Gardener's clever lavender hack to get a 'perk' from your garden this summer
Summer is the perfect time to take care of your garden - but your lavender could be needing some attention right now. The beautiful smelling plant can transform any garden and make it smell like a spa, but it's important to keep it happy. One keen gardener took to TikTok to share just how you can give your plant some love, and what it may be trying to tell you.
Right now, lavender plants are blooming, and while yours may be looking very lush and purple, it will still need to grow again next year, so looking after it is important.
Gardening warning as cutting back hedges in July 'could land you in jail'
If you want more blooms next year, and some perks to enjoy this year, then you'll want to make sure "you're giving your bush a really good trim", says the TikToker who goes by the name @ View From The Potting Bench. He said now is a great time to cut off those long flowering stems, and not just because it smells good, but because "it keeps the plants tidier and bushier for next year".
If you want your lavender to keep performing, the expert recommended to grab some string and some cutters. He advised: "You first need to make sure that you're not cutting in too deep into the woody stems," and showed an up-close view of a lavender stem.
"If you look closely you've got the green lush growth and then the woody old stems at the bottom which we don't want to cut in to," and said instead, you want to cut one or two inches just above that "woody material still in the fresh new growth".
Once you have cut it, the gardener advised not to throw it away, but instead to hang them somewhere dark for a week or two to let them properly dry out and once dry, can put them in little pouches as a natural air freshner, or under your pillow for a relaxing scent. The expert also recommended crumbling some of the fragrant leaves over a bath with some bath salts and pretend you have your "own little spa day".
He concluded: "So take my advice and cut back your lavender, not just for the health of the plant, but because lavender deserves to be used and not just looked at."
It comes after Michael the Mediterranean Gardener, a TikTok influencer, recently divulged one vital maintenance move you ought to carry out in July, tapping into the 'perfect time' window. Michael explained: "What we're looking for in a candidate for a cutting is a nice, straight, healthy stem that doesn't have any flower buds. We're looking for something that is just starting to harden off."
He instructed users to select an unbudded part of the plant, noting: "If we look down, we can see the change in colour moving from green just going into that slightly woodier colour."
He warning against snipping too far down, warning that it "won't do anything". Instead, "peel away all leaves from the stem apart from a couple at the very top."
Next, take a sharp blade and make a clean cut at the bottom where the leaf nodes are. This is the point on the stem where a leaf or a group of leaves emerges. You can recognise a node on lavender as a slight swelling or bump on the stem, often where leaves are attached.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
TV star Eamonn Holmes, 65, enjoys holiday with bikini-clad lover Katie Alexander, 43, amid marriage split
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TV host Eamonn Holmes enjoys a holiday with lover Katie Alexander in Cyprus — where there have been raging wildfires. The 65-year-old was seen in his electric wheelchair alongside Katie, 43, who wore a white shirt over a black bikini. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Eamonn Holmes enjoys a holiday with lover Katie Alexander in Cyprus — where there have been raging wildfires Credit: Simon Jones 6 Eamonn, 65, was seen in his electric wheelchair alongside Katie, 43, who wore a brown dress 6 Eamonn wore a navy blue shirt while both sported hats in scorching Paphos Credit: Simon Jones Eamonn chose a navy blue shirt while both sported hats in scorching Paphos. Katie was also seen in a brown dress with Eamonn at the resort, where they are staying at a five-star hotel. One tourist said: 'We were blown away to be staying at the same hotel as a star like Eamonn. 'He was in an electric wheelchair, looking very happy and releaxed. 'His partner is really attentive and takes good care of him.' He split from Loose Women host Ruth Langsford, 65, last year. The have previously been on trips together to his native Belfast and a Mediterranean cruise last year. Last week The Sun on Sunday told how the pair had gone through a rocky patch after Eamonn pulled out of plans to buy a house in her native West Yorkshire. Two people have died in the past week after fires tore through Paphos and Limassol. 6 One tourist said: 'We were blown away to be staying at the same hotel as a star like Eamonn' Credit: Simon Jones 6 'He was in an electric wheelchair, looking very happy and relaxed', said the tourist Credit: Simon Jones
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
TV star Eamonn Holmes, 65, enjoys holiday with bikini-clad lover Katie Alexander, 43, amid marriage split
TV host Eamonn Holmes enjoys a holiday with lover Katie Alexander in Cyprus — where there have been raging wildfires. The 65-year-old was seen in his electric wheelchair alongside Katie, 43, who wore a white shirt over a black bikini. 6 6 Eamonn chose a navy blue shirt while both sported hats in scorching Paphos. Katie was also seen in a brown dress with Eamonn at the resort, where they are staying at a five-star hotel. One tourist said: 'We were blown away to be staying at the same hotel as a star like Eamonn. 'He was in an electric wheelchair, looking very happy and releaxed. 'His partner is really attentive and takes good care of him.' He split from Loose Women host Ruth Langsford, 65, last year. The have previously been on trips together to his native Belfast and a Mediterranean cruise last year. Last week The Sun on Sunday told how the pair had gone through a rocky patch after Eamonn pulled out of plans to buy a house in her native West Yorkshire. Two people have died in the past week after fires tore through Paphos and Limassol. Eamonn Holmes whisks his lover Katie Alexander away on sunshine break with her family to Greece 6 6 6
