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Cherry Laurel Issue

ericsbruceericsbruce Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hi-
We have had a cherry laurel hedge for the past five. We added drip irrigation at the base and they have grown very well over the past five years (12-15’). About two or three weeks ago I noticed one of them was starting to yellow across all of the leaves. Looking at the base of the trunk (picture below), it look like there was some damage. 

We have a male dog that has peed on our bushes previously and kills them in places. I have noticed our dog pee along the fence once or twice to mark the territory. My question is do you think this is related and can dog pee kill a 15 foot tall Cherry Laurel? Or does this look like some other type of disease? 

Thank you! Eric

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited July 2020
    The photo of the trunk is showing damage or some sort of canker, and unfortunately that is the likely entry wound that caused your shrub to die. It will have happened slowly, so I don't think your dog will have caused it.
  • ericsbruceericsbruce Posts: 3
    @Borderline thank you for the reply. I had noticed the canker before, but the leaves only began to yellow within the past 3 weeks. I was thinking the repeated visits by him may have broken it down over time, causing thr canker and the quickly killing thr shrub once it was opened enough.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Oh dear ... that is a dead Cherry laurel. But I agree with @Borderline, it is not your dog’s fault ... something damaged the laurel trunk some time ago and the rot set in. Given the placing of the damage I suspect damage by rabbits or a strimmer. 

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





  • ericsbruceericsbruce Posts: 3
    Thanks @Dovefromabove. Good to hear that it’s not the dog as I don’t want him to just move onto the next one down! I have looked over the others and all of the trunks look fine. 

    Given I noticed the canker sometime ago, is there anything that I can do once I notice an open canker to help the laurel recover in the future if need be?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I don’t know if anything specific to laurels but this has lots of general info and advice 

    https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/fruitarticles/pest-disease/canker.php

    Hope it helps. 😊 

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





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