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laurel hedge

paulweeks13paulweeks13 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi, wondering if anyone can help. We have a tall mature laurel hedge surrounding are property approx 10 foot high and large parts of the hedge on the road side have died off in the last 6 months (no leaves and no sign of new life) and it does not look like its going to grow back. From what I have researched, I do not think it is powdery mildew or shot blast. The other side of the hedge (garden side) seams to be fine at the moment. I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas of what we could do please or if they have experienced something similar as my garden knowledge is pretty limited so any help would be great! Thanks in advance. 


Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    If possible, try to post a photo of your shrubs. Could be a number of reasons. Cherry Laurels are prone to Shot hole disease which in severe cases, cause leaves to drop off. Drought can be another reason, and can affect evergreen shrubs and sometimes not immediately obvious because it can take nearly a year for leaves to start dropping off.
  • paulweeks13paulweeks13 Posts: 4
    Ah great, thanks for your advice so far. With it being dark outside now, will take a photo tomorrow and send it across. Thanks again. 
  • paulweeks13paulweeks13 Posts: 4




    Hi there please see the images of the outside of the laurel hedge. Two areas that have died off. Any thoughts ? thanks



  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @paulweeks13,

    In the last photo there looks to be some quite dense ivy at the base of the area that's dying. That will be stopping water (and any feed you apply) getting to the laurel at that point.

    Be worth clearing around the bottom of the hedge so there is no competition for your bushes.

    Bee x
    image
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    This might be a daft question, but has anyone had a van or something parked on the pavement with the engine running? We had a similar-looking patch of dieback on our privet hedge last summer, just on the outside, and just where the Virgin media guys had been in the habit of putting their van while installing cables (pavement is very wide at that point). I reckon it was scorched by the hot exhaust. A while after they finished the work, it started growing new leaves from lower down. I have high hopes that it will fill out the scorched area over the next growing season.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • _Silvio__Silvio_ Posts: 14
    Dose that area of road accumulate water/puddle that could be splashed up on to the bush? Salty and polluted puddle water could be a cause from the road?
  • paulweeks13paulweeks13 Posts: 4
    Thanks all for your comment, greatly appreciated. Think the ivy at the bottom of the laurel hedge could be a shout so will try clearing all that this weekend and see if it makes a difference over the next few weeks. Thanks again. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It’ll probably take more than a few weeks to show an improvement. 
    Clearing out weeds/ivy etc, feeding this spring with Fish, Blood & Bone and generous watering through the summer should perk it up ... 🤞 

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





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