For those with green fingers who are keen to keep their thriving, pruning is an essential endeavour. Thankfully, Sarah Johnson, a expert and content editor at British Green Thumb, has spilled the beans on the "correct" way to give your lavender the snip it needs to make to bloom.

Firstly, timing is everything when it comes to pruning these fragrant plants. Sarah's expert advice states: "The best time to prune lavender is late summer, just after the plant has bloomed and the flowers begin to fade, typically around late August to early September."

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She says this period primes the plant for the winter and sets the stage for robust growth when spring arrives.

You could also give your lavender a light trimming in the early spring to tidy it up and get rid of any frost-bitten or damaged sections.

If you're ready to put Sarah's "three key steps" into practice for top-notch pruning, start by arming yourself with the right gear. A pair of clean, sharp secateurs should be your go-to tool, reports .

There's no shortage of high-quality secateurs on the market to make the cut.

Once your secateurs are prepped and poised, it's onto step two, but remember to approach the task with care, going bit by bit.

Heeding Sarah's instructions, aim to trim back "Cut back about one-third of the overall height of the lavender plant. Avoid cutting into the woody base of the plant as this part does not readily sprout new growth."

Next, shape the lavender into a dome-like form, which helps to deflect water from the plant's crown - a vital step in preventing rot in wet areas.

Keen gardeners should also trim away dead flower stems down to the first leaves to "tidy up the plant and encourage extra blooming", permitting.

Additionally, it's crucial to the plant by removing any dead or weak stems, which will improve air circulation around the plant.

According to Sarah, following these tips will help "maintain the health of lavender, promote lush growth, and enhance blooming in the following season".