Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Laurel Plants not doing well.

gacy567gacy567 Posts: 3
edited January 2023 in Plants
I planted a row of laurel plants in April 2022 along a newly refurbished wall.  The plants were bought from a reputable garden centre outlet at approximate heights of about 30 centimeters. 
I have included some photographs to show my problem. The laurels are growing at different rates. Some as in the photographs are not doing so well and haven't grown much and are looking quite sparce (last two pictures)
I regularly water and added bone meal and fertiliser when planted.I feel I'm doing something wrong.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    Relax.  They're doing just fine.

    Plants react differently to different soil, different microclimate.  Considering they were only 30cm when you bought them, they have done well


     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."
  • gacy567gacy567 Posts: 3
    bédé said:
    Relax.  They're doing just fine.

    Plants react differently to different soil, different microclimate.  Considering they were only 30cm when you bought them, they have done well


    Thank you for your reply. I'm just worried the five plants in the last two pictures arent growing well. 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Less well than the others, but still well.
     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."
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    All the initial growing has to go on underground … without a well-established root system the plant cannot support new top growth. 😊 

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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The two end ones look ok, but those 'middle three' don't look great, considering how well all the others are doing. Laurel usually establishes very well in the first year, compared to many shrubs, if the conditions are right. They'll not grow at exactly the same rate, but all the others look grand, and just as you would expect. 
    What prep did the area have before planting? That section might be much drier - wall footings could be playing a part. They're also very close to the wall, and that can be drier anyway, depending on aspect.
    I don't think you're necessarily doing anything wrong - those slower ones might have been poorer to start with - a bit pot bound perhaps. They may well come away fine this year   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Of course, in many areas last summer was an exceptionally tough time for newly planted shrubs. 

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





  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    There may be a difference in the soil beneath that area where your five plants aren't doing as well as the others - an underground water pipe, builder's rubble or a bed of rock/clay making the conditions less favourable for nutrient availability and water retention.  As long as you are keeping them well watered in dry spells, give them time and they should flourish - they are tough plants.  You could also consider giving the other plants a light prune towards the end of next month to encourage them to become bushier - the height difference with the smaller plants won't be so obvious for a while.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Just wondering whether your chippings (limestone?) might be affecting them. I'm not sure what type of soil you have underneath but they do say that Cherry Laurel is best avoided in alkaline soil. Having said that, some of your plants appear to be happy enough.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • gacy567gacy567 Posts: 3
    LunarSea said:
    Just wondering whether your chippings (limestone?) might be affecting them. I'm not sure what type of soil you have underneath but they do say that Cherry Laurel is best avoided in alkaline soil. Having said that, some of your plants appear to be happy enough.
    Yes it confuses me to be honest. Underneath the stones are membrane to stop weeds. I had though about opening the soil base around the plants for exposure.
Sign In or Register to comment.