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Portuguese Laurel - Brittle Branches :'(

amersattaramersattar Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi,

I am hoping someone can help.

I planted some Portuguese Laurel plants over a year ago, and they have recently developed the brown growth shown at the bottoms of the branch below (pic).

This growth seems to make the branch very brittle, and it snaps with very little force. The growth also seems to be very hard and the branch is not green and healthy inside. 

These spots have spread on numerous plants and the branches also seem to be dying, especially new growth.

Could anyone help?

Thank you in advance.





Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Check out scale insects,  but I think we need to see the whole plant,  it looks like it’s growing in grass, it needs to be looked after a bit when you’ve not long planted them,  ground needs to be clear,  mulch added, a really good watering, but without seeing them it difficult to tell. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • amersattaramersattar Posts: 6
    Hi Lyn,

    Thanks for the help.

    I have spread mulch around (so no weeds), and have kept them well watered. They are partially shaded, not sure if that makes a difference? I have added some further photos to help (cut branches and a live plant). Thanks


     
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Shade is good,  you have an infestation of vine weevil, that’s the little notches on the sides of the leaves, you also have new leaves growing at the top of the branches,   we would need to see the whole plants growing though, not just individual branches.

     If they’re not bad at ground level they may pick up but difficult to tell without the whole picture. 
    If you could stand well back and take an overall photo we may get a better idea. 

    Can you compare those brown things with this picture? These are scale insects,  if it’s those it can be treated but we need to know for sure.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • amersattaramersattar Posts: 6
    Hi Lyn,

    I have had a closer look at the plants. There are definitely no scale insects, the browning is a hardening of the fresh growth. 

    I have taken some more pictures, see below. The brown patches are constricting the new growth as the area becomes hard and the healthy area dies. On the first picture below there is a branch to the left that has snapped.

    Thanks for your help!


  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    On the whole,  I can’t see anything wrong,  they’re just settling in.  You get imperfections in all plants. 
    I think they will need a lot of water though as they’re planted a bit to close to the wall,  but you can’t move then now.
    I’m sure they’ll be fine. They look good specimens.   See how they go later in the year and just keep watering them.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't see anything wrong either, but I'd agree that they're really close to the wall, which can be a very dry site, so make sure they're  thoroughly watered for the next few months especially. If you get very persistent, heavy rain, you can ease up on it, but you need to be vigilant with it . 
    As new wood hardens up on any woody shrub [including hedging plants] it'll darken. 
    The broken stem could simply be from a bird landing on it. Pretty common - just nip that off. 
    I'd make a proper, neat edging along the grass, which will set the hedge off better too.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    May I just add that the ground cover that you have under the bark might stop the young plants from taking up water, either rain or watering manually. Some ground cover is more permeable than others. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree @Uff - I noticed there was some there, but assumed [perhaps wrongly] it would be permeable.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amersattaramersattar Posts: 6
    Thanks all for your assistance.

    The ground cover I believe is permeable but it is something I can remove if it helps the plants get more water.

    It is a very strange issue that impacts the fresh growth but I will try to ensure the plants are watered as much as possible.
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