In the spring, do I cut lavendar to the ground or is it an old growth plant?

Absolutely do not prune lavender! There are two or three varieties but neither one needs pruning. Just let them be and they will take care of themselves and give you ultimate moments of pleasure !

Tick

Not saying that you are wrong tickle, however I have a few lavender plants myself and when left for too long without pruning they grow woody and sparsely leaved with dull grey leaves. After having just pruned mine (very heavily, I have found that light pruning, other than for shaping the plant, does little for it in way of growth or health) it is coming back stronger than ever, it is growing very dense and with nice green leaves. I also found that after a good pruning after its flowering season it comes back the next year with a far greater volume of flowers. Perhaps the difference is that I live in Australia?

I cut off all the dead flowers after the bloom is done. It makes the bush "bushier." you have to trim or prune right after the bloom because if you wait too late in the season it will prevent flowering the next year. Also, I read that you should never trim more than one third of a bush,, so if you have something tall and spindly, you should only cut back the one third each year. I did this with rhodies and it worked. Takes time, but you get them back full and lush. Good luck.