Plant guide:ð Lavender
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Growth
Leggy, Sprawling Lavender Growth
Commonly affects: Lavandula angustifolia / L. x intermedia (Lavender)
Stems grow long and floppy, sprawling outward or falling open rather than maintaining a neat, rounded mound shape.
Potential Causes
- 1Insufficient light causing stems to stretch toward available brightness
- 2Lack of regular pruning allowing stems to grow unchecked and become top-heavy
- 3Overly rich soil or excess nitrogen encouraging soft, leggy growth over compact form
Solution Steps
- 1Ensure the plant receives full sun for most of the day
- 2Prune annually after flowering, cutting back about a third of new growth to maintain a compact, rounded shape
- 3Avoid rich fertiliser, since lean soil actually produces more compact, floriferous growth
- 4Cut back leggy stems that have already sprawled, as long as some green growth remains on each stem
Prevention Tip
Annual pruning right after flowering is the single most effective way to keep lavender compact rather than sprawling and leggy.
