This is a project that adheres to the philosophy of waste not, want not. After pruning your lavender plant, why not put the stems to good use? These dried lavender bundles help get winter fires started and sweeten the air.
Materials
- Dried Lavender Stems
- Raffia
- Gift wrapping tissue cut into strips
- Paper clip
Instructions
- Gather lavender stems in a bundle.
- Wrap a tissue strip around the middle of the bundle. Use a paper clip to temporarily hold the strip in place.
- Wind raffia around the tissue strip and tie to secure. Remove the paper clip.
- When you are ready to start a fire, place the lavender bundle between the logs in your fireplace. Fire can be a fickle mistress, so be sure to use caution and common sense when lighting the lavender bundle.
Good to Know: Pruning Lavender
Lavender benefits from a light pruning every year to keep the plants full and bushy, which means more leaves and blooms to harvest. You can cut the plant back in spring, summer or very early fall. I generally do this task right after the flowers fade because it will help promote new bloom. If you cut your plant back in fall, be sure to give yourself time before the first hard freeze. Cold temperatures will kill resulting new growth. Remove about a third of the height of the plant. Avoid pruning back into woody stems where there aren’t any leaves growing because the stem won’t survive.
