Laurel Bushes Leaves Going Yellow/brown After 18 Yrs.in Garden

[laurelleaves9]

My laurel bushes have been in my garden for past 18yrs. always kept lovely dark green leaves. Up to a month or so ago. When we had that last really hardy frost, after a warmish spell. March 2013.
Hope I'm not goin to loose them as they are the only bushes that I hide bird food in and gives them cover against the bigger birds and deer etc.

[mazie]

Could be this....I've put a link below

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_3_bay_laurel4.asp

[coccinelle]

Mine did the same a few years ago but is now all green again. You'll need to prune it and get rid of the brown leaves to tidy it up but it will survive.

[murraymints]

When risk of frost has passed prune back and feed....

[laurelleaves9]

They always get pruned at top twice a year as it forms part of my hedge. What causes this, is it the heavy frost appearing after the milder spell, or the amount of rain we had last summer/autumn? These are the only two things I can think of different to the past 18yrs. Incidentally I have looked at some others in neighbours' gardens in my vicinity and they all appear to be the same. As long as I don't lose them.

[coccinelle]

Mine were hit by a hard frost a few years ago and that caused the problem. This year they're fine.

[rosyrussell]

AS a gardener I have a client with a laurel hedge, and sadly about 50% of them have died this winter as their feet were permanantly waterlogged. The leaves went yellow, wilted and died. Yours could have suffered in the same way, especially if you have clay soil which gets waterlogged in the winter.

[laurelleaves9]

Hi
We are up on top of the Yorkshire Moors with very well drained non-clay soil. I can only assume it's the warm weeks we had followed by a severe frost for a few days. Thanks for all's help.