In the summer months, new lavender plants often look their best with vibrant purple flowers and silvery foliage.

However, poor drainage, under-watering, over-watering, extreme temperatures and incorrect pruning can cause older lavenders to eventually turn woody, leggy and unsightly.

A lavender expert from the TikTok account @withinyoufarm, a family-run lavender farm in Pennsylvania, has shared how to keep lavenders "looking amazing year after year" and how to stop them from "turning into a woody mess".

The gardening expert said it's "common" for lavender plants to look good for the first couple of years before becoming "woody and overgrown".

To ensure your lavenders look great year after year, the expert said there are five steps gardeners need to follow.

How to keep lavenders looking their best year after year

1. Prune lavender buds in the first year

In the lavender's first year when the buds start to form, gardeners need to prune them straight away.

While it is tempting to keep the pretty purple flowers in place, it's best to cut them off as soon as possible to help push energy down into the roots instead of into the flowers.

2. Prune lavender aggressively at the end of the growing season

The expert said the most important thing gardeners need to do every single year is prune plants aggressively.

He said: "At the end of the growing season, well before the frost, here we do it in August and early September, is to prune the lavender plants back aggressively.

"So my general rule of thumb is there's kind of a woody centre to lavender, and you want to prune at least three to four inches above that, and then I just kind of shape them into a nice dome, and that's all you have to do for the year and you leave them there until the spring. This is the number one tip is, prune aggressively."

3. Cut back dead sections in spring

In spring, gardeners may notice dead sections in their plants. These need to be cut out to allow the plant to get more airflow before they start to grow.

If this is done correctly, healthy-looking buds will appear in the plant's second year.

4. Cut lavender flowers after blooming to prevent stress

Lavender plants come into their own during the summer months, producing beautiful scented purple flowers.

While it's tempting to leave these on the plants all summer and into autumn, the expert urged gardeners to cut the flowers off towards the end of summer.

Leaving the flowers on the plant for too long can actually "stress out the plant". Removing the spent flower heads can allow the plant to direct more energy into its roots.

5. Prune again

At the end of the year, gardeners will need to prune lavenders again ready for the winter ahead.