Are laurel hedges much tougher than Portuguese Laurel

Something gone very wrong there alright. I had to move two Portuguese Laurels that were only down a year and the roots were far more developed than that and there was a bit of work getting them out. They survived the move and are flying it now.

henke

standardg60 wrote: »

Yes for whatever reason that's certainly not four years worth of normal root development. Soil looks fine to me too.

What part of the country are you in OP? I could check with a couple of nurseries i know for stock.

That would be brilliant. PM sent.

henke

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Something gone very wrong there alright. I had to move two Portuguese Laurels that were only down a year and the roots were far more developed than that and there was a bit of work getting them out. They survived the move and are flying it now.

Yeah I'd imagine 4 years should take some force so makes sense the roots haven't developed. Some of the larger ones at the opposite end of the hedge (still not great) I'd imagine may be rooted better so will be interesting to see. Probably not good enough to keep there but may try and move to somewhere with more sun (probably won't help).

BigAl81

I might throw my Portuguese Laurel hedge into the thread so to see what people think if that's ok

Got the garden done last year, and in May 2020 planted 18 laurels in a narrow trench next to a fence...






Perhaps not the best location in the world for them, but they've done well I think? A bit more than a foot of growth and they are more 'bushy' as well if that makes sense. Can see the lighter green leaves as the newer growth in the last month or so.



I put an inch of compost over the top of the soil last week and have been watering it in every few days during the current dry spell. Hoping this will wash some nutrients down to the roots? I saw the tip around chicken manure pellets a few pages back, so will try that out too, hopefully the dog doesn't eat them all!!

Any other tips or advice appreciated. I'm hoping to get the hedge up over the fence over the next few years, so hopefully 6 or 7 feet of height eventually.

Thanks,
Al.

macraignil

BigAl81 wrote: »

I might throw my Portuguese Laurel hedge into the thread so to see what people think if that's ok



I put an inch of compost over the top of the soil last week and have been watering it in every few days during the current dry spell. Hoping this will wash some nutrients down to the roots? I saw the tip around chicken manure pellets a few pages back, so will try that out too, hopefully the dog doesn't eat them all!!

Any other tips or advice appreciated. I'm hoping to get the hedge up over the fence over the next few years, so hopefully 6 or 7 feet of height eventually.

Thanks,
Al.

Looks like that hedge is going well so can't really offer any advice as you seem to be doing a good job with it anyway. Never really bothered much with fertilising hedge plants myself and they seem to to do fine anyway with just the nutrients they can find naturally in the soil, once the competing vegetation is kept under control and a mulch of compost will help with that.

Happy gardening!

They look really healthy - as does your lawn! I gave mine a dose of liquid seaweed last night and I find it works really well. Without wishing to upset anyone here, I would also prune back some of the new growth next month as I find it helps thicken them and makes them much stronger. Great work!

Dr4gul4

Deleted User wrote: »

They look really healthy - as does your lawn! I gave mine a dose of liquid seaweed last night and I find it works really well. Without wishing to upset anyone here, I would also prune back some of the new growth next month as I find it helps thicken them and makes them much stronger. Great work!

Off topic .. Liquid seaweed on the lawn, any product recommendations ?

Dr4gul4

Dr4gul4 wrote: »

Off topic .. Liquid seaweed on the lawn, any product recommendations ?

I find the liquid seaweed fantastic for general planting during the growing season but didn't have great success with it on the lawn. Some of the specialist lawn products are better in my opinion, and I use one called Landscaper Pro Spring/Summer. Happy gardening!

henke

Is Prunus Rotundfolia a different plant to what you guys are referring to as the common laurel? I see that in local garden centre advertised as common laurel but it doesn't carry the laurocerasus name I have seen mentioned here.

henke

henke wrote: »

Is Prunus Rotundfolia a different plant to what you guys are referring to as the common laurel? I see that in local garden centre advertised as common laurel but it doesn't carry the laurocerasus name I have seen mentioned here.

