Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Constant yellow leaves on laurel bushes

s7ewgs7ewg Posts: 12
in Problem solving
I keep getting a constant flow of leaves turning yellow On my laurel bushes, there are many lush green leaves but a constant flow of yellow ones too. The plants are watered (not over watered) it’s starting to worry me. Is this a iron deficiency? If so what fertiliser/compost would help?
Thanks!

Posts

  • s7ewgs7ewg Posts: 12

    Thanks!
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited July 2020
    The odd yellow leaf here and there on an evergreen shrub is pretty normal. Older leaves shed over time, and you will see this throughout the year. If the leaves are dull or pale green, may be young emerging leaves that take a few months to mature, or the shrub may need feeding due to lack of water, or even water-logged. 
  • s7ewgs7ewg Posts: 12
    Thanks for the note but the leaves are becoming more and more yellow over time....it’s getting worse. 
    Thanks!
  • s7ewgs7ewg Posts: 12
    I’ve been carefully watering them too
    Thanks!
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I have to say upfront they're my most hated plants, but your specimens look like they haven't had a good trim to become dense and look quite floppy from this photo. Also how close does that lawn get to the roots of them? They'd be better off with a nice broad bed that you could mulch and keep the moisture for longer. Otherwise they're tough plants and should recover in no time. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with @amancalledgeorge ... clear the grass for a wider strip. Then I’d give them a feed of Fish, Blood & Bone then a good watering followed by an organic mulch. 

    I would also reduce their height by half and cut back all sideshoots by one third. 

    Then water regularly and generously, keep the sideshoots trimmed twice a year and stand well back ... 😉 

    This time next year it’ll look like a proper hedge and in two years you’ll be really proud of it. 👍 

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





  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    The grass looks very dry but I would expect to see a lush green area close to where you have watered your laurel. Are you sure that you are really soaking the soil? Sometimes water can just run off, you need to be certain it is sinking in at the roots.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    How long is it since you planted them? If fairly recently, then cut back as described to encourage good growth. It avoids additional stress on them too as they'll struggle to maintain all the top growth while establishing.
    You really can't overwater laurel, and they drop leaves all the time. Nothing to worry about. Loads of water is what they like. 

    The grass needs taken back, as already said, as it'll die off anyway as the laurel grows outwards.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.