So, amazingly I have received a message this morning that there are another 6 laurel bushes on offer...
So, do I try digging those out instead and replacing the 'butchered' ones? If so, do I dig 3 feet around and 2 feet under each? More? Less? What should I look for? For example, on the ones I dug up before they each had a stronger 'tap' root which was around an inch in diameter but spread out from the bush horizontally, and as you now I chopped off at around 18 inches.
Should I dig all the root out? Might it be 3 or 4 feet long?
Thanks to everyone for the advice given to Kevin as I was about to try and move some common laurel bushes which are about 6' high to the opposite side of the garden. As they are against a fence the roots probably go into next door, so I think I will leave them where they are!!
Elaine - I moved a very large mature laurel last year. It was well entrenched beside a shed that I had to move and we had an almighty struggle to get it out. It was pruned right back to about 12 -18 inches and I moved it to the front garden near my new hedge to fill a gap to provide a bit of a windbreak. It's now about 3 feet in both directions and I expect it to grow well next year.
If you have the time and energy, they can be successfully moved.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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Thanks all for the advice
So, amazingly I have received a message this morning that there are another 6 laurel bushes on offer...
So, do I try digging those out instead and replacing the 'butchered' ones? If so, do I dig 3 feet around and 2 feet under each? More? Less? What should I look for? For example, on the ones I dug up before they each had a stronger 'tap' root which was around an inch in diameter but spread out from the bush horizontally, and as you now I chopped off at around 18 inches.
Should I dig all the root out? Might it be 3 or 4 feet long?
Thanks all for the advice
Thanks to everyone for the advice given to Kevin as I was about to try and move some common laurel bushes which are about 6' high to the opposite side of the garden. As they are against a fence the roots probably go into next door, so I think I will leave them where they are!!
Elaine C
Elaine - I moved a very large mature laurel last year. It was well entrenched beside a shed that I had to move and we had an almighty struggle to get it out. It was pruned right back to about 12 -18 inches and I moved it to the front garden near my new hedge to fill a gap to provide a bit of a windbreak. It's now about 3 feet in both directions and I expect it to grow well next year.
If you have the time and energy, they can be successfully moved.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
But if Elaine lives anywhere near us in East Anglia, currently experiencing very dry conditions, I wouldn't do it until autumn/early winter.
It's OK for you up there in the land of the constant rain Fg - you can do these things all year round
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
True Dove! Although when I moved them we were experiencing a very dry summer.... hard to believe I know!
Copious watering and a good mulch would help once replanted though - I could always rig up a very long pipeline....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...