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Cherry laurel problem

Posted: September 28th, 2020, 6:46 pm
by edslawn
As part of the landscape project in my back yard, we planted some cherry laurels. Unfortunately, they aren't doing great. They are in part sun along our porch. I've watered them regularly and have them given each some miracle grow. Something appears to be eating them, so I applied Seven twice over a two-week interval. I'm pretty clueless with perennials, so any help is welcome...

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Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: September 28th, 2020, 7:13 pm
by MorpheusPA
That doesn't look like insect damage (which can impact the cherry laurel even though they produce a lot of hydrogen cyanide). It looks like disease or chlorosis, but I can't tell as it's not an extreme issue. That it's dying from the tips in tends to indicate disease or a soil issue. And I'm not thrilled by the chlorosis showing on some leaves.

Check the soil. If it's wet, that's not good for CLs. They prefer an acidic, dampish soil--back off on the watering and let them dry out. That you fed is good, and Miracle-Gro is fine, it's an acidic feeding with a decent enough resource balance for shrubs.

Paradoxically, they also don't like being too dry, or being heat stressed. This summer in our area wasn't exactly what I'd call gentle...

CLs are tolerant of full sun through light shade, so that's unlikely to be too much of an issue. Part sun should be perfect for them.

Oh, and although technically "edible," never, never eat the berries or leaves. See "hydrogen cyanide" above. Death is exceptionally unlikely, but illness has been known to occur.

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: September 28th, 2020, 7:42 pm
by edslawn
MorpheusPA wrote:
September 28th, 2020, 7:13 pm
That doesn't look like insect damage (which can impact the cherry laurel even though they produce a lot of hydrogen cyanide). It looks like disease or chlorosis, but I can't tell as it's not an extreme issue. That it's dying from the tips in tends to indicate disease or a soil issue. And I'm not thrilled by the chlorosis showing on some leaves.

Check the soil. If it's wet, that's not good for CLs. They prefer an acidic, dampish soil--back off on the watering and let them dry out. That you fed is good, and Miracle-Gro is fine, it's an acidic feeding with a decent enough resource balance for shrubs.

Paradoxically, they also don't like being too dry, or being heat stressed. This summer in our area wasn't exactly what I'd call gentle...

CLs are tolerant of full sun through light shade, so that's unlikely to be too much of an issue. Part sun should be perfect for them.

Oh, and although technically "edible," never, never eat the berries or leaves. See "hydrogen cyanide" above. Death is exceptionally unlikely, but illness has been known to occur.
Hmmm... they went in mid-August, so they've had a rough ride. I've been giving them a good drink about once a week or so over the last month (about twice that in August). Basically, I'm holding the open hose on each one for about 10 seconds. The soil is definitely not soaked. I'm also watering with softened water (an issue that will be fixed in a few days). Could that be the problem?

(On the eating, I am a little worried about my dogs. We have a 6 month old puppy who I've been watching closely around these plants.)

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: September 28th, 2020, 8:20 pm
by MorpheusPA
Yeah, softened water (excessive sodium) could certainly be an issue, as could the fact that they went in during an awful summer and during the worst month of it. Plus just before a short drought in September.

Considering all that, actually, they look great. Keep up the good work, and feed them deeply with Miracle Gro again in mid-October when temperatures drop as a "good night" feeding to turn into carbohydrates for storage over winter. If we get a winter this year. You can also feel free to throw some organics on them any time you like during the growing season, it won't set off excessive growth.

Definitely keep the dog(s) away if they show interest. Some dogs? Some dogs go for anything.

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: September 29th, 2020, 7:06 am
by edslawn
MorpheusPA wrote:
September 28th, 2020, 8:20 pm
Yeah, softened water (excessive sodium) could certainly be an issue, as could the fact that they went in during an awful summer and during the worst month of it. Plus just before a short drought in September.

Considering all that, actually, they look great. Keep up the good work, and feed them deeply with Miracle Gro again in mid-October when temperatures drop as a "good night" feeding to turn into carbohydrates for storage over winter. If we get a winter this year. You can also feel free to throw some organics on them any time you like during the growing season, it won't set off excessive growth.

Definitely keep the dog(s) away if they show interest. Some dogs? Some dogs go for anything.
Got it... Thanks Morpheus!

The dogs don't seem interested so far. Here is the crew sunning themselves (Joey is the black one and only 6 month old)


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Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: September 29th, 2020, 2:12 pm
by MorpheusPA
Ha! They're adorable!

Dogs aren't dumb and usually won't go after something dangerous...but you never know.

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: April 23rd, 2022, 8:19 am
by edslawn
Ok, you guys have my roses looking awesome with a simple 3-in-1 app now but these cherry laurels continue to struggle. I'd really appreciate any suggestions.


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Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: April 23rd, 2022, 4:22 pm
by MorpheusPA
I'm failing to see the awful? They're tipping a bit, which can happen in a soil that's too acidic, too alkaline, too sodic (do you use a water softener?), but I don't really see much sign of anything awful going on.

The spots can be a bit of a concern and are often Stigmina and Eupropolella fungi. It's not usually fatal; remove damaged leaves. Feed well. April is a good time for that.

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: April 23rd, 2022, 9:02 pm
by edslawn
MorpheusPA wrote:
April 23rd, 2022, 4:22 pm
I'm failing to see the awful? They're tipping a bit, which can happen in a soil that's too acidic, too alkaline, too sodic (do you use a water softener?), but I don't really see much sign of anything awful going on.

The spots can be a bit of a concern and are often Stigmina and Eupropolella fungi. It's not usually fatal; remove damaged leaves. Feed well. April is a good time for that.
Thanks Morph! Feeding is on the schedule...

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: April 24th, 2022, 2:17 pm
by MorpheusPA
Yeah, we get picky with our plant friends, don't we? I was griping about the awful survival percentage I had with my dahlia this year. I started last year with five dahlia. I started this year with nine living dahlia. That's a survival percentage of almost 200%. It's just that some of the divisions didn't make it and some cultivars survive better than others.

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: April 24th, 2022, 8:59 pm
by edslawn
MorpheusPA wrote:
April 24th, 2022, 2:17 pm
Yeah, we get picky with our plant friends, don't we? I was griping about the awful survival percentage I had with my dahlia this year. I started last year with five dahlia. I started this year with nine living dahlia. That's a survival percentage of almost 200%. It's just that some of the divisions didn't make it and some cultivars survive better than others.
very true...

I dropped my milo today for the memorial day application and hit all of the beds too. I'm out of town next week, so I just hit it.

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: June 3rd, 2022, 9:42 pm
by edslawn
Another update... even my Cherry Laurels are looking pretty awesome this year thanks to you guys!

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Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: June 4th, 2022, 10:37 am
by MorpheusPA
That's, literally, the picture-perfect cherry laurel. Congratulations!

Re: Cherry laurel problem

Posted: June 4th, 2022, 6:19 pm
by edslawn
MorpheusPA wrote:
June 4th, 2022, 10:37 am
That's, literally, the picture-perfect cherry laurel. Congratulations!
Thanks for all of your help getting here!