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

Cherry Laurel - Can it be rescued?

superstrandseu8g5hPz-osuperstrandseu8g5hPz-o Posts: 1
in Plants


Hi everyone, 

I purchased 15 mature 2.5m high monster cherry laurel rootballs to block out a nightmare neighbor.

I realise getting something this mature to take was going to be a risk but I needed immediate results... 

They have been in for 1 year exactly and only 2 have lost all their leaves the rest seem to be doing OK.

As you will see from the photos, the 2 end ones dropped all their leaves, the very end was the worst with brown dead branches. 

I've chopped it right back hard and I'm looking for some advice whether I'm doing the right thing. 

1. Should I continue to chop them both back hard? 
2. Rip them out and replace them a less mature laurel?
3. If they are likely to recover, now being in for 12 months should I furtilize them to get the growth going? 


Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @superstrandseu8g5hPz-o, that is such a pity. I am wondering whether the two end laurels which you say are on the end of the row are getting the full force of any wind?
    The other possibilites are that the ground is somehow contaminated (petrol/oil) or does the car exhaust blow over them?

    I wouldn't cut them any more back or feed them at the moment. Try scratching the bark gently just a little bit near to the base and see if underneath is brown or green. If brown they may well be dead, if green, still alive so water them well and wait to see if you get new growth. If they start growing, then you could give them some fertiliser.

    Large shrubs are always problematic getting established, smaller ones are much easier.
    Hope they do okay.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Don't feed them - that's never a good idea for ailing plants. The problem with trying to establishing large specimens is well documented here:

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/656523/help-needed-please-with-laurel-hedge-issues/p1
    It's a very common problem with laurel- we get masses of queries about them every year on the forum  :)

    They need decent soil and plenty of moisture to establish, even when small, and the site doesn't look ideal for that, especially for large specimens - rain shadow, wind etc, as mentioned. I'd cut my losses with those and get a couple of new, smaller ones. Prep and refresh the soil first though, and make sure they're really well watered for the next 6 months or so, even if you're in a wetter area. A good mulch at the base too ,when the ground's damp.
    Make sure you keep on top of trimming them all - they can get enormous in all directions   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Try to work out what's different about the ones that are struggling - light, moisture, exposure, poor soil? and rectify it if possible before spending money on replacements. It looks as if they're very close to a structure (fence, building? can't tell from the pics) but I can't see whether the others are too. Rain shadow or limited root run because of foundations are possibilities. A picture from further back showing the whole set-up might help people to make suggestions.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @superstrandseu8g5hPz-o I also wondered if a limited root run was the problem but as they had only been planted a year ago I doubted this could be the problem but worth checking as @JennyJ has said.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Sign In or Register to comment.