Can I likewise jump into this discussion? I moved into my house in January and I'm right next to the road. Was supposed to be an established Portuguese laurel hedge but the plants are just over 12 inches high so I found some almost 3 feet one for a fiver each - bargain I thought. I know you are going to say plants are too close together but do I really need to prune? Also you will tell me to lop some off but I am SO clueless can you tell me where I should lop them?
I am not a gardener by any stretch so would be grateful for any advice. Reading this thread, should I ignore the holes and brown leaves?
By the way, the ground is rubbish - clay and rubble. I have been watering regularly and fed with Miracle Grow once. Like the others I am impatient for a thick hedge!
I have left some of the original ones inbetween the newer taller ones!
Please read my previous posts , everything you need to know is in there. But to add to it you need to remove every second plant as they will just be competing for the same water and nutrients if not and there will not be room to establish , at least as quickly as you want them to.
These grow to a few meters wide in two years so that should be a guide as to how far apart they really should be planted. Everyone makes the exact same mistake wanting something that resembles a hedge straight away and plants a nice looking tight row but logically it is insane to do it.
Imagine implanting 20 embryos into a single womb and expecting to get 20 healthy sized babies in 9 months? There is simply not enough room for them to grow and develop and the mother just cannot provide enough nourishment for that many, same rule applies to mother nature.
I would take out the small ones and just cut two inches off the tall ones just to help them root in. Then imagine how wide you foresee your hedge, most people like it at least 3-4 foot so a few inches of ground wont do.
You need to edge out another two feet on either side to allow room for them to bush out and so that you can get the mower along them. Plenty on organic chicken pellets, grass clippings for mulch and water well once a week. If you do not see huge growth within two months you will need to excavate with a hand trowel all the soil on either side and take out any rocks and stones, throw in a few pellets as you fill back in and repeat the process. You will then have a monster hedge in a few months.
That is incorrect information, laurel wont just grow anywhere. It needs the correct environment just like all life.
Mine was in the ground for three years prior to me moving in and it was not able to grow in the ground the way it was. It was close to death.
I have seen many sites around where they are not growing at all year in year out. I have noted them at several shopping estates where they were just thrown into rocky ground and years later they have grown at all. They will however in many cases stay in a dormant stage until some love is thrown there way , alternatively many of them will eventually shrivel up and die, Fact.
If you talk nicely to the adjoining property owners and explain I reckon they would be ok as it would be a mutual benefit otherwise just edge it a bit more on your side but the sooner you do it the better as you will still have a few months of growth. The weather is a bit muggy at the moment but its ideal for growing things, my early potatoes are just ready this year where last year it was the middle of July, even the grape vines are almost there and its normally the end of July before they are ready so try and get started, even just a section at a time, that's how I did mine.
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Can I likewise jump into this discussion?
I moved into my house in January and I'm right next to the road. Was supposed to be an established Portuguese laurel hedge but the plants are just over 12 inches high so I found some almost 3 feet one for a fiver each - bargain I thought. I know you are going to say plants are too close together but do I really need to prune? Also you will tell me to lop some off but I am SO clueless can you tell me where I should lop them?
I am not a gardener by any stretch so would be grateful for any advice. Reading this thread, should I ignore the holes and brown leaves?
By the way, the ground is rubbish - clay and rubble. I have been watering regularly and fed with Miracle Grow once. Like the others I am impatient for a thick hedge!
I have left some of the original ones inbetween the newer taller ones!
Thanks in advance
Last edited: 20 June 2017 17:52:02
Hi,
Please read my previous posts , everything you need to know is in there. But to add to it you need to remove every second plant as they will just be competing for the same water and nutrients if not and there will not be room to establish , at least as quickly as you want them to.
These grow to a few meters wide in two years so that should be a guide as to how far apart they really should be planted. Everyone makes the exact same mistake wanting something that resembles a hedge straight away and plants a nice looking tight row but logically it is insane to do it.
Imagine implanting 20 embryos into a single womb and expecting to get 20 healthy sized babies in 9 months? There is simply not enough room for them to grow and develop and the mother just cannot provide enough nourishment for that many, same rule applies to mother nature.
Not what I wanted to hear but thank you. Do I need to cut back the taller ones? If so how much?
Many thanks
I would take out the small ones and just cut two inches off the tall ones just to help them root in. Then imagine how wide you foresee your hedge, most people like it at least 3-4 foot so a few inches of ground wont do.
You need to edge out another two feet on either side to allow room for them to bush out and so that you can get the mower along them. Plenty on organic chicken pellets, grass clippings for mulch and water well once a week. If you do not see huge growth within two months you will need to excavate with a hand trowel all the soil on either side and take out any rocks and stones, throw in a few pellets as you fill back in and repeat the process. You will then have a monster hedge in a few months.
I think that's a bit OTT, we have them growing out of a dry stone wall.!
Id rather my approach be accused of being OTT with the resulting hedge within 12 months of nobody being able to see ''OTT''
hehe
Each to his own, it's only Laurel, it'll grow anywhere. As ours is.
I can't edge out on the other side of the fence, it's not my land lol. I could make the border wider on my side though.
Funny, I was waiting for it to cool down before I went and took the small ones out, now it's torrential rain lol.
I will do as you suggest as soon as I can.
Thank you both.
That is incorrect information, laurel wont just grow anywhere. It needs the correct environment just like all life.
Mine was in the ground for three years prior to me moving in and it was not able to grow in the ground the way it was. It was close to death.
I have seen many sites around where they are not growing at all year in year out. I have noted them at several shopping estates where they were just thrown into rocky ground and years later they have grown at all. They will however in many cases stay in a dormant stage until some love is thrown there way , alternatively many of them will eventually shrivel up and die, Fact.
If you talk nicely to the adjoining property owners and explain I reckon they would be ok as it would be a mutual benefit otherwise just edge it a bit more on your side but the sooner you do it the better as you will still have a few months of growth. The weather is a bit muggy at the moment but its ideal for growing things, my early potatoes are just ready this year where last year it was the middle of July, even the grape vines are almost there and its normally the end of July before they are ready so try and get started, even just a section at a time, that's how I did mine.
Best of Luck
Many thanks. The other side is a road side verge so I might just snaffle a few extra inches
I'm relieved you told me to only remove 2 inches from the tops of the remaining plants!