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Portuguese laurels turning yellow

s7ewgs7ewg Posts: 12
in Problem solving
I had around 30 Portuguese laurels planted and they aren’t taking well, I dry and water them regularly but some now are turning yellow? They are in a trench dug with fresh top soil….is it the soil or do I just need to saturate them with water? I have bark on top too which I thought would act as a good nutrient….
Thanks!
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  • s7ewgs7ewg Posts: 12

    Thanks!
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Bark isn't a nutrient and maybe it's sucking up the water. A thorough watering once a week is better than a little every day


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited October 2022
    If you put bark on to dry ground it can actually stop the moisture getting through to the roots. If you are watering little and often the roots will grow more to the surface. Watering deeply as @nutcutlet mentions helps the roots to go downwards. I agree once a week and deeply. Use a can and direct straight down to the roots. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Don't fret.  They look alright.  

    A bit of leaf-drop after a move is natural.  It's nature's way to reduce moisture loss. Depending on where you live, I would not water any more until spring.  And only then if it is very dry.  And certainly no fertiliser, make them go and search for it.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    They would benefit from cutting back, which will also reduce water loss while the roots establish.  You might want to look at this thread:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2022
    I'd leave any pruning until next year, RHS guidelines are to prune in late spring or early summer, (Pruning group 8). Your plants don't look too bad to me, many shrubs have suffered from leaf loss this year due to the heat and drought.  Applying diluted seaweed extract to the roots can help plants recover from transplant shock and settle in.  As advised above, I wouldn't apply any fertiliser now, wait until early spring and use blood fish and bone.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @s7ewg I would also be concerned about pruning now. Evergreens are best pruned in early May so that they have a chance to settle and new leaves can mature. At this time of year they will start to regrow where pruned and new leaves could be frost damaged. However I do think in the future things may change especially in the absence of frost. Don't encourage them to grow now feed in spring as @Plantminded has mentioned.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Robin Lane Fox (gardening correspondent, Financial Times):  "the best time to prune is when you are in the mood"
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    bédé said:
    Robin Lane Fox (gardening correspondent, Financial Times):  "the best time to prune is when you are in the mood"
    Depends what mood you're in......
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    bédé said:
    Robin Lane Fox (gardening correspondent, Financial Times):  "the best time to prune is when you are in the mood"


    On recent showing, when City Financiers are in the mood to wield the knife they can be pretty radical ... it seems that this is not the season to go for growth at the expense of the well-being of the whole.  

     ;) 



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





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