I submitted photos and a question a few days ago about my cherry laurel hedge. I think it’s a Cherry Laurel. I haven’t had a response and I don’...
Knowledgebase
Laurel hedge #745896
Asked April 23, 2021, 2:05 PM EDT
I submitted photos and a question a few days ago about my cherry laurel hedge. I think it’s a Cherry Laurel. I haven’t had a response and I don’t see my question posted on your website. Did you receive a question and photos about a cherry laurel hedge?
Thanks.
Multnomah CountyOregon
Expert Response
Greetings Carrie,
Unfortunately I do not see your previous question, but we have received this one. Can you please attach some photos to your reply here? and then we will get it assigned for diagnoses.
We have an established laurel hedge that I believe is a Cherry Laurel although I’m not positive. It is about 5-7’ wide, 14-18’ tall, 30-35’ long.
The photos you see are from the north side of the hedge. My concern is with the discolored leaves and of course the cause of that discoloration. Once the compromised leaves turn yellow they fall off. Is it serious enough to portend mass defoliation and endanger the life of the hedge? I believe we saw some of this last year but I want to make sure it doesn’t get out of control. I’m not sure it’s worse this year than last.
There are fewer of these yellowed and browned leaves on the sunny south face. The most afflicted part is toward the east end which is totally in the shade on the northside and somewhat in the shade on the southside. There is (what appears incontrovertibly to be) deadwood in the interior of the entire length, but both the north and south sides are showing new growth at the outer faces of the hedge. It has flowered in places, even at the top of the afflicted east end of the hedge.
The little bit of research I’ve done suggests that perhaps we should remove all the dead leaves on the ground under the hedge. Would you agree? Should I try to cut out some of the interior deadwood to increase circulation? Is the plant possibly thirsty? It would not have been overwatered in the last month as I had not provided any supplemental water until two days ago.
Should I fertilize? If so, would a 4-4-4 be acceptable? Or would a 15-3-3 be better? Or something else? I did not do any supplemental fertilizing last year.
Thank you for your question, Carrie. Your shrub does appear to have chlorosis, caused by a deficiency of one or more nutrients, most typically nitrogen. Any balanced fertilizer should help, so a 10-10-10 or equivalent may help with that issue. Deadwood in the middle of a woody plant isn't unusual; that part of the plant receives no sun so cannot photosynthesize. I am concerned about the leaf notching, and the only pest of laurel which causes this damage is the black vine weevil, described here: Root Weevils (oregonstate.edu) Have you examined the plant for eggs, which would have been laid last year and hatched to have begun feeding by now? Or is the notching left over from last year? Thanks for more information!
