How To Remove Lavender Plants

To remove lavender plants, you’ll want to dig them out by the roots because that’s the only way to make sure they don’t grow back.
 
Lavender is a tough, woody perennial, and simply cutting it down won’t kill it.
 
If you’ve been staring at an overgrown lavender bush and wondering how to remove lavender plants for good, you’re in the right place.
 
The good news is that removing lavender plants is totally doable, even if they’ve been sitting in the same spot for years.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to remove lavender plants safely, what tools you’ll need, and how to keep them from creeping back.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Why You Might Need to Remove Lavender Plants

There are plenty of reasons folks decide to remove lavender plants from their garden.
 
Maybe your lavender has turned woody and leggy and just isn’t blooming the way it used to.
 
Or perhaps you’re redesigning a garden bed and need to remove lavender plants to make room for something new.
 
Sometimes lavender spreads wider than expected, and you have to remove lavender plants that are crowding their neighbors.
 
Other times, the plant has died back after a harsh winter, and you need to remove lavender plants that are past saving.
 
Whatever your reason, the approach for how to remove lavender plants stays pretty much the same.
 

How to Remove Lavender Plants Step by Step

Learning how to remove lavender plants isn’t complicated, but it does take a bit of elbow grease.
 
Here’s the process broken down.
 

1. Water the Soil First

Before you remove lavender plants, give the ground a good soak a day or two ahead of time.
 
Soft, moist soil makes it way easier to remove lavender plants without snapping the roots.
 
If you’re dealing with dry, hard clay, watering first can save you a serious headache.
 

2. Cut Back the Foliage

Use pruning shears to cut the plant down to about six inches above the ground.
 
This makes it easier to see what you’re doing when you remove lavender plants.
 
It also gives you less greenery to wrestle with while you dig.
 

3. Dig Around the Root Ball

Lavender has a fibrous root system that can spread quite wide.
 
Take a spade or garden fork and dig a circle about eight to ten inches out from the base.
 
Work the tool down deep to loosen the soil all the way around the plant.
 
This step is the real trick when you want to remove lavender plants cleanly.
 

4. Lift the Plant Out

Once the soil is loose, grab the base of the plant and rock it back and forth.
 
Push the spade under the root ball and lever it upward.
 
You may need to work from a couple of angles to remove lavender plants with all their roots intact.
 
Don’t yank too hard, or you’ll leave root pieces behind.
 

5. Sift Through the Soil for Leftover Roots

After you remove lavender plants, go back through the hole with your hands or a fork.
 
Any root fragments left behind can sprout again, so pick them out carefully.
 
This extra minute of effort makes a big difference in whether lavender comes back.
 

Tips to Keep Lavender From Coming Back

Once you remove lavender plants, the last thing you want is new growth popping up.
 
Here’s how to make sure they stay gone.
 

1. Don’t Just Cut and Leave Stumps

Cutting lavender to the ground won’t kill it.
 
If you only chop the top and skip the roots, the plant will bounce right back.
 
To truly remove lavender plants, the roots have to come out.
 

2. Watch for Self-Seeding

Lavender drops seeds, and those seeds can sprout into new plants nearby.
 
After you remove lavender plants, keep an eye on the surrounding area for little seedlings.
 
Pull them while they’re small and easy to remove.
 

3. Mulch or Replant the Area

Bare soil invites weeds and stray lavender seeds to take hold.
 
Cover the spot with mulch or plant something new right away.
 
This simple step helps ensure the lavender you worked to remove stays gone.
 

4. Consider Solarization for Stubborn Patches

If you’ve tried to remove lavender plants and they keep returning, solarization can help.
 
Lay clear plastic over the area and let the sun bake the soil for a few weeks.
 
The heat kills leftover roots and seeds so you can finally remove lavender plants for good.
 

So, How Do You Remove Lavender Plants?

You remove lavender plants by digging them out at the roots, not by cutting them down.
 
Water the soil, cut back the foliage, dig wide and deep, and lift the whole root ball out.
 
Then sift the soil for leftover roots and cover the spot with mulch or new plants.
 
Follow those steps and you’ll successfully remove lavender plants without a never-ending battle.
 
Hope this post has helped you understand exactly how to remove lavender plants from your garden for good.