Prunus Rotundfolia, Prunus Laurocerasus Rotundfolia, common laurel and cherry laurel are all the same plant.

You wouldn't hear many calling it common laurel but it's nearly always what those who do mean.

The leaf is fairly easy to distinguish.

henke

Thanks think I am beginning to understand. Yeah just bought a few to test with and see how they go. The guy in the garden shop said there is no difference in hardiness between common and Portuguese although the feeling I get from this forum common has a better chance of success. My interpretation is anything under the Laurocerasus name eg Novita or Rotundifolia may be tougher than Portuguese which is not under the Laurocerasus name. Apologies if this take is wrong not up on these names just learning from here.

LurkerNo1

Portugeeese Laurel is very hardy but what it does not like is exposure and wet feet. It really dislikes cold drying wind especially from the North or East, it can easily burn new delicate foliage in Spring. It also needs good drainage, it does not like sitting in wet soil and i feel this is the problem alot of people run into. Digging in lots of organic matter when planting increases this problem. Its a very tough plant if the conditions are correct. It can also get a but of shothole in June but it outgrows it.
The common laurel really only looks OK in very big gardens and as big hedges. The leaf isnt the most attractive and if in the confines of a smaller garden when cut they are very unsighlty.
Etna has a smaller leaf and has tighter growth i think its a better choice.
Anyway its best to do your research into your conditions and narrow it down from there. Its easy to get caught up in what you would like rather than what would suit and do well in your garden.

LurkerNo1

BigAl81 wrote: »

I might throw my Portuguese Laurel hedge into the thread so to see what people think if that's ok

Got the garden done last year, and in May 2020 planted 18 laurels in a narrow trench next to a fence...






Perhaps not the best location in the world for them, but they've done well I think? A bit more than a foot of growth and they are more 'bushy' as well if that makes sense. Can see the lighter green leaves as the newer growth in the last month or so.



I put an inch of compost over the top of the soil last week and have been watering it in every few days during the current dry spell. Hoping this will wash some nutrients down to the roots? I saw the tip around chicken manure pellets a few pages back, so will try that out too, hopefully the dog doesn't eat them all!!

Any other tips or advice appreciated. I'm hoping to get the hedge up over the fence over the next few years, so hopefully 6 or 7 feet of height eventually.

Thanks,
Al.

Hopefully they will be OK for you, they are growing well now and look healthy. I would be concerned about their long term perfomace though. They are growing in a very very narrow space, i would wonder in time as they mature will the roots struggle in such a small space.
Of course they can grow through the hardcore to seek water and nutrients and do well too.
Are you planning on keeping them clipped back behind the path? They can get pretty wide.

henke

LurkerNo1 wrote: »

Portugeeese Laurel is very hardy but what it does not like is exposure and wet feet. It really dislikes cold drying wind especially from the North or East, it can easily burn new delicate foliage in Spring. It also needs good drainage, it does not like sitting in wet soil and i feel this is the problem alot of people run into. Digging in lots of organic matter when planting increases this problem. Its a very tough plant if the conditions are correct. It can also get a but of shothole in June but it outgrows it.
The common laurel really only looks OK in very big gardens and as big hedges. The leaf isnt the most attractive and if in the confines of a smaller garden when cut they are very unsighlty.
Etna has a smaller leaf and has tighter growth i think its a better choice.
Anyway its best to do your research into your conditions and narrow it down from there. Its easy to get caught up in what you would like rather than what would suit and do well in your garden.

You could be right on why the Portuguese failed. I have added a pic with more pulled out not sure if it offers any more evidence of what your saying or not.

It seems Etna and Novita are difficult to get at the moment but certainly I would prefer those. Do they do any better than Portuguese in wetter soil though?

I bought a couple of common laurel today and stuck them in to see. They only had Portuguese and this one so didn't want to try Portuguese again. I don't know based on what your saying is this is likely to fail again or would any hedge I put here just fail. Is the common more tolerant than the Portguese?

