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portugese laurel problem

Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
in Problem solving
Hi have Portugueses laurel Hedge it’s about 18yrs old about 4wks ago started with leaves going brown Grey crispy and dropping it’s got a severe case of powdery mildew also new shoots have it have googled with lots of differing advise not sure what to do don’t want to lose it any advise if anyone has come across this problem would much appreciated  thank you
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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Can we see some photos please?

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





  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27

  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
    Hiya have sent these photos if you can help
  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
    Dovefromabove said:
    Can we see some photos please?

  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
    Please see photos thank you 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Sorry to be a bore 😒 but can we see the bottom of the trunks and the root area as well please?

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





  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
    Yes will do 
  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
    Are these any help thank you 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Thanks 🙏

    They are very close to the fence which will prevent a lot of rain falling on the root area ... it’s called a ‘rain shadow’. 

    Is there a driveway or path alongside them or is it a wide garden border or similar?

    Are they regularly and generously watered? 

    After several years with long dry spells, and another dry spring this year, the soil a few feet down is very dry in some parts of the country and quite a few trees and hedges have been suffering from what looks like the effects of drought. 

    Certainly drought was my initial thought when I first saw your pictures ... it can make hedges and shrubs very susceptible to powdery mildew which is what I think is affecting the leaves. 

    I would give your trees two buckets of water each at least twice a week, poured slowly and gently over the root area so that it soaks into the soil and doesn’t run off, from now until mid September and then start the regime again in mid March. 

    I would also feed the root area now with a slow acting organic fertiliser like Fish, Blood & Bone and then mulch with composted bark or similar, and repeat in March. 

    I hope that helps 😊 

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





  • Carol432Carol432 Posts: 27
    Thank you so much for getting back to me yes they are near to fence (which is next doors)in a 4ft mulched border on the patio they don’t get much in the way of water so what you say does make a lot of sense have given lots of water and blood fish bone will keep it up and refresh the mulch. fingers crossed thank you 
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