Ask the
Green Thumb
A gardening expert digs into and answers your homegrown questions.
By Ann Wied
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Lavender’s Blue
My lavender grows only about 2 to 3 inches tall. How can I help it thrive?
—Arthur Jones, Houston, Texas
A: Overfertilizing, pruning too short, or pruning at the wrong time can result in poor-quality plants. Don’t prune in late summer, autumn or early spring. Prune in late spring, after the new growth has emerged from the old stems. Plants can be shaped at this time, too.
Also, check your soil pH and drainage. Lavender grows best in well-drained, high alkaline soils, with pH between 6 and 8. Water young plants until established. Once mature, lavender is considered drought tolerant but needs to be
watered in hot, dry and windy areas.
Ann Wied, our guest garden expert, is the Consumer Horticulture Educator for the UW-Extension in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. She teaches gardeners of all ages through workshops, hands-on gardening programs and presentations. Ann has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and agriculture journalism.
Photo: Paula Cartwright (Headshot)
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