Eastern laurel(Prunus laurocerasus) is the only laurel species suitable for cultivation in Poland. It is decorated with dark green, leathery, evergreen leaves and beautifully fragrant flowers. Learn the secrets ofgrowing eastern laurelanddiseases of eastern laureland methods of combating them. Learnhow and when to prune laureland discover the most attractivevarieties of laurel leaves
Eastern laurel - flowers
Fig. Karduelis, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Eastern laurel - varieties
The varieties of eastern laureldiffer in height and habit of shrubs, as well as in color and shape of leaves. The most interesting varieties of eastern laurel trees for cultivation in the garden are:
Eastern laurel 'Otto Luyken'- the best known and most frequently cultivated variety of Eastern laurel, used for hedges. It creates low, branchy shrubs (1-1.5 m) with dark green, shiny and narrow leaves. The shrubs bloom profusely in spring and repeat blooming in autumn.
Eastern laurel 'Schipkaensis'- one of the most frost-resistant varieties. The bushes grow up to about 1.5-2 m in height. The white flowers are numerous, gathered in upright clusters, 8 cm long.
Eastern laurel 'Zabeliana'- creeping shoots, grows up to 1 m high and 3 m wide, can be used as a ground cover plant. It blooms in May, repeating flowering frequently in September.
Eastern laurel 'Marbled White'- evergreen shrub with lofty stems, growing up to 1.5 m in height. It is a variety with white flecked leaves. Flowers white, small, fragrant, gathered in upright clusters.
Eastern laurel 'Microphylla'- small-leaved variety.
Eastern laurel 'Rotundifolia'- a variety of round-leaved laurel, growing up to 4 m in height.
Eastern laurel plant ETNA 'Anbri'- is a strongly branching variety of laurel leaves with raised shoots and large leaves, reaching up to 2 m in height and the same width. The youngest leaves are slightly brown, then bright green, and then a deep, dark green color. White flowers, gathered in clusters. The advantage of ETNA laurel is increased frost resistance and better he alth.
Eastern laurel - cultivation
Eastern laurel is a quite demanding plant and requires appropriate growing conditions.Due to the low frost resistance of this plant,the cultivation of eastern laurel is recommended only in warmer regions of Poland , where it does not require covering for the winter. In other parts of the country, laurel frosts very often, especially during harsh and snowless winters. Laurel winters best winter under snow cover. In colder regions, it is necessary to use covers. These covers, however, must be loose, because eastern laurel does not like too tight wrapping. Laurel bushes regenerate frost damage very quickly.Trim frost-damaged shoots in spring
For the cultivation of eastern laurel,soil is constantly moderately moist, fertile, rich in humus, preferably sandy loam, with a neutral to alkaline pH. Laurel wreath