about gardening but I have succesfully grown lavender from cuttings - method here

www.letsgogardening.co.uk/Information/Cuttings.htm

or just get a pack from J parker

www.jparkers.co.uk/Index.cfm?fuseaction=category.search&search=lavender

[Lucycat]

I'm a ruthless pruner - I hack mine back each year - just leave at least one leaf on each branch and it'll be fine - if not then it looks as though you're replanting next Spring!

not sure about the cuttings....

[Tangle]

If you're thinking of replanting next year anyway then you may as well have a good hack now and try to take some cuttings - if you kill it and the cuttings don't take you still haven't lost anything, and it might do just fine .

[petunia]

Tangle- that's what I'm thinking!

[ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween]

Agree with Tangle. Kill or cure

If you're sensible with your hacking back it may well be fine. I chopped mine back to woody bits if there was any sign of new growth and it was fine.