Deadheading lavender refers to the process of removing the spent (faded or dead) flower heads from the plant. While not strictly essential for the plant's survival, it offers several benefits for the plant's health, appearance, and bloom production.
When to Deadhead Lavender:
The best time to deadhead lavender is as soon as the flowers on a particular stem start to fade or turn brown, typically after the first flush of blooms. This usually occurs from late spring through mid-summer, depending on your specific lavender variety and climate.
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Continuous Process: Deadheading isn't a one-time event. Lavender plants often produce new flower stems over a period, so you might deadhead regularly (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) throughout their blooming season.
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Before Seeds Form: The primary goal of deadheading is to prevent the plant from putting energy into producing seeds. So, the ideal time is after the flowers have faded but before they have fully matured into seed heads.
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Harvesting for Use: If you plan to harvest lavender flowers for sachets, culinary use, or essential oil extraction, it's best to cut them just as they open or are in peak bloom, before they fully fade. This maximizes their fragrance and color. This act of harvesting effectively serves as deadheading.
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Late Summer/Early Fall "Pruning": After the main blooming period (late summer/early fall), you can give the entire plant a more substantial trim or "prune" to remove all spent flower stalks and shape the plant. This is more of a light prune than just deadheading, and it helps maintain the plant's compact form and prevents it from becoming leggy and woody.
Why Deadhead Lavender?
There are several good reasons to deadhead your lavender:
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Encourages More Blooms (Second Flush): This is the main reason. By removing spent flowers, you trick the plant into thinking it hasn't successfully reproduced yet. This redirects its energy from seed production into creating more flowers, potentially leading to a second (and sometimes even a third, especially for Spanish lavenders or some English varieties) flush of blooms later in the season.
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Improves Plant Appearance: Faded, brown flower heads can make the plant look messy and detract from its beauty. Deadheading keeps your lavender looking neat, tidy, and vibrant.
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Maintains Plant Vigor and Shape: By preventing seed production, you conserve the plant's energy, which can then be used for stronger root development and healthier foliage. Regular deadheading, combined with annual pruning, helps keep the plant more compact and prevents it from becoming overly woody and leggy over time, especially in the center.
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Reduces Risk of Fungal Diseases: Old, decaying flower heads, especially in humid conditions, can sometimes become a breeding ground for fungal spores. Removing them improves air circulation and reduces this risk.
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Harvesting Potential: As mentioned, deadheading goes hand-in-hand with harvesting. If you plan to use your lavender flowers, cutting them regularly for this purpose naturally serves as deadheading.
How to Deadhead Lavender:
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Identify: Look for flower spikes where the individual flowers have withered, turned brown, or lost their vibrant color.
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Cut: Using sharp, clean pruning shears or snips, follow the flower stem down to just above the first set of healthy leaves (or new green growth) below the faded flower head. Make a clean cut. Avoid cutting into the old, woody parts of the plant, as new growth rarely emerges from old wood.
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Repeat: Work your way around the plant, removing all spent flower stalks. If you have many plants, a light shearing across the top can be quicker, but individual cuts will be more precise.
While deadheading isn't strictly necessary for the plant's survival (it will eventually drop its spent flowers naturally), it's a beneficial practice for encouraging more blooms, keeping your lavender looking its best, and promoting a healthier, more vigorous plant.
Lavender Farm in Door County Wisconsin. You can buy lavender products online at islandlavender.com