What is the purpose of cutting lovage?
There are many reasons in favor of cutting lovage. There are the following among others:
- to stimulate its new growth
- to curb his growth
- to remove flowers and seed heads, as they steal strength
- to harvest the stems and leaves
- to remove diseased plant parts
also read
- How does lovage sowing work?
- The use of lovage: just a soup herb?
- How to overwinter lovage!
Does lovage tolerate cutting well?
Yes, because lovage is extremely robust and willing to survive! Even if you cut the plant down radically to the ground to use all the above-ground parts of the plant, it will sprout again.
And here's what some gardeners report: They cut the lovage - with the intention of removing it completely - to the ground and tried to pull out the roots. That didn't work. After the plant was then pricked several times in the root area with a small hook, you were sure: The lovage is dead. But no result! He's driven out again!
When to cut and how
- in early spring (late February to March) cut back to a hand's width across the ground
- use sharp scissors
- Completely remove dried out and diseased parts of the plant
- cut after flowering in August (if no seed formation is desired)
- cut one last time for harvest in autumn
- for strong main shoots: remove some secondary shoots
Tips & Tricks
If you have several lovage plants, save a plant from pruning and wait for it to bloom and seed. You can harvest the seeds and use them as a condiment. Their taste is even more intense than the leaves.
