Reports in the past 24 hours suggested that the UK had recorded its biggest ever wave, at Penzance in Cornwall. It later turned out to be an anomaly. But how do you measure the height of a wave, asks Tom Heyden.
Trim away dead or damaged parts in spring. If you live in a place with heavy snows and harsh weather, your lavender bush is likely to lose a few branches over the winter. Examine the shrub in early spring, before it begins producing new shoots. Remove any broken or rotting branches to make way for new growth.
Refrain from pruning or mowing down dying lavender foliage and flowers at the end of the season in the fall. The dying foliage will serve as part of a blanket and mulching system to protect the plants over the winter and allow them to awaken in the spring and perform without delay or injury.