Lavender - how and when?

[LittleWingSoul]

How and when should I cut back this lavender? I can't remember how or if I cut it back at the end of last summer, but it's looking a right sorry state now so am thinking that whatever I did or didn't do, was incorrect! It doesn't appear to have put out anything new other than what it growing on last year's old wood...

The general consensus is that you don’t cut into the old wood, but I cut into old wood about March time and the plant is growing well.
I’d cut the tallest branch and see if there new growth.

I’d put it on the compost heap and get a new one. Lavender isn’t a forever plant; once it gets leggy like that it’s done for.

The way I remember it is cut it back when schools go back in September. Not sure that's going to help you right now though.

There’s some really complicated thing about cutting it back to just above the last new growth after it stops flowering, twice a year, you can google it.

Personally I’ve never been able to achieve it, they turn to a woody mess, so I’d just compost it also.

I just cut mine right back into a stump and it's growing (albeit much smaller) and is now flowering. I did this September/October time

You could take multiple cuttings of a few inches from the tips. I did this in the spring and took about 14 cuttings, of which two thirds have grown! No idea what to do with them all, I'll probably grow on and give as gifts.

Definitely don't cut it now. Wait until it has completely finished flowering and the seed heads are dried out. Then cut it right back and hope for the best. Leave it over winter right through into spring, don't give it up for dead until late into next spring. You might lose it completely, but you might now.

Thanks everyone!

Hmmm so grin and bear it for now and attempt some cutting back in early autumn and then wait until next spring to see if its all been worth it.

Or... Chuck it in the bin and start again.

The latter seems so tempting but the former seems like the "right" thing to do, plus something new for a pot that size is going to be a mature-ish plant which won't be cheap. Although... A Hardy shrub might not be such a bad shout. I like purples and pinks in foliage, either that or lime green. What are your favourites?

@RainingZen (love the username!) was there much green on the tips of what you cut? So... The actual cut into the woody stem with a bit of green growth at the top? Have they all rooted?

Hi, yes I just took the new growth this year, not woody stem. Stuck them in a big tub of compost on the patio, kept it moist, waited literally for weeks. The ones that took, they must have rooted as there is loads of new green growth. I haven't had time to put them in individual pots yet. My mum said I might get a few cuttings to take, but so many surprised us! Interestingly the ones that failed were at the edge of the pot where I expect the soil was most dry or cold (I did this in early spring).