| Spanish lavender does tend to be a bit more of a sprawling plant than the more common (and hardy) English lavender. Cutting it back now in a zone 8 climate will not hurt it and can encourage stronger, more upright growth, a bushier habit and more profuse blooming next season. Be careful not to overdo, however - do not cut into the woody portions but trim back lightly and you can remove some of the more floppy stems. Also growing it in very lean, almost poor soil and not fertilizing or overwatering will help its growth habit. Interesting you should remark on its fragrance - Spanish lavender is generally considered one of the least fragrant of the lavender species, with an almost piney, antiseptic aroma concentrated in the foliage and not the flower bracts. It was used as a room "freshener" in olden days. |
