This lovely herb is a vigorous grower, so keep a sharp pair of pruners around.
Like many plants, a healthy lavender bush owes its longevity partly to proper pruning and harvesting.
At the center of the mounded semi-shrub, the lavender is trying to turn into wood.
Credit: Julia K/Getty Images
Unfortunately, the wood is weak.
It can split open and when this happens, the plant will no longer produce new shoots.
Pruning in late summer or early fall encourages good air circulation, which guards the lavender plant against rot.
Don’t make the mistake of delaying your first pruning.
How To Prune And Harvest Lavender
Many gardeners prune and harvest their lavender at the same time.
How To Dry Lavender
The simplest method fordrying lavenderis to hang the bunches upside down.
Hang the bunches upside down from hooks or nails in a cool, dark area.
You will need to retie the bunches as they dry because they will shrink and loosen.
The darkness of the room helps the lavender flowers and buds retain color.
Hanging the bunches upside down means the stalks dry in an upright shapeideal for use in flower arrangements.
To determine whether the lavender is ready, the stem should break when bent.
When ready, gently run your fingers along one stem at a time to remove the dried buds.
Use the strainer to filter out debris and remove large pieces of stems or leaves by hand.
Store lavender that will be used for cooking in airtight glass jars.
Loose buds used for other purposes can be stored in zip-top plastic bags.
How To Use Dried Lavender
There are many uses for lavender.
Elevate your cooking by steeping dried buds insimple syrupfor drinks or in milk to add tobaked goods.
Make your own bottle ofair freshenerwith lavender essential oil.
