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repositioned Laurels are dying

sumerjitsumerjit Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Due to landscaping I have had to reposition my 8ft Laurel bushes but sadly the leaves, which were lush, green and healthy, have now turned yellow and all the bushes look like they are dying. My garden has clay soil but this didn't prevent the Laurels from growing fine as I've always tried to follow advice - all I have done is repositioned them in the same garden, used chicken pellet fertiliser and good compost but the Laurels no longer look healthy and are dying. 
Can anyone help me with advice please?

Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    I would have cut them back by about two thirds to reduce the workload on the roots. I assume that they were transplanted with a big rootball, must have been quite a big job.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Hi and welcome to the forum.
    It would help if you could post a photo of the stricken laurels but in the meantime, 8 foot plants are not easy to move as you will probably not get the entire root system out of the ground and then into the new planting hole. When moving shrubs it is always a good idea to cut them back so that the plant has a chance to recover without having to support foliage that was formerly dependent on a much large root system. They also need watering a lot until they are established.

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    They also need a lot of water after transplanting.
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  • sumerjitsumerjit Posts: 3
    Ceres said:
    Hi and welcome to the forum.
    It would help if you could post a photo of the stricken laurels but in the meantime, 8 foot plants are not easy to move as you will probably not get the entire root system out of the ground and then into the new planting hole. When moving shrubs it is always a good idea to cut them back so that the plant has a chance to recover without having to support foliage that was formerly dependent on a much large root system. They also need watering a lot until they are established.

    Thank you :)

    Here are some pictures... the soil appears to be dry but when I poke my fingers in the soils, it's very damp so I don't think it's due to underwatering...

    Based on feedback should i cut them back? Sorry by 'cut back' do you mean cutting the height of the try by a third?

    Thank you very much for the guidance.


  • sumerjitsumerjit Posts: 3
    steephill said:
    I would have cut them back by about two thirds to reduce the workload on the roots. I assume that they were transplanted with a big rootball, must have been quite a big job.
    Yes it was a nightmare! It's such a shame they were so healthy but not anymore...

    sorry can I just check, when you say to cut them back about two thirds, do you mean in terms of height?
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Yes, reduce the height by 2/3rds. Sounds drastic but all that top growth was powered by a bigger root system which now needs to be rebuilt. Cutting them back will rebalance the plants and then you will get good growth again. Laurels are tough plants and yours don't look too bad despite the setback they have had.
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