Cut lavender for drying

Harvesting lavender for drying is a great way to keep bushes neat and compact, while benefiting from the beautifully scented flower stalks. Cut the flowers just as they mature, when they’re at their most fragrant. The best time is late morning – after the dew has dried but before the sun draws out the essential oils. Use scissors or snips and cut at the base of the stems. Tie several stems into a bunch with twine and hang upside down in a cool, dark, dry place in your home. Use the dried stems in flower arrangements or strip off the dried buds to make sachets. You can also store them in an airtight jar to decorate or flavour cakes.