I planted only six and if it seems to settle well I may do the rest Etna if its nicer as that will cover the main part of the garden in view. It is not that big of a garden and I aim would be around a 6 foot hedge as barrier to next door and some privacy.

standardg60

henke wrote: »

Is Prunus Rotundfolia a different plant to what you guys are referring to as the common laurel? I see that in local garden centre advertised as common laurel but it doesn't carry the laurocerasus name I have seen mentioned here.

Rotundifolia is a sub species of laurocerasus like etna and novita, and as it's name suggests has shorter leaves than the common.
It's also bushier and makes a better hedge so i would just go with them for the full hedge OP.

standardg60

Deleted User wrote: »

They look really healthy - as does your lawn! I gave mine a dose of liquid seaweed last night and I find it works really well. Without wishing to upset anyone here, I would also prune back some of the new growth next month as I find it helps thicken them and makes them much stronger. Great work!

None caused!

I would still prune them now though:)

Yes they do look great.

henke

standardg60 wrote: »

Rotundifolia is a sub species of laurocerasus like etna and novita, and as it's name suggests has shorter leaves than the common.
It's also bushier and makes a better hedge so i would just go with them for the full hedge OP.

Ha I'm think getting more mixed up than ever. The prunus rotundifolia is or is not the common? That's what I bought today (pic in last post - labeled prunus rotundifolia in the shop)

The guy in the garden centre said there is no difference in terms of hardiness or how they should take in comparison to my already failed Portuguese, which would suggest these are likely to fail. Would you disagree and think the prunus rotundifolia has a better chance of success?

I only planted 6 but am tempted to do the whole lot rather than wait til next year but on the other hand I'll be sick to buy the whole hedges worth again to see it fail.

standardg60

henke wrote: »

Ha I'm think getting more mixed up than ever. The prunus rotundifolia is or is not the common? That's what I bought today (pic in last post - labeled prunus rotundifolia in the shop)

The guy in the garden centre said there is no difference in terms of hardiness or how they should take in comparison to my already failed Portuguese, which would suggest these are likely to fail. Would you disagree and think the prunus rotundifolia has a better chance of success?

I only planted 6 but am tempted to do the whole lot rather than wait til next year but on the other hand I'll be sick to buy the whole hedges worth again to see it fail.

Ok.
Prunus laurocerasus-common laurel.
Prunus laurocerasus 'rotundifolia'-a variety of the common but bushier and with shorter leaves.

So the same family but different characteristics.
I think Lurker made some very good points earlier in relation to why your Portuguese may have failed. I'd say you have a much better chance with these ones.

henke

standardg60 wrote: »

Ok.
Prunus laurocerasus-common laurel.
Prunus laurocerasus 'rotundifolia'-a variety of the common but bushier and with shorter leaves.

So the same family but different characteristics.
I think Lurker made some very good points earlier in relation to why your Portuguese may have failed. I'd say you have a much better chance with these ones.

Ok thanks very much that clears it up really had no idea there was so many types.

Ah well if this variety makes a better hedge than the common one lurker was referring too and I can get hold of it maybe I'm as well to do the whole lot like that. I will have a think do I want to chance buying the rest. I just hope it's not as fussy on wet soil or whatever it was that caused the Portuguese to fail.

I appreciate all the responses from everyone. Thanks.

henke

Regardless of what was said about the previous hedge failing because of wet feet I assume these new plants should be watered heavily and also daily for this summer?

macraignil

henke wrote: »

Regardless of what was said about the previous hedge failing because of wet feet I assume these new plants should be watered heavily and also daily for this summer?

As I posted already in this thread the advice I read about hedges when newly planted is that it is better to properly soak the area less frequently than to give it a light watering frequently. The logic being that with watering too frequently the roots just stay near the soil surface and are never encouraged to grow deeper in the soil.


