Lavender plants can turn grey unless gardeners ‘take prompt action’

Lavenders are easy to grow, flower in late spring and summer and come in a plethora of hardy varieties. Lavender leaves and flowers can also be used for drying and can then be put in drawers to scent clothes. Despite being relatively easy to care for, lavenders can suffer from root rot and fungal infections.Luckily, fans of cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch, whose full name is Sophie Hinchliffe, have shared their advice for grey lavenders.The cleaning and lifestyle influencer has more than 4.5 million followers on Instagram and often shares her garden and home tips online.Fans of hers have taken to social media in recent years to share their own hacks for solving common household problems.On one such group, Facebook user Julie Burden asked: ‘French lavender. I have two trees which are turning grey.’Google says it’s over-watered and to check roots, as they hardly need any water. But I’ve checked the roots (which look fine) and the soil is dry so definitely not soggy as expected. What could it be?’READ MORE: Simple remedies to prevent black mould around windows ‘Common’ reason why your lavender is turning grey – gardeners must ‘take prompt action’ (Image: GETTY)The post was inundated with responses but the most common piece of advice was that this is ‘normal’ for the plant at this time of year.Carole Blackmur said: ‘Nothing wrong with it. Lavender turns grey this time of year, with a different level of sunlight. They will turn green later in the year, towards spring.’Gillian Smith commented: ‘Normal for lavender – they like to be quite dry too.’Dawn Quinn and Kim Jane Wootton replied to the post: ‘Mine’s like this too.’However, some experts claim a lavender turning grey could be a common sign of an unhappy plant.Reasons your lavender plant might be turning grey:Fungal infectionLavenders are prone to fungal infections which can eventually lead to the decline and eventual death of the plant.One specific fungus that affects lavender is botrytis which thrives in moist conditions.Lavenders with a fungal infection are usually infected from the lower leaves of the plant.DON’T MISS’Cheaper’ time to run washing machines to save money on laundry [INSIGHT]ITV News At Ten’s Tom Bradbury’s quiet life in rural Hampshire town [UPDATE]’Golden rule’ for pruning lavender before winter – what to ‘never’ do [ANALYSIS] Gardening planner (Image: EXPRESS)To check whether the plant is underwatered, put a pencil or stick in the soil. If it is dry all the way through, the soil is dehydrated.Incorrect pot sizeA pot that is too small can cramp the roots of the lavender while a too-large pot will make access to water and nutrients difficult.The plant may need repotting if the roots are circling around the bottom of the pot or if the roots are dense.Not pruningA grey plant could be a sign that it hasn’t been pruned and deadheaded enough throughout the year.Lavenders need pruning twice a year. If they are not the stem and foliage will turn grey.In the long term, this could lead to a woody stem. Pruning plants is extremely important for their health.