Portuguese Laurel problem

scaliakevin1985yjkNkV9b · January 2023

Good evening,
I have planted a Portuguese Laurel hedge in November. Three plants seem to be getting thinner and darker leaves that show clear signs of problems

Would it be related to lack of water, ice and snow?

I didn't water them enough the first two weeks after planting but I have been doing well a nice then

Any advice?

Thank you

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/zp/dpzw1go5wjqe.jpeg

Fairygirl · January 2023

I don't understand part of your query - I assume it's a typo, but ice/snow won't have bothered it, unless you're in a seriously icy/snowy part of the country, ie much further north than me.

There seems to be a lot of bricks or a wall or similar there. That can have caused far more of a problem as it can be drier due to the footings.
Good prep of the ground, and very thorough watering are needed for a while, unless you're in a consistently wet part of the country.
What prep did the area have before planting, and were the plants in good condition on planting, ie not root or pot bound?

scaliakevin1985yjkNkV9b · January 2023

I added a soil rich of nutrients before planting them. All plants were bare roots. This might be just weaker.

I will continue to water them and see if they might recover? Hopefully.

Thank you

Fairygirl · January 2023

Don't water unless they actually need it though. There doesn't look like there's much room for them to grow in the site, but it's difficult to tell from the photo. If there isn't good drainage that won't help, so it's important to make sure that's adequate.
Are you in the UK or somewhere else?

scaliakevin1985yjkNkV9b · January 2023

I am based in London.
Each plant has been placed at 40-50cm from eachother. Tomorrow I willnmove the bricks away

Fairygirl · January 2023

The one on the right in the pic looks like a variegated one, whereas the one on the left is just the green variety. Are they all meant to be the same?
It's not the distance between them - it's the proximity of the wall/bricks and what room they have to fill out that matters.

They look fine to me if they've only been in for a couple of months. It'll take them the next six months to establish their root systems before they do any growing, and that's when it's important to ensure they have enough moisture if you live there

bédé · January 2023

scaliakevin1985yjkNkV9b said:
I didn't water them enough the first two weeks after planting

Straight after planting is a critical time. You will find it difficult to recover from that.

scaliakevin1985yjkNkV9b · January 2023

Thank you very much. I also thought it was going to be difficult. Should I take it out then or wait?

dan_delion · January 2023

My experience of growing portuguese laurel is that they are more difficult to get established than the more popular cherry laurel. They are also significantly slower growing. Its easy to forget that colder weather can mean water is harder to absord especially if frosty. So keep them watered but make sure not to saturate the ground. Come march/april you will start to see some new buds and foliage forming, the older foliage and stems will darken over time. hope this helps

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants · January 2023

Can we see more of the hedge, for context.

Fairygirl · January 2023

The thing about watering is - planting any shrub in November is pretty straightforward, because it's naturally damper/wetter, and the days are shorter and cooler, so plants stay damp for a longer period, and need less watering generally. That's why it's an ideal time to plants trees, shrubs and hedging, in particular.
Watering should never be done when it's frosty. If plants are put in when ground is nice and moist, and then there's a frost, they would just be left until that's gone. That's why timing is also important when considering putting a hedge [or any other plant] in the ground. If there are long term frosts in the offing, you would wait.

However - the soil and the prep of the planting space is the major factor. If the site and soil aren't good, it makes it more difficult because they'll need more attention.
I'd agree with @Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants - a wider view would be helpful.

I'm not sure who or what your post at 10.33 refers to @scaliakevin1985yjkNkV9b . Do you mean should you take out the variegated one, or something else?

Portuguese Laurel problem

Posts