Many people love lavender because of its fragrant flowers and leaves. Lavender is a lovely plant to have in your garden. It has gray-green leaves and tall spikes of hollow, pink or blue flowers. A lot of gardeners want to know if they can make more lavender plants by splitting or separating existing ones. So, can you tell lavender plants apart? Let’s find out.
An Overview of Lavender Plants
Lavender comes from the mint family Lamiaceae, which has more than 40 different species. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), French lavender (Lavandula dentata), and Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) are the ones that are grown the most.
Lavender grows like a bush and is 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. Lavender has thin, green leaves that smell great when crushed. From late spring to early summer, it grows spikes of fragrant flowers on long stems. The flowers can be purple, blue, pink, or white, depending on the variety.
In ideal growing conditions, lavender lives for 10-15 years. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Once established, lavender is quite drought tolerant. This fragrant herb can be grown as an annual in colder places, and it will do well in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Challenges of Dividing Lavender
Many gardeners want to make more lavender plants from existing shrubs in their garden. So, can you divide lavender successfully? Unfortunately, propagating lavender by division comes with some challenges:
- Lavender has a taproot, so its root system does not readily divide.
- Older lavender plants often only have 1-2 main woody stems.
- Dividing the taproot and woody stems risks killing the parent plant.
- Lavender division has a lower success rate than other propagation methods like cuttings.
- Divided lavender transplants are prone to transplant shock.
- The best time to divide is spring or fall, not during warm weather.
Most lavender varieties resent being divided. The taproot and woody stems sustain damage during division. Transplants from division also take time to establish and many will die from the trauma. For all these reasons, most gardeners do not recommend division as a means of propagating lavender. Taking cuttings is a much better way to make more plants without disturbing the parent.
How to Divide Lavender Plants
If you wish to attempt dividing lavender, follow these tips:
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Select an overgrown lavender plant that is 3+ years old and declining in vigor. Avoid dividing young, healthy plants.
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Time it right by dividing in early spring as growth resumes or in fall after flowering Avoid summer division
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Prepare for transplanting by watering well before dividing and having pots and potting mix ready. Choose a sheltered spot for the transplants.
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Carefully dig up the entire lavender plant and shake off excess soil, keeping roots intact.
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With a sharp, clean knife, cut the plant into sections, ensuring each division has some roots and stems. Avoid shredding or damaging the roots.
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Plant divisions into pots using sterile potting mix. Gently firm the soil around the roots.
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Shelter transplants, providing shade and frequent watering for 1-2 weeks as they recover from division before gradually exposing them to sun and transplanting outside.
Caring for Divided Lavender Plants
To help divided lavender transplants establish, follow these aftercare tips:
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Shelter divisions in a shaded area at first.
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Use sterile potting mix and clean containers.
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Water frequently but avoid oversaturating the soil.
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Allow several weeks for root recovery before repotting or planting into the garden.
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Gradually harden off the divisions before planting them outside.
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Transplant into the garden into a sunny, well-draining location.
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Water regularly until new transplants are established.
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Avoid fertilizing newly divided plants.
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Watch for signs of transplant shock and provide attentive care.
With diligent aftercare, divided lavender may recover but it takes time. Maintain ideal growing conditions while the transplants establish new roots and shoots.
When to Divide Lavender
Watch for these signs that your overgrown, neglected lavender may benefit from division:
- Lower leaf loss and dieback in the center of the plant
- Less prolific flowering on old plants
- Overgrown, sparse lower foliage
- Woody buildup in old stems near the base
- Dead patches or browning leaves
- Plant collapse and hollowing out in the center
- Congested, cramped growth habit
A mature lavender plant, around 3+ years old, exhibiting these declining symptoms is a candidate for division. This gives the old plant a chance to start over. But cuttings are still a safer method of propagation.
Alternatives to Dividing Lavender
Since lavender division carries risks, consider these safer alternatives:
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Take 3-4 inch stem cuttings in spring or summer and root them in sterile potting mix.
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Start new plants from seed indoors for genetic diversity.
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Layer flexible stems by pinning them to the ground – they will root while still attached and can be separated later.
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Prune out old, woody stems at ground level to encourage fresh growth.
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Grow different lavender varieties so you always have young plants available for cuttings.
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Very carefully transplant small divisions, disturbing the roots as little as possible.
Rather than put the parent plant at risk through division, use these lower stress methods to increase your lavender collection.
Results to Expect From Dividing Lavender
What happens when you divide lavender? Expect:
- High risk of losing the parent plant
- Slow rooting of divided sections
- 50% or less success rate
- Transplant shock symptoms like leaf wilt
- Reduced flowering the first season
- Slower growth rate of divisions
- Smaller size of divided plants
- Potential losses from transplant stress
- Divisions take time to return to mature size
Because of the poor outcomes, most gardeners avoid dividing lavender unless absolutely necessary. Removing a few older stems each year helps rejuvenate plants instead. Take cuttings from healthy lavenders to propagate new ones. Only divide as a last resort to rescue an overgrown, declining shrub.
Can you separate lavender plants? Technically yes, you can divide lavender to rejuvenate old, neglected plants. But the risks often outweigh the benefits. Lavender’s taproot and woody stems make division very difficult. For propagation, cuttings are a much better option than division. Only divide lavender as a last ditch effort to rescue a severely overgrown, declining shrub. Take great care with aftercare of divided transplants to help them recover from the trauma. With TLC, divided lavender may survive, but performance will be compromised that first season after dividing.
