Lavender Plant Died!

[LynnW]

Last year I planted a Lavender plant. It was in very well draining kinda sandy soil and grew by leaps and bounds! It bloomed and bloomed and bloomed. In fact, in early November it was STILL BLOOMING! We live in Chicago, Il. so Nov. is really COOL! This spring it looked really gray and woody so I cut it back by about 1/3. Its still gray and woody. I think its dead. I am going to put a new plant in and was wondering what I can do to avoid the new one dying over the next winter.

Thanks
Lynn

[Kisal]

My lavender looks rather gray, and it's certainly woody (it's old), but it isn't at all dead. You might want to give it a little more time, unless the branches are brittle and snap when you try to bend them. That would be a good sign that it's dead. JMO.

[LynnW]

I just went out and checked it and the branches do snap off, even the larger branches toward the bottom of the plant. So, guess I'll take the dead one out and put in a new one. What can I do to keep the new one from dying over the winter? Do I need to cover it?

[Kisal]

Try these links. The first suggests growing English lavender, as it is more cold hardy. You might want to consider that as a first step. The second suggests delaying pruning until new growth appears in the spring.

https://www.highcountrygardens.com/library/view/article/497/

https://gardening.about.com/od/maintenance/a/Spring_Pruning_2.htm

[LynnW]

Great articles! Saved them for future. Thank you so much
Blessings
Lynn