A gardening expert has shared some helpful advice for newbie gardeners to help them keep on top of their lavender growing - and how to stop the plant getting "leggy". Ish, a garden designer better known as Gardening with Ish on social media, explained that there's a few tasks you should do to keep your lavender healthy.

When a lavender plant is described as "leggy," it means the plant has developed long, sparse, and often woody stems with fewer leaves and flowers than a healthy, properly pruned plant. Ish explained that it's important to note which type of lavender you're growing in your garden, either English or French. Ish explained that English lavender is usually a bit "hardier" and that it doesn't flower as long as French lavender. In comparison, French lavender will flower for much longer, but isn't as hardy.

Ish then went on to explain that once the flowering finishes, this is the perfect time to prevent the lavender from going 'leggy'. Ish said: "So at the end of summer, you give it something known as a summer prune, where you take the big bunches of it off and cut a really good third of it right down.

"By stunting that growth, it'll develop a thicker side shoot, get nice and bushy, but not tall and leggy, keeping it nice and happy, and no woody bits."

When it comes to making sure your lavender is planted correctly, Ish advised that lavender "loves a full sun border", i.e. the more sun, the better. Ish recommended using a free draining soil for lavender, explaining that it's "crucial" for plant health.

Avoid planting lavender in anything like clay or substances that are too "moggy". Ish said: "Introduce things like grit and sand to increase the drainage and this should absolutely thrive."

Speaking on the issue of watering lavender, Ish explained that the plant really doesn't need a lot of it. One common occurrence he noted is that when people lose their lavender, it's usually down to overwatering.

Ish said: "Most people lose their lavender because they overwater it or water it daily, like most of their plants, and it causes root rot, and the root rote will cause black foliage and it feels all gooey at the top, and that just goes.

"So in order to get the best out of this, keep it in a lightly moist soil and let it dry out in between waters. When it's started, and when it's established, just leave it."

Usually the occasional water and rain can help keep the lavender hydrated. To make sure your lavender has got all of the nutrients it needs, Ish recommended using a "good, healthy" compost.