Hello, and thank you for contacting Ask Extension about lavender. It would be helpful if you can send digital photos of your three lavender plants. You can attach them to a reply to this email. I look forward to your photos.

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for sending the photos of your lavenders which look very healthy. At this time I would recommend that you do not prune or fertilize. Lavenders thrive in poor soils with very little organic matter. Fertilizers are not needed and can actually be detrimental to your plants. Annual spring pruning alone will stimulate new growth and encourage flowering. 

The University of Colorado Extension provides the following advice with respect to pruning:

Lavender flowers on new growth so plants should be pruned every year after it is established. Pruning should take place when green leaves start to emerge from the base of the plant in the spring. Remove approximately one-third [up to one-half] of the top. Pruning keeps the plant from splitting open and becoming too woody. 

It's important to wait for the green growth in spring so that you do not mistake live stems for winter die-back. Wait until new growth is well underway to assess what has survived. Remove dead or damaged stems. Trim back live stems to healthy sections with live buds. Cutting back to healthy wood encourages side branching.

Lavender is an easy-care plant. It prefers full sun and alkaline soil. If there is no rain in summer, water slowly and deeply once a week. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The soil must be very well-drained to prevent root rot. Mulch with sand or pea gravel (rather than organic materials), and keep the mulch six inches away from the plant stems. Maintain good airflow around each plant.

I hope this information is helpful. Please write again if you have other questions.



Dear Daniel,

Thank you for sending the photos of your lavenders which look very healthy. At this time I would recommend that you do not prune or fertilize. Lavenders thrive in poor soils with very little organic matter. Fertilizers are not needed and can actually be detrimental to your plants. Annual spring pruning alone will stimulate new growth and encourage flowering. 

The University of Colorado Extension provides the following advice with respect to pruning:

Lavender flowers on new growth so plants should be pruned every year after it is established. Pruning should take place when green leaves start to emerge from the base of the plant in the spring. Remove approximately one-third [up to one-half] of the top. Pruning keeps the plant from splitting open and becoming too woody. 

It's important to wait for the green growth in spring so that you do not mistake live stems for winter die-back. Wait until new growth is well underway to assess what has survived. Remove dead or damaged stems. Trim back live stems to healthy sections with live buds. Cutting back to healthy wood encourages side branching.

Lavender is an easy-care plant. It prefers full sun and alkaline soil. If there is no rain in summer, water slowly and deeply once a week. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. The soil must be very well-drained to prevent root rot. Mulch with sand or pea gravel (rather than organic materials), and keep the mulch six inches away from the plant stems. Maintain good airflow around each plant.

I hope this information is helpful. Please write again if you have other questions.

Dear Daniel,

I suspect you have three different types of lavender, but I am not an expert on this particular plant. Perhaps if you can take samples to one of these farms, they may be able to help you:

https://www.globeguide.ca/lavender-farms-in-oregon/

Please feel free to write again if you have additional questions.