Plant guide:ð Lavender
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Stems
Split or Cracked Stems on Lavender
Commonly affects: Lavandula angustifolia / L. x intermedia (Lavender)
Woody stems develop visible cracks or splits, sometimes at the base near the crown.
Potential Causes
- 1Age-related woodiness making stems more brittle and prone to splitting under wind or weight stress
- 2Physical stress from wind, snow load, or being stepped on or brushed against
- 3Occasionally a sign of underlying crown or root stress affecting stem integrity
Solution Steps
- 1Prune away split stems cleanly with sharp, sterilised shears
- 2Provide some physical support or wind shelter for particularly exposed, mature plants
- 3Check crown and root health if splitting seems to be affecting an unusual number of stems
- 4Consider that older, very woody plants may simply be nearing the end of their productive lifespan
Prevention Tip
Occasional stem splitting on a mature, woody lavender is often just a sign of age and brittleness rather than disease â clean pruning of the affected stem is usually all that's needed.