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Absolutely not, immediately no' people cry as man proposes in Nando's with the big question written in mayonnaise
Scroll down for some top tips on how to ace a proposal I DO(N'T) 'Absolutely not, immediately no' people cry as man proposes in Nando's with the big question written in mayonnaise Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN has been slated for his unconventional wedding proposal, after popping the big question to his beau by writing it out in mayonnaise. We all dream of a romantic proposal, with some choosing to take their partner to an exotic location, or share an intimate moment at home. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A man decided to propose to his girlfriend in Nandos Credit: 2 The woman didn't seem to impressed by the proposal Credit: However, one man decided to take a very unique approach to popping the question, after taking his girlfriend out to their local Nando's. Taking to TikTok, Nando's waiter Mal shared a snap of the proposal, which he recorded whilst serving the couple. "POV: When he does the bare minimum proposal at Nando's", Mal said. In the video, Mal can be seen carrying a plate of mayonnaise over to the couple. Written in curly mayo writing is the misspelt phrase: "Will you mary me?" Mal then gave the woman at the table the ring, whilst her partner can be seen smiling and not saying a word, assumedly too shy to pop the question himself. He doesn't stand up, or even get down on one knee, with Mal revealing that his legs "curled round that chair." The waiter said that the woman was left extremely perplexed by the unique proposal, and was unsure how to respond. He said that she sat confused for 10 minutes, before finally saying yes to the proposal. However, he added that they didn't even kiss after agreeing to spend the rest of their lives together, and instead just chose to hug. Love Island stars slam Dejon over 'worst exclusive proposal in show history' "He could have put way more thought into it", Mal critiqued, adding that the man had even turned up late to the proposal. The video, posted to Mal's TikTok account (@micmanmal5), has quickly gone viral, racking up 1.2 million views in just 24 hours. TikTok users raced to the comments section to share their thoughts, with many left unimpressed. One person said: "It literally doesn't cost a thing to get down on one knee and propose. How to ace a proposal Thinking of proposing? Follow this checklist by Fabulous' Deputy Editor Josie Griffiths to ensure a yes… Time it right - the average Brit waits between 18 months and two years to get engaged. But you might feel ready after six months, or decide to wait five plus years to pop the question. Only you truly know when the time's right, and this isn't a decision you want to rush. Falling in love might feel amazing but of course most relationships DON'T end in marriage - and this is for good reason… Pay attention - hopefully you haven't reached the point yet of your frustrated partner leaving their laptop open with 'hints' for rings they like. Ideally you'll want the ring to be a secret, but also something they'd happily wear - and for the rest of their life, so just a TEENY bit of pressure here. You need to be paying attention to any comments your partner makes about other people's rings, what they do and don't like, and what's most important to them - size, clarity, specific details. If you're really unsure, or if your partner hates surprises, it's best to propose with a dummy and then buy the real thing together. Family matters - tradition dictates that you ask the dad's permission for his daughter's hand in marriage, but it's not so straightforward nowadays. Maybe your partner's closer to their step-dad, or wants her mum to walk her down the aisle, in which case you'd be better off chatting to them. Maybe they'd find it weird if you went to their parents first, in which case you could ditch the whole thing. Or perhaps they're closer to their friends and the best idea would be letting your partner's best mate pick the ring. These things do matter and could come back to bite you if handled in the wrong way. Plan the setting - does your partner dread being centre of attention, or are they someone who'd be gutted if you proposed at home, berating you forever for a lack of 'effort'? Plan the place for your perfect proposal - how busy it'll be, whether you'll be able to get a good pic there, and other logistics around it. A proposal at the top of a mountain might sound good in theory but your girlfriend might not actually appreciate it when there's sweat dripping down her forehead and she's not wearing the cute dress she'd imagined for the pictures. Personally, I can't think of anything worse than a public proposal where everyone's waiting to hear your answer - in a group of friends, the middle of a restaurant or with an announcement at an event. So bear all of this in mind and remember, it's meant to be about what THEY want, not you. "You can do it in Nandos, sure, but at least get down on one knee and tell her why you want to marry her." A second person said: "Immediately, no. "The least he could do is stand up." A third said: "Absolutely not." A fourth added: "Gonna be honest here. I would pass him."
