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Laurel hedge problem

LavandeLavande Posts: 171
in Problem solving
Does anyone know of any particular problem that affects laurel hedges?  Our house has been surrounded by a beautiful one for twenty years and it gives us great privacy plus a lovely green backdrop.  Both ourselves and our neighbours are noticing dead branches appearing on it - an occasional random dead branch in some areas and in others - it would appear that
the whole individual plants have or are dying/died.  When I took the photo of the dried leaves
in summer I thought it was just the heat. The other two were taken today from dead branches.
                                    










Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @Lavande . I expect it may be a combination of very hot weather, drought and probably just old age. Do you feed it at all? It may benefit from a good rake out of the bottom to get rid of old leaves and weeds which may prevent rain from soaking in and a mulch of manure.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • LavandeLavande Posts: 171
    Oh Lizzie thank you ...I would love to think that it needs water and feeding because that's something I can do to remedy it. It has been particularly hot here for two summers in a row. At the same time, if that's the case I feel very bad for having neglected it. No I have never fed it - just taken it for granted but always loved it for the beautiful backdrop it gives the garden and I probably didn't really think about it at all in terms of care other than pruning it every year.  My neighbour has now suggested it may have an insect but I am going to suggest that this year we prune it hard, rake the bottom, mulch it as you suggest and feed it - and see if it improves before we do anything drastic.
    Fingers crossed and thank you!!


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