they do die to the ground, but the dead stalks are protecting the crown of the plant from the damp, so I shear them after the first growth peeks out - could be any day now, could be early april.

the flower stalks are still pungent, and I'll shear them for simmering, then clean up the leafy/woody growth down to 'hedgehog' density, 4" or so ftom the crown.

the rosemary is likely a goner, but I have a sage plant that's survived four more winters than I expected :)

'Perennial' is a botanical description of how a plant behaves in its natural habitat. Grown outside its natural habitat, its behaviour will change.

If you cut one of the 'dead' stems and see some sort of green inside, there's an excellent chance that your lavender will resurrect - green is the colour of life in a plant. If it's brown, it's as dead as a dodo.

I suggest leaving it, wait and see what happens when the weather warms up. Meantime, don't chop it back just yet - there might be life in them thar stems!

Contrary to many, I have problems with lavender surviving if I do more than removing more than any spent flowers and crisp leaves. I wait until I see green before doing a trim. I do grow the large leafed types the munsted's etc. do not surive for me so I treat as annuals.