But when incorrectly pruned, they can become woody, unruly ... the likeliness of hardening lavender stems. Amend the soil, avoiding clay. Add sand and small rocks to the soil before planting ...

Aim to snip off any old flower stalks and just 2.5cm of leaf growth – and keep an eye out for frost damage but remember not to cut back too far into the woody stems, or fresh growth might not ...