If your lavender plant is looking a bit sad and woody, then it's likely it needs pruning.

However, there are certain rules gardeners need to follow when it comes to pruning lavenders as the plant could die.

The Mediterranean Gardener, who has more than 218,000 followers on Instagram, posted a short on YouTube describing how to prune lavender plants in spring.

The gardening expert said those who missed pruning their lavenders in late summer could instead prune them in mid to late spring.

He also said now is the "perfect time" to prune lavenders if your plant is looking untidy or frost-damaged.

He said: "No one wants lavender that's gone leggy or twiggy because you didn't prune in the right way at the right time.

"You can prune lavender as hard as you like, as long as you're not cutting into old wood and you leave some new growth beneath the cutting."

The Mediterranean Gardener then showed viewers exactly where they should be cutting their lavenders.

Gardeners should be able to see the difference between the old wood and the new wood.

The old wood will be brown with almost white foliage. The new growth will be bright green.

Gardeners need to avoid the old wood when they're pruning and concentrate on the new growth.

The plant expert suggested chopping just above the old wood in the new growth.

If you do accidentally cut into old wood, that area may not re-grow which means you could end up losing the plant.

If you're not sure, stay well within that new growth when you're pruning.

The expert added: "Pruning in spring will delay flowering slightly but in the end, you're going to get a better-shaped bush that will last longer."