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Are my common Laurels dead?

CKskyCKsky Posts: 3

Hi im new to this forum and to gardening for that matter and need some advice. In December I planted ten 4ft rootball laurel plants after doing some research on them. I have been watering them every day except when it rains heavily.  After a couple of months the leaves started turning brown on a couple of plants. Now after the warmer weather most of the plants are bare and only one remains healthy and fully leaved. The stalks still look ok and i dont know if they may still recover. When I planted them i dug a deep wide trench and mixed in plenty of compost. I added Rootgrow to the bottom of the trench, left the hessian sacking on, watered them well and staked them. I then added bark chipping to protect from any frost.

I dont know what has gone wrong but i cant afford to replace them only for it to happen again. Any advice would be appreciated.

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I think you've drowned them image

    They would only have needed watering when you initially planted them.

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



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I would write or phone the company and tell them how many have died.

    They should replace or refund.

    Laurels dont need stakes, or watering once they are planted and have their first soak. Dont feed them. Chop the thin spindly weak growth off the tops of the remaining ones, they may be saved, and get the others replaced.

    Did they not tell you to remove the sacking and soak the roots before planting?

    Just a thought but being along a roadside, has the local doggy or two used them for a loo? 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • CKskyCKsky Posts: 3

    Hi thanks for the replies. To be honest the place i bought them from offered no advice at all, an online retailler. The actions i have taken are all based on information posted in other forums/websites. Specifically to leave the hessian sacking on to help stabalise in wind, to stake against wind until the roots have established and to water every day for the first year. It is also possilbe that dogs might have watered them.

    So the conclusion is that they are definately dead then. An expensive £280 mistake image

    Will have to concider my next move carefully, might have to avoid plants if i cant even get hardy laurels to grow.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    They're not all dead and they're too close together. Take out the dead ones and see what you've got left. They won't look so depressing with the dead ones gone. Laurels are big plants



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • WintersongWintersong Posts: 2,436

    Nut's bang on, laurels get enormous even when clipped, which takes effort because hedge trimmers tear up the leaves and leave brown bits so many prefer to do it by hand image

    Good luck 

  • CKskyCKsky Posts: 3

    Hi Tetley

    I tried what you suggested by scratching the stem of the worst looking plant(second from left in above photo) and it is a healthy green. What action if any would you suggest based on this? Thank you.

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    They're still green for some time after there's no hope of life. A long miserable struggle for a few signs of life won't make a hedge. If that one has only dead leaves it's had it. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DorsetUKDorsetUK Posts: 441

    At that price you wuz definitely robbed, added to the daft instructions later, you've been very badly treated all round.  Don't despair though, this forum does know what it's talking about so hang on in there and cross your fingers.

    ps Laurel grows like a weed round here, originally planted as part of a large estate it now forms huge trees in places along with Juniper

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    try to get the money back if you can, or at least replacements, I cant believe they cost 28.00 each!

    You would do best to chuck out the dead ones then buy these as a replacement ( if the company wont reimburse that is) 

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prunus-Rotundifolia-Hedging-Plants-Supplied/dp/B00U19DPQ6/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1432412730&sr=8-10&keywords=laurel+hedge

    On planting, cut a good 6 inches off the tops, and cut all those whippy bits off the original trees,  that will kick start the rots into strong growth.

     As Tetley says, get the sacking off so the roots can spread

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Bearded Iris2 wrote (see)

    Matt. Can you provide some more info.  From the pic's it suggests lack of moisture but I fear that more is involved.

    As something of an in between measure.  Leave well alone apart fro making sure the plant is watered.  Please DON'T go applying loads of feeds etc,  NEVER FEED A SICK PLANT.  If need be. Let it carry on. Next season might prove that nothing is wrong.

     

    Bearded Iris2 wrote (see)

    In tune with Lyn.  Whether or not you have the receipt, get back to the supplier.  A word of advice.  Most garden centres now offer a two or three guarantee on their potted plants.  Take advantage of this.

    Told you many times, do not mention my name on here, you are not and never will be, in tune with me!

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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