Hi,
three years ago, we had a hedge planted along a total length of about 40 meters (130 feet) using Caucasian laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Caucasica') from a nursery. The plants were about 150-160 cm (59-63 inches) tall at that time.
We water the hedge during extended heatwaves and also regularly fertilize, prune, and care for the plants.
Still, the hedge loses almost all its leaves every year around April/May. Even many new small leaves turn yellow and fall off within a few days. This is quite frustrating because after three years, the hedge is still not dense due to the repeated leaf loss, which almost always happens between April and May.
I have read about possible causes online, but there are many different explanations listed—from underwatering to frost damage, or too little/too much fertilizer, and so on.
Our soil is relatively loose, meaning it’s more of a gravelly base. We have about 15 cm (6 inches) of humus, and underneath it is very rocky, with gravel and sand.
So, waterlogging is certainly not an issue (which the plants dislike). I make sure to water the hedge properly at least once a week and fertilize it twice a year. I’m honestly quite puzzled about what the cause could be. I know it’s difficult to diagnose from a distance, but maybe someone has had a similar problem and can offer advice or tips.
Thank you for any possible help.
Greetings from Lower Austria.
three years ago, we had a hedge planted along a total length of about 40 meters (130 feet) using Caucasian laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Caucasica') from a nursery. The plants were about 150-160 cm (59-63 inches) tall at that time.
We water the hedge during extended heatwaves and also regularly fertilize, prune, and care for the plants.
Still, the hedge loses almost all its leaves every year around April/May. Even many new small leaves turn yellow and fall off within a few days. This is quite frustrating because after three years, the hedge is still not dense due to the repeated leaf loss, which almost always happens between April and May.
I have read about possible causes online, but there are many different explanations listed—from underwatering to frost damage, or too little/too much fertilizer, and so on.
Our soil is relatively loose, meaning it’s more of a gravelly base. We have about 15 cm (6 inches) of humus, and underneath it is very rocky, with gravel and sand.
So, waterlogging is certainly not an issue (which the plants dislike). I make sure to water the hedge properly at least once a week and fertilize it twice a year. I’m honestly quite puzzled about what the cause could be. I know it’s difficult to diagnose from a distance, but maybe someone has had a similar problem and can offer advice or tips.
Thank you for any possible help.
Greetings from Lower Austria.
H
HilfeHilfe11 May 2018 07:31Sorry, but having a drip hose 2-3 times a week will get expensive. After 3 years, they should grow on their own.
webdesigne11 May 2018 09:18Yes, I am aware of all that myself. I just thought that maybe someone might have an idea or has experienced a similar problem.
Only cherry laurel can grow in our soil. It is generally very undemanding, but since it loses leaves every year, it will hardly become dense.
The plants came from a nursery in Hungary. They actually have great reviews, and I was otherwise very satisfied with their service (they replaced some plants without any problems at the beginning). Unfortunately, they didn’t take a soil sample and only delivered, planted, and fertilized the hedges. After that, I was told to wait. But after 3 years, they should have settled in somewhat...
Only cherry laurel can grow in our soil. It is generally very undemanding, but since it loses leaves every year, it will hardly become dense.
The plants came from a nursery in Hungary. They actually have great reviews, and I was otherwise very satisfied with their service (they replaced some plants without any problems at the beginning). Unfortunately, they didn’t take a soil sample and only delivered, planted, and fertilized the hedges. After that, I was told to wait. But after 3 years, they should have settled in somewhat...
ypg schrieb:
Maybe they’re planted too close to the wall?I’m not a plant expert, but that seems quite possible. If there is a concrete foundation underground that absorbs water and then the wall heats up nicely during the first sunny days, the plants could initially be overwhelmed by the heat, UV radiation, and dryness after the long winter. What direction do the wall and hedge face?
I don’t know how others see it or if it depends on the species, but to me they look too bare and not branchy enough at the bottom. I would prune them further in spring to encourage denser growth at the base.
webdesigne11 May 2018 10:41According to the nursery, the wall does not pose a problem. On the contrary, it protects against the wind. One side gets sunlight all day, while the other side only gets sun in the afternoon. The condition there does not seem to be much better.
The roots have about 50cm (20 inches) of space from the wall, as the nursery recommended, which should be normal. No one plants their hedge 2m (6.5 feet) away from the property boundary.
Thanks anyway for the advice.
The roots have about 50cm (20 inches) of space from the wall, as the nursery recommended, which should be normal. No one plants their hedge 2m (6.5 feet) away from the property boundary.
Thanks anyway for the advice.
webdesigne schrieb:
According to the nursery, the wall doesn’t cause any issues. On the contrary, it offers protection from the wind. Here in winter, you can clearly see which plants are sheltered. In spring, those plants look noticeably better than the exposed ones, which show some frost damage on branches here and there. This shouldn’t be a problem for you at all.
webdesigne schrieb:
The roots have about 50cm (20 inches) of space to the wall, that’s how the nursery planted it, and that should be standard. Nobody plants their hedge 2m (6.5 feet) away from the property boundary. Either the photo is distorted, or the 50cm (20 inches) measurement isn’t correct. To me, the distance in the picture looks about the width of one row of bricks. Since you have 10 rows of bricks and the wall is likely no higher than 2.5m (8 feet), I assume a brick height of roughly 25cm (10 inches). If the concrete foundation in the ground is even slightly wider than the wall thickness, then there is even less space underground for the roots.
Here, grass turns yellow or brown when it is 50cm (20 inches) away from concrete foundations, no matter how much you water it.
Musketier schrieb:
I’m not sure how others see it or if it depends on the variety, but to me, the lower parts look too bare and not branched enough. I would prune them further in spring to encourage denser growth at the bottom. I just looked it up again. It could definitely be related to the Caucasica variety, which tends to be very narrow and tall.
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