Here is a clip of a laurel hedge being planted that is just over a year old now and it never got watered except for rain and there was approximately 90% survival after a very dry May last year. Efforts were made to remove weeds as they would dry out the soil but in general I think once in the ground and watered in initially I prefer to encourage plants to look after themselves and only apply water for a few weeks after planting if it is very dry and they look like they need a bit of help.

henke

macraignil wrote: »

As I posted already in this thread the advice I read about hedges when newly planted is that it is better to properly soak the area less frequently than to give it a light watering frequently. The logic being that with watering too frequently the roots just stay near the soil surface and are never encouraged to grow deeper in the soil.


Here is a clip of a laurel hedge being planted that is just over a year old now and it never got watered except for rain and there was approximately 90% survival after a very dry May last year. Efforts were made to remove weeds as they would dry out the soil but in general I think once in the ground and watered in initially I prefer to encourage plants to look after themselves and only apply water for a few weeks after planting if it is very dry and they look like they need a bit of help.

Ok thanks a very watering every 2-3 days would be ok you think?

How are they doing for you? Have they put on decent growth in that year?

macraignil

henke wrote: »

Ok thanks a very watering every 2-3 days would be ok you think?

How are they doing for you? Have they put on decent growth in that year?

It is your hedge to decide what's best but for me I think less watering is better. It depends on factors like the weather and soil type and even the position of the hedge in relation to the surrounding land. My parents back garden was in clay soil at the base of a hill so groundwater was always available once plants reached a reasonable state of development so watering was not required. My current garden is higher up on a slope and the soil has less depth and the soil seems to dry out faster. I think the best way to judge is just to check how much moisture is in the soil when doing the usual garden maintenance like digging out weeds. I do not routinely water my current garden area except for anything planted within the last few weeks if it is very dry and rely on weeding and mulch to keep the soil moisture for my garden plants.


The hedge in the video clip is fine. Not a whole lot of top growth but I would not expect that in their first year and they look healthy even though they are planted on a recently formed ridge which isn't ideal for them accessing water either. There are some new shoots forming now on most of them. I have a more established laurel hedge that has donated a few rooted low branches to fill the gaps in the one in the video clip where the odd one died and I think the hedge will make good progress this year after the roots have had time to develop in the first year.

LurkerNo1

henke wrote: »

Regardless of what was said about the previous hedge failing because of wet feet I assume these new plants should be watered heavily and also daily for this summer?

Absolutely not daily. You want to grow them hard. I would normally advise one full watering can, around 8 Litres once a week from now until October on each plant. If it is especially hot and dry you could increase this to twice but ive never bothered and ive never had failures. Even if it rains i still do the same as rain water may not penetrate deep enough. You want to keep them in good health but also encourage them to seek their own water. I dont feed, maunure or any of that, ive never found it helpful, it only seems to encourage more soft growth.

henke

Thanks. Last question would top soil be better for backfilling rather than compost? It's hard to get the original sod back in since it's getting pulled up with the old plants making a larger hole than I'd like.

LurkerNo1

henke wrote: »

Thanks. Last question would top soil be better for backfilling rather than compost? It's hard to get the original sod back in since it's getting pulled up with the old plants making a larger hole than I'd like.

Yes use your own soil or topsoil if youve bought it. Compost can act like a sponge for moisture either holding onto too much water or making it difficult to wet again.

henke

Hi, back again. Anyone recommend any online outlets that might have small potted plants? Finding them hard come by again.

magicbastarder

try tully's nurseries in north county dublin.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118973098#Comment_118973098

How did the ones you planted last year do in the end?

henke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118989924#Comment_118989924

Mixed bag. About 8 from 12 still going and the others died but have a feeling the plants weren't the best to start with. The 8 that survived the leaves are on the yellow side so have started watering again but they have recently started growing white flowers.

Looking for more now if I can get some good ones. Definitely I think there probably better than the original straggly Portuguese Laurel. Bigger leaves and look like they would probably bush out better.