Laurel Hedge

[perose]

My daughter had a laurel hedge planted about 2 yrs ago. It has not thrived, it is still very spindly and yellow at the bottoms. It is also shedding some leaves. Advice please!

[carrust]

I'm not sure, but if your soil is alkaline then that might be the problem. Laurels, rhodedenrums etc like acid soils. You can remedy this by top-dressing with ericaceous compost.

[landscaper2]

Possibly planted when the roots were tight and pot bound. If so, it is essential to tease a few roots out and soak the root ball in a bucket or bath before planting. If this isnt done, water will not penetrate into the roots and the plant will sit there just surviving. Dig one up and see if it has made much of a root system.

[May1982]

check out these gardening how-to VIDEOS
I bet you'll find you answer there:
http://www.sutree.com/videos/Garden/125

[timconor]

It will be worth pinching out the main growing tips as this promotes growth at the leaf axils

[showcatbenga]

Your daughter must want a very large thick hedge to take over the garden eventually? Personally other than cheapness I can't think of a good reason to plant laurel when there are so many other beautiful hedging plants. Many of which flower, bear colourful fruit/berries, are evergreen or display variagated or seasonally colour change foliage. Why not give up on the laurel - test the soil, look at some other local hedges that are attractive, growing well & then choose something pretty? Just a suggestion - no offence ment.