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Laurels

d.winstanley176d.winstanley176 Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi I have 5 laurels coming on friday all 4 foot or 5 foot ish they have been pruned so that they look like a little tree or standard I think they call them. I'm really not a gardener and have managed to kill a red Robin I paid 150 last year apparently I planted it too deep? Who knew.  I want a nice hedge, my question is how deep do I plant? They are in a pot currently, also how far a gap between each?  We have a compost with feed in it, do I need this blood bone and fish thing? When do I prune and how often as i want them to grow up and out. I have some stakes for them do i put them in after planted? Any advise appreciated :) 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Bumping up to front page 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @d.winstanley176 - if they're that size, the most important thing is to keep them well watered when you plant them. Prep the ground well too before you put them in.
    Are they cherry laurels or the Portuguese ones?

    The distance between them will depend on the eventual size you want them to be. You don't want the 'heads' touching each other too much if you want the shape maintained.
    If the compost you're using has some feed, you probably don't need to add anything. B.F&Bone is an excellent slow release food for all types of plants, which is why it's so widely used  :)
    Plant at the depth they're currently at in their pots. A mulch of bark or just more compost will help retain the moisture too, as it's a difficult time of year to be trying to establish large plants like that. 
    As far as pruning/trimming is concerned, you can do that at almost any time, apart from during frosty/icy/snowy conditions. They'll grow more through spring and summer, so you can trim gently during that time, until you get them the size/shape you want.
    Whether you stake them or not, depends on their location. If it's windy, and angled stake into the prevailing wind, can help prevent them being dislodged while they establish. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • d.winstanley176d.winstanley176 Posts: 6
    Thank you we have 5 that are about 4 foot that have been pruned to look like little trees that I'm wanting to get to 8 9 foot and then one at 7 foot which is more of a shrub shape. So we take them out of the pot and plant so the stem is the same as it would be in the pot? And just cover with a bit of compost? Do we put some compost in the hole and when you say prep the hole do you mean put some water in. The blood and bone feed can we use that even thought the compost has feed in, don't want to over do it, but want to give them a good start. Not sure if cherry or Portuguese? Need to check. What's the difference . God I'm rubbish! Got some plastic stakes ready with ties, they are next to a fence but we do get winds. How often should we water and feed? Keep asking the garden centre but not replying ? So we can cut anytime just not in winter. Really appreciate your advise
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Have you got a border ready for them? You need holes dug a couple of times the size of the pots they're in. Add some compost and mix it with what you take out. Fill that back round them and firm in with your foot. Then add more round that so that the level is the same as it was in the pot. 
    Then water - a bucket for each one. 
    Stakes should be put in at the same time - angled and low down, so that if there's a wind, they are supported by the ties. At that size, I'd get some decent wooden stakes. 

    A seven foot shrub will be hard to keep healthy unless you know what you're doing. They will all be quite difficult at that size and maturity without good care.
    It's difficult to offer more advice without seeing your site etc. 

    Just Google laurels and you 'll see the differences. Cherry laurel is a very bright green and much more substantial than Portuguese laurel.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • d.winstanley176d.winstanley176 Posts: 6
    thank u 
  • d.winstanley176d.winstanley176 Posts: 6
    they now have ants all over them :( any advise on how to get them off safe for the laurals. Cant find the nest :(  have a few traps in the garden but the little blighters are relentless. Seem to have like black dots like eggs? Read ants can suck sap? Will they damage them? Few leaves turned yellow, which i read is under or over watering which was no use at all. I water every other day as per the garden center. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Ants will not damage your laurels ... check for aphids or scale insects ... both of these exude honeydew which they ants will be after. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • d.winstanley176d.winstanley176 Posts: 6
    Ok thank u I will look thank you so much
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