Those new pictures highlight powdery mildew and possible fungal leaf spot. As recommended earlier, you need to prune these shrubs down pretty low. They will rejuvenate through the summer and autumn months.
Scrape away the top layer of soil as fallen leaves will re-infect your shrubs. Replenish with new layer of compost or bark mulch. Powdery Mildew thrive in dry conditions, so a mulch and generous watering over the summer should hopefully help them. Avoid watering on leaves when they are already injured. They will just be an entry point for further infection.
Always water from the base and in the late evenings or early mornings to get the most from the watering. Cherry Laurels are pretty tough shrubs. They will recover eventually, even if you don't prune them down, and just keep on top of watering around the base. But, you will need to be patient with seeing shredded and twisted leaves over the summer before new leaves start to form.
Don’t nibble off leaves, but reduce height of whole branches. And I don’t treat the cut ends as it’s now thought to actually make it more likely that you get infections building up under the stuff you put on. What is most important is to cut very cleanly, so sharp secateurs and no raggedy bits.
I recommend you cut the branches that have dried up. It's better for your shrubs, that will help them bush out and re-grow. Also, remove fungal growth from the branches.
I recommend you cut the branches that have dried up. It's better for your shrubs, that will help them bush out and re-grow. Also, remove fungal growth from the branches.
Thank you Felix. When you say remove the fungal growth from the branches - what exactly did you mean - leaves with fungal?? Or something I missed?
I mean prune the branches back, not just leaves. This will limit anything lurking in the branches. Your Cherry Laurel has a number of issues right now. There are signs of Powdery Mildew and also possible shot-hole disease. All sounds a bit serious but not if you mulch your borders and water your shrubs generously if there's very hot weather coupled with weeks without rain.
not sure why you want to save them. They are laurel hedges. Ugly things. If I had to pick any plant to save, laurels would be at the bottom of the list
Posts
Scrape away the top layer of soil as fallen leaves will re-infect your shrubs. Replenish with new layer of compost or bark mulch. Powdery Mildew thrive in dry conditions, so a mulch and generous watering over the summer should hopefully help them. Avoid watering on leaves when they are already injured. They will just be an entry point for further infection.
Always water from the base and in the late evenings or early mornings to get the most from the watering. Cherry Laurels are pretty tough shrubs. They will recover eventually, even if you don't prune them down, and just keep on top of watering around the base. But, you will need to be patient with seeing shredded and twisted leaves over the summer before new leaves start to form.
I will I’ll do some pruning but should it be pruned from leaves or the whole branch.
Also so I read somewhere to apply paint to pruned branches to avoid spread of infection (canker or something). Is that really necessary on my case?