okay to cut some of my lavender at this late date?

Hi,

I'm in zone 5A, so Winter is fast approaching. Some of my lavender has just produced its second bloom and I was thinking of cutting some of the branches to give to a florist friend for her dried herb wreaths, but don't want to jeopardize my plants. Anybody know whether or not cutting the plants back now would make them more vulnerable? They have wintered over just fine for the past four years or so, but I've never cut them back this late before.

McCool. Mine have never bloomed this late in zone 6. But if it's just the bloom stalks you want. I don't see why not. I'd probably not strip it bare tho.
Vickie

I was late cutting off the first blossoms, so that may be why these appeared so late. I wasn't talking about just cutting the flower stalks though. The plants are sprawling out over the driveway and I thought I might be able to cut some of the stems for use in wreaths, but don't want to end up killing the entire plant.

Don't know, mine has'nt spread much yet. Know you don't want to lose the plant. Maybe someone else will answer. Good luck
Vickie

The plant does better if pruned in early spring.

You prune lavender in two phases. In autum you cut off the flower stalks and in early spring you cut the plant back to keep it tidy. But never cut back into the dead wood as there will be no new growth if you do that!

McCool,
I agree with Tuikabouter and edgeoftheworld about cutting back to reshape only in the spring, but in the Fall, when I cut back the second flush of flowers, I do trim the plants slightly. I also take snips here and there right through December for decorative package touches but large wands for wreaths would be pushing your luck a little especially since your one zone colder then me in my opinion.

Thanks for all the answers everyone. Guess I'd better not push my luck.

Thanks from me too. As usual learned more about lavender here too.
Vickie