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Laurel Tree Issues - Help!

TheFullMonty👨🏼‍🌾TheFullMonty👨🏼‍🌾 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Is anyone able to tell me what they think the issue is with this laurel tree I recently purchased? A lot of the leaves appear to have small dark red spotting on them, as well as  discoloration on the buds too. From having a look online myself I did think this could be shot hole, but none of the red spots appear to have a yellow ring around them, so I'm left unsure. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Photos of the issue attached.

 

Posts

  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    They look like mine. Never worried me, personally.
    Southampton 
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Ours do that too.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    We had laurels when I lived at home with my parents .They looked like that from time to time ,the leaves replace themselves on a regular basis from what I recall.I wouldn’t be too concerned about it if I was you .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's not uncommon, so don't worry too much @thomas.nisbet 
    If they're well established, and have adequate water, and enough room to grow, they'll recover. All evergreens get damaged foliage, and drop some. They produce more unless there's a major problem somewhere.
    There's plenty of new buds appearing on the stems :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Newly purchased.  They probably suffered a bit of rough handling when transported and planted.  Nothing to worry about.  The damaged leaves will be replaced by new.
     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."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've just noticed you said recently purchased @thomas.nisbet. Have you planted it or is it in a pot? Was it bare root or potted? How big is it?
    Laurels need a good medium and well watered to establish them initially in the ground. In a pot they're reliant on you for that, so need more attention than when planted out. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TheFullMonty👨🏼‍🌾TheFullMonty👨🏼‍🌾 Posts: 2
    Fairygirl said:
    I've just noticed you said recently purchased @thomas.nisbet. Have you planted it or is it in a pot? Was it bare root or potted? How big is it?
    Laurels need a good medium and well watered to establish them initially in the ground. In a pot they're reliant on you for that, so need more attention than when planted out. 

    Thanks all for your comments and reassurance so far.

    @Fairygirl
    I bought 6 of them all in pots with a 10/12cm stem girth at about 3 meters tall in height. Professional tree specialists did the planting into our raised beds and it was these guys that pointed out the potential issue with the trees. The one in my first post was the worse in terms of the red spotting, but some of the other trees also have leaves with holes in them and bits missing, but from what it sounds like on here I shouldn’t worry?

    Here’s a photo of how they look planted in. Note the raised beds connect to the soil at ground level underneath, so hoping the roots should grow through.


  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    They’ll be grand .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They'll be fine if you can get them established successfully.  :)
    You'll have to be very vigilant with watering all this year. Shrubs/trees of that size aren't easy compared with a small plant, even if you're in a very wet area. You can't rely on rainfall as it won't necessarily get into the roots where it's needed, and a raised bed drains more quickly. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    That should block out the neighbours.  But how do you plan to maintain their height and density?  Hand pruning rather than shearing is recommended, as the cut ends will go brown and look untidy.

    Laurels are also the best tree to dampen noise, due to yhe heavy weight of their leaves.
     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."
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