how to propagate old woody lavender

Place the lavender into the cup, making sure the water is not high enough to touch the leaves. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Using a peg, or a heavy rock to hold the branch down. You will mainly only see this kind of growth during the spring. Thanks. Layering means to start a plant from a living stem while it is still attached to the “mother” plant. Lavender can be propagated by taking new soft growth or older harder woody growth from existing plants. Water the plant thoroughly to encourage new roots. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. 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. I learned precisely what and what not to do. Lavender plants are dormant during the winter, so wait until early spring to divide it. You can sacrifice your lavender plant to create dozens of new cuttings, but only if it is between three and five years old. Gardening For Beginners Gardening Tips Gardening Services Gardening Gloves Hydroponic Gardening Gardening Supplies Indoor Gardening How To Propagate Lavender Herbs Garden. Prune the top third of the lavenders flexible growth back, but do not prune the woody growth. Plant lavender at the same depth it was in its pot. For more tips from our Horticulturalist co-author, including how to take cuttings from lavender, keep reading! Locate a few 2- to 3-inch-long cuttings from healthy-looking stems and cut them at an angle using a sharp, sanitized blade. If there are several growth points on the plants, then bury the Lavender in a large pot/trough. Stick the lower end of the cutting about 2 inches into the soil and firm the soil so that the cutting stands up straight. Fertilize them lightly the very first year after planting. 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. 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. But perennial herbs—such as lavender, oregano, sage, thyme, and rosemary—often develop woody stems and need some seasonal maintenance pruning. Plant your lavender in well-drained, rocky soil, on a slope (if possible) to ensure drainage. By using our site, you agree to our. Seed-grown lavenders have a shorter life expectancy and are often grown as annuals since most bloom well for only one year. 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. Most lavender cuttings will root in four to six weeks if they are kept under warm, humid and bright conditions. plays a dual role in landscaping as both an ornamental plant and a culinary herb. Remove non-flowering shoots, about 10cm long, with a woody base and a tip with new growth. ", level of success with lavender but lose more than I would like. Be careful not to damage the bark while removing the leaves. Cutting propagation is the simplest method of growing new lavender plants, which makes it the best method for beginner gardeners. Refer to the tips below if you want to turn your lavender plant into dozens of new cuttings instead. However, lavender is fragile when divided, so expert gardeners use small cuttings to create new plants. Plants typically reach between 1 and 3 feet in height. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Taking a low, woody branch of your lavender plant. Each stem you remove should have 3-5 leaf nodes, but still have several inches of growth at the top. They also can grow leggy (or overly stretched) and eventually flop over. May 2, 2020 - Propagating lavender is fun and easy. I'm hoping to increase my success. Find out how to boost stocks of lavender for free, by taking cuttings in summer - just follow this step-by-step guide. Can Lavender Grow Without Rooting Hormones? 1. 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. Cutting propagation is the simplest method of growing new lavender plants, which makes it the best method for beginner gardeners. Terra cotta flowerpots are preferable to plastic ones due to their "breathability," especially if you soak the flowerpot in water overnight before continuing to the next step below. References English lavender is cold hardy whereas French lavender will die in cold winters. This can be done through: 1. preparingcuttings 2. harvesting and growing from seeds Let’s take a lo… Take a cutting of soft green healthy looking growth (without any flower buds on it) of approximately 4 inches long. Lavender can be propagated during all seasons. Select a root stimulator that contains a root hormone. Keep the mulch away from the crown of the lavender plant, however, to prevent excess moisture and root rot. The new soft growths are the new sprouts growing from the tops of the plants and hence the name they are soft and bendy. 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. 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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Mulch can help the soil retain water, but may cause plants to overheat during hot weather. I have had some, "Rather than purchasing more lavender plants, I wanted to learn how to grow from the parent plants that I have. Watering is not recommended while the plant is dormant for the winter. As you prepare to plant your divided plants, dig holes that are twice as wide as the root ball and 12 inches deep. Cutting a shallow notch in that branch. If your plant is too large, mostly dead, or flowering less each year, the risky division process may be required. Pry down on the handle of the shovel as you move around the plant until the plant releases from the ground. Cuttings can develop roots all on their own but if you want to start that action … There are many species of lavender including English lavender, Hidcote English lavender, and Munstead English lavender to mention a few. Prepare pots for the divisions before digging up the plant. But don’t cut back to thick old, woody stems, as lavender will struggle to bounce back. Prune lavender lightly to maintain the rounded shape. Approved. Warm the pots to above 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and above 55 degrees at night. Get up close and personal with the lavender plant that needs pruning When left to their own devices and with proper growing conditions, perennial herbs can become shrubs or carpets of ground cover. Usually lavender plants grow old and woody after 6 to 10 years. Spring-divided lavenders can be planted in autumn, and autumn-divided lavenders can be planted the following spring. … How to Cut the Lavender Plant for Propagation. An annual pruning is an important step for long-lasting lavender (Lavandula spp.and hybrids) plants. Thank you. Lavender Cuttings Care They need light and warmth to germinate, so surface-sow the seeds on moist soil and cover them with clear plastic. 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. Put some enriched soil in the bottom of the hole, and plant each section in its own spot. Bending the branch downwards, pressing that notch to the ground and making sure that it stays there, covered in soil. Growing Lavender from cuttings is the only way to reproduce some types of Lavender.There are those Lavender plants that do not produce seeds and those that do, often don't produce offspring that are anywhere similar to the parent plant. Can I take cuttings from my plant at the end of summer and leave them in pots in the house for winter? Let me explain. Greenhouse environments may be too damp for lavender cuttings. Watch for seedlings in two to three weeks. Opinions are divided on whether a younger or older plant has a lower risk from division. Article by BBC Gardeners' World Magazine. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. ", article was most helpful. Another method of propagating lavender plants is layering, which is the best choice if you’re looking for a low-effort way of increasing your lavender plants. Sanitize your pruning tools before and after use by wiping the blades with a clean cloth or paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol. Fill the bottom of each pot with sandy, fast-draining potting soil. There are several related methods of propagation referred to as "layering." Certain named varieties of English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia; USDA zones 5 to 8), such as ‘Lavender Lady,' ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Munstead,' will grow true from seed, although other species and varieties may not. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Many species of lavender are perennial plants, meaning they live for two or more years. Plan to divide the plant so each new section has at least 3 to 5 growing stems coming up from the root base. Grow lavender in dry, well-drained soil in a location that receives at least six hours of daily sun. Start lavender seeds indoors in spring. Remove all the leaves from the bottom one-third of the cutting as well as any flowers or buds from the tip. 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. 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. But try to space them apart far enough so they don’t touch each other. Plant lavender 2 to 3 feet apart. If your plant has long woody stems with the new growth at the top you can take cuttings from it and propagate Lavender plants. 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":"