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Laurel Hedge
June France
Posts: 6
i have a very long laurel hedge which is about 2meters high and 1,5 meters thick.
Along the length to to the full height there are a lot of yellowish leaves that appear to have been eaten and some of the green leaves are showing the same symptoms.
I am about to reduce the height by approx. half a meter but am concerned about the current appearance. I had a similar problem 2/3years ago where a small patch showed similar symptoms and eventually died back and I had to cut it out. This is beginning to grow back but there are still holes in the hedge where this occurred.
Any advice would be welcome.
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Posts
It sounds like shot hole disease. A fungal problem. The leaves get holes in. My laurel hedge gets this! I assumed it was insect damage at first. I spray mine with fungus fighter. The hedge is a bit yellowy at this time of year.
Thank you for your reply. Do you have any brand names for this fungus fighter?
I have Bayer Fungus Fighter. I usually spray it after pruning as you cut off a lot of the damaged leaves.
Our hedge sounds about the same size as yours and it is hard work. It borders onto a road and last year we cut part of it back drastically as it was obstructing the path. It looks pretty awful but does have shoots coming from old wood. I think it will be years before it looks good again.
I think reducing its height by half a metre will be hard work for you. Would love to know how you get on. J x
As well as using the Fungus Fighter I'd clear any rubbish from the bottom of the hedge and give it a feed with Fish, Blood and Bone according to the directions on the pack. Strong-growing plants succumb less readily to fungal and other attacks.
As for reducing it's height, go ahead, and cut the sides back too - you'll be surprised and how quickly it regrows. Just check that you've no birds nesting in it first - it's a bit late in the season to cut hedges.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.