What To Do With Lavender After Flowering

After your lavender has finished flowering, the best thing to do is deadhead the spent blooms to encourage a second flush of flowers and keep the plant looking tidy.
 
But that’s just the beginning of what you can do with lavender after flowering.
 
If you’re wondering what to do with lavender after flowering, you’ve come to the right place because there’s so much more you can do beyond simple deadheading.
 
Lavender is one of those generous plants that keeps on giving, even after those gorgeous purple spikes fade away.
 
In this post, we’ll explore exactly what to do with lavender after flowering, from pruning techniques to creative uses for those faded blooms.
 
Let’s get into it.
 

What to Do With Lavender After Flowering: The Essentials

When lavender finishes flowering, you have several options depending on what you want to achieve, and knowing what to do with lavender after flowering starts with understanding the plant’s needs.
 

1. Deadhead the Spent Blooms

Deadheading is the first thing to do with lavender after flowering, and it’s the simplest task of all.
 
Simply snip off the faded flower spikes with a pair of sharp snips or even your fingers if the stems are soft enough.
 
This redirects the plant’s energy away from seed production and back into new growth.
 
And here’s the bonus: many lavender varieties will reward you with a second, lighter flush of flowers later in the season.
 
Just make sure you cut back to the first set of leaves rather than into the woody stem, because lavender doesn’t reliably regrow from old wood.
 

2. Give It a Light Prune

After flowering is actually one of the best times to prune lavender, especially for English varieties.
 
Once those blooms are done, trim the plant back by about a third, shaping it into a nice dome.
 
Again, avoid cutting into the leafless woody base, because that’s the part of the plant that won’t sprout again.
 
A good rule for what to do with lavender after flowering is to trim just above where the green growth begins.
 
This keeps the plant compact, prevents it from getting leggy, and improves airflow, which helps ward off fungal issues.
 

3. Skip Pruning If Winter Is Close

If you garden in a cold climate, you might want to hold off on hard pruning after flowering.
 
Pruning stimulates fresh soft growth, and if that new growth arrives too late in the season, frost can damage it.
 
In that case, simply deadhead and wait until early spring to do the main prune.
 
So what to do with lavender after flowering really depends on your climate and the time of year.
 

Creative Uses for Lavender After Flowering

One of the most rewarding answers to what to do with lavender after flowering is to actually use those faded blooms instead of tossing them.
 

1. Dry the Flowers for Sachets

Harvest the flower spikes just as the buds open or even after they’ve faded, then bundle them with twine and hang them upside down in a dark, dry spot.
 
Once dried, strip the buds and sew them into little sachets for drawers, closets, or your car.
 
This is a classic way to enjoy lavender after flowering long after the garden has gone quiet.
 

2. Make Lavender Oil or Vinegar

You can also infuse dried lavender buds into carrier oils like olive or jojoba for a soothing massage oil.
 
Or steep them in white vinegar to create a natural, fragrant cleaning spray.
 
Both are simple, practical things to do with lavender after flowering that turn spent blooms into something useful.
 

3. Add Them to Bath Salts or Potpourri

Crumbled dried lavender mixed with Epsom salts and a few drops of lavender essential oil makes a lovely bath soak.
 
You can also blend the dried buds with other dried flowers and spices for a homemade potpourri.
 
It’s a charming way to keep enjoying lavender after flowering all year round.
 

4. Use Them in Cooking

Culinary lavender is safe to eat, so you can add a pinch of dried buds to shortbread, honey, or lemonade.
 
Just be sure your lavender hasn’t been treated with pesticides, and use it sparingly because the flavor is potent.
 

Common Mistakes to Avoid After Lavender Flowers

Knowing what to do with lavender after flowering also means knowing what not to do.
 

1. Cutting Into Old Wood

Never prune lavender back into the thick, woody, leafless base.
 
Unlike many shrubs, lavender rarely produces new shoots from old wood, so aggressive cuts there can leave permanent gaps.
 

2. Overwatering After Blooming

Lavender hates soggy roots, and after flowering it needs even less water.
 
Let the soil dry out between waterings, and make sure it drains well, especially if you live somewhere humid.
 

3. Leaving Spent Blooms Too Long

If you leave faded flowers on the plant for weeks, they’ll set seed and the plant will put its energy there instead of into next year’s growth.
 
So don’t procrastinate on what to do with lavender after flowering, get out there and snip those spent spikes.
 

So, What to Do With Lavender After Flowering?

What to do with lavender after flowering comes down to a few simple steps: deadhead the spent blooms, give the plant a light prune (climate permitting), and then get creative with those faded flowers.
 
You can dry them for sachets, infuse them into oils and vinegars, or scatter them into bath salts and potpourri.
 
Just avoid cutting into old wood and don’t overwater, and your lavender will thank you with another beautiful season next year.
 
Hope this post has helped you figure out exactly what to do with lavender after flowering so you can enjoy every last bloom.