Lavender Hedge

[ferlew]

I have a beautiful lavender hedge out front, in full sun.
The smell is amazing right now, and it's full of bees.
My problem is, I want to continue to be a bee cafe, but at some stage, I want a harvest for crafting purposes.
What is the optimum time to gather it, without depriving the bees ?
TIA.

[Chipchopper]

If you 'dead head' your lavender flowers after they have faded, you should get a 2nd bloom, which can extend the flowering period.
Spent flower heads will be good to use in lavender sachets etc.

Avoid cutting into old wood when removing the flower stems, as they are less likely to regrow, especially on older plants.

[SlackAlice]

As an aside, have you checked the lavender at night. Try it using a torch, mines covered in moths helping themselves.

Lavender is obviously a 24hr eatery!

[ferlew]

Solved this one by going out yesterday (hoping the bees wouldn't sting me for sharing) and managed to cut two huge bunches of lavender, which is now hanging in the greenhouse.
I just clipped here and there all along the hedge, and you can't even see where I have taken it, plenty left for the wildlife :)

[Baldric]

^^^ That's the way to do it! ^^^

[boxtops]

well done, ferlew, considerate to all! the butterflies like the lavender too.

Although there haven't been many honey bees there have been loads of bumbles this year - firstly on my big sage bush, then on the rambling rose, now the lavender. We like to try to do our bit!

[ferlew]

One thing I have noticed, worryingly, I have not seen a ladybird this year at all, anyone?

[boxtops]

Now you mention it - I saw a couple earlier this year, but not recently. They usually follow the greenfly, and although there were greenfly on the rose earlier, that seems to have vanished too. Perhaps the wet spring has affected them....