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Poorly Portuguese laurel hedge

juliahclarkjuliahclark Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I wondered if someone might be able to help. Our portuguese laurel hedge was planted about three years ago, but over the summer, it developed a brown mottled appearance just on one side - there are fresh shoots so it's still alive but they turn mottled as they grow. It seems to be gradually creeping along the hedge, but one side is totally free. Picture of healthy and not-so-healthy for comparision! Would anyone know what this is and and how to treat? Many thanks in advance.

Posts

  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Crikey that does look a bit poorly. I'm wondering if it might be powdery mildew or perhaps insect damage. @wild edges is good with that sort of thing. Perhaps he might pop in later.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's not a shrub I have, but my guess would be that it's had powdery mildew (probably last year) then over winter some of the affected leaves have become frosted and died.
    They're really tough shrubs and mildew is about the only thing that may affect them aside from leaf spot which is not what yours has.

    Mildews are caused by a period of drought then wet usually, and we had plenty of that around here last year.

    If it were mine, I'd see how it looks when Spring arrives.
    Hopefully the dead leaves will fall and your shrub will be fine and you can prune off any diseased/dead/damaged bits.

    As I mention it's not a shrub I have, but if other members have any suggestions I'm sure they'll chip in.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I've only got one but that's what I'd do too @Pete.8. Agree also that they are tough shrubs. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I've had problems with a couple of Portuguese laurels.  Due to drought and probably pruning at the wrong time of year, they suffered from powdery mildew a couple of years ago.  I ended up cutting the trunks to about 18 inches high last summer, one is recovering well with fresh green shoots, the other still has less severe symptoms of powdery mildew.  If your soil is sandy and free draining like mine, it's worth improving it with a mulch of organic matter to help retain moisture during dry spells, plus additional watering, but don't feed until the plants are showing signs of recovery.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Rarely see mildew on them here, but that certainly looks like it. Someone recently posted about theirs - just the same. I think you gave them the same advice @Pete - bit of tidying up of the old foliage, and a general tidy up round the base, and a mulch to give them a boost. Compost or bark is fine. It should then come away again @juliahclark   :)
    The weather's been difficult for lots of plants in the last 18 months or so. Fortunately, P. laurel is tough, so it's rarely bothered for long by anything.
    The lighter soil you have is always going to be more tricky than heavier, clay soil @Plantminded. I was just thinking that all the P. laurel hedges round here are looking really good just now. It's common here for that purpose, and we don't have the problem of not enough water in summer,  which always helps.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • juliahclarkjuliahclark Posts: 2
    Thanks so much everyone, first time asking a question here and everyone has been so helpful! I will follow your fabulous tips and hopefully the Spring will bring some good results. Thanks again! 
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