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Cherry Laurel hedge loosing leaves

whittaker729whittaker729 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi help! My Laurel hedge has lost most of its leaves whilst we were away last week. The fallen leaves have not changed colour they are green and so are the few remaining on the plants. The hedge has been planted over 2 years now and we have not had this problem before. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated 
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  • whittaker729whittaker729 Posts: 5

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It doesn't look like a very hospitable site where they're planted. There seems to be a lot of leaf litter etc too. If they're restricted by the ground round about them, it's difficult for them to thrive, and often, shrubs, trees and hedges can be struggling  for a while but it hasn't been obvious. They shed foliage to preserve what moisture they can access to stay alive.
    Laurel of any kind needs good access to moisture, even established plants. It's perfectly normal for evergreens to drop foliage at various times of year, but it shouldn't look like that. 
    Has it been trimmed at any point? What is the soil like at the base? 

    It would probably benefit from a good hack back, a tidy round the base, loads of water and a mulch of bark or similar. They need very little apart from that  :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • whittaker729whittaker729 Posts: 5
    Thank you. We do try to keep the ground at the base clear from weeds. And we do water regularly as required depending on the weather. We were not sure if it could possibly be due to someone applying weed killer. The land at the rear of our property is not maintained and the owner is not a very nice person. We wouldn’t be surprised if they have tried to damage the hedge while we were away. Just hoping that this isn’t the case. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited September 2021
    Ah - I hope that isn't the case then @whittaker729 :/
    Did they know you were away?

    I turned your pic - I could see that the ground looked really bad - in beyond the hedge

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    The shrub does not look like a Cherry Laurel but Griselinia Littoralis. Two years in, and they are still very vulnerable to water stress, wind and even heavy rain. There seems to be a lot of stringy growth in and around the base of the shrub. You may have a number or weeds growing around which over time have weakened the shrubs. I would lightly prune them and water thoroughly and look to mulching around the base once you have weeded out the competition.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's funny you saying it looks like Griselinia @Borderline - I didn't think it looked like cherry laurel once I turned the photo! I thought it could be one of the other types though. 
    I think you're spot on though.  :)
     
    Do you think that looks like weed killer damage? I'm not sure it does. 
    I still think it's stress - and certainly all the stuff at the foot of it isn't helping. 


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    edited September 2021
    Yeah, I’m not sure that’s cherry laurel but either way it’s likely that being wedged in between the gravel and the tarmac behind it.  Water and mulch?

    I would not suspect a random person applying weed killer, as there is no reason to think that.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    It's hard to tell whether it is weed killer damage, but looking at the leaf drop, it's more likely water stress or even possibly damage from an animal.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That was my thought too @Borderline - the lack of water. 
    I didn't consider animal damage though - looks quite a considerable distance though.  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • whittaker729whittaker729 Posts: 5
    Thanks everyone. I will cut it back and water daily if no rain. Fingers crossed it survives. 
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