Taking Cuttings from Lavender (Layering Method)
- 1. Pick a small, young branch close to the lavender plant’s base. Choose a small branch that is attached to the outside base of the lavender plant for each cutting you want to make. A young branch that can be bent is needed, or a branch that grows flat just above the ground. There are a number of related ways to spread that are called “layering.” This method is easy and doesn’t pose a lot of risk, but it may take a lot of work if you want to make a lot of cuttings. If you want to make dozens of new cuttings from your lavender plant, read these tips.
- 2. Dig a small hole and bury the branch in the middle of it. A 4–6-inch (10–15 cm) hole should be dug in the ground near the mother plant. Put this hole where you can bend the middle of the branch you chose down into it. The leaves and flowers on the end that is above ground should be on the other side of the hole.
- 3 Anchor the branch in place. Use rocks or a bent stake to hold the branch in place so it doesn’t pop out of the hole. Fill in the hole by burying the branch’s middle in soil. Leave the flowering end above ground.
- 4 Keep the buried branch moist. Water the buried part every so often to keep it moist but not soaked. During the summer, make sure the soil doesn’t dry out. While the plant is dormant for the winter, it’s best not to water it. Mulch can help the soil hold on to water, but when it’s hot, it could make plants too hot.
- 5. After at least three months of growth, dig up the branch and cut it off. You can start this process at any time, but the branch might not get strong stems and roots until spring and summer, when plants are growing. After three or four months of growth, preferably when the weather starts to get cool in the fall, carefully dig around the branch that was buried to find roots. If they are there and making the soil stick together, cut the branch off so that all the roots are on the same piece as the flowering end.
- 6 Transplant the cutting as a new lavender plant. Move the cutting directly to its new spot, taking the soil around it with you so as not to hurt the roots. Protect the plant from wind until its roots get stronger, and take care of it like you would any lavender plant.
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While lavender is fragile when it’s divided, if your plant is too large, mostly dead, or flowering less each year, it may be worth the risk to save it. Lavender plants are dormant during the winter, so wait until early spring to divide it. Plan to divide the plant so each new section has at least 3 to 5 growing stems coming up from the root base. Use a shovel to cut apart the root ball into the sections you want. As you prepare to plant your divided plants, dig holes that are twice as wide as the root ball and 12 inches deep. Put some enriched soil in the bottom of the hole, and plant each section in its own spot. Water the plant thoroughly to encourage new roots. For more tips from our Horticulturalist co-author, including how to take cuttings from lavender, keep reading!.
How To Propagate Lavender Cuttings In Just 2 Minutes
FAQ
When can I split my lavender plant?
As for when to split up lavender, the ideal time would be fall or spring.Jan 24, 2023
Can you break off lavender and replant it?
Yes, as long as a lavender plant is in good health, it will grow back after you cut it. If you don’t want to stunt the plant’s growth, don’t cut back more than a third of it at a time.
Does lavender spread on its own?
How far does it tend to spread? Lavender is a small bush that grows 20 to 24 inches tall and wide. Included in the height are the flower stalks. When not in bloom, the leaves may only be a foot high. The plant does not spread as thyme, oregano, and other herbs tend to.
What should not be planted next to lavender?
Heavy feeders: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, and other vegetables or flowers that need rich soil won’t benefit from the soil that lavender needs—and can leave lavender competing for nutrients. Acid-loving plants: Lavender prefers a slightly alkaline to neutral soil pH (around 6.5 to 7.5).
Can you split a lavender plant?
Yes, you can split up lavender plants. It is a relatively easy process, and can be done in a few simple steps. First, you need to dig up the entire plant and separate the root ball into two or more parts. Cut away any dead or unhealthy roots. Next, replant the divided sections in separate pots or in your garden. Can lavender flowers be propagated?
Should you divide a lavender plant?
Rejuvenation: Over time, the center of a lavender plant can become woody and less productive. Dividing the plant allows you to remove this old, woody growth and encourage new, vigorous growth. Propagation: Dividing your lavender plant is a fantastic way to create new plants for free.
Why is dividing lavender so difficult?
Here’s why dividing lavender can be tricky: Lavender has a taproot, so the root system does not readily divide. Established lavender plants often only have 1-2 main woody stems. Dividing the roots and woody stems risks killing the parent plant. Lavender division has a low success rate compared to cuttings.
How do you separate English lavender plants?
This will allow you to have three separate and distinct lavender flowers without having the same flower. Divide the lavender into two sections by cutting off the center two leaves and leaving the remaining leaves alone. If you are unable to identify and separate English lavender plants, there are some tools that will help you do this.
How do you replant a lavender plant?
Transplant into the garden after hardening off. Layering lavender stems – Lavender stems that touch the ground may form roots while still attached to the parent plant. Simply cut these rooted stems and pot up to make new plants. Dividing lavender – Mature, overgrown lavender plants can be divided to rejuvenate them.
Can a lavender plant die after dividing?
Examine the center of the lavender plant. Older lavender plants may begin to die in the center, only producing flowers around the outside. This is one of the few situations in which dividing a lavender plant may be necessary. However, any lavender plant has a significant risk of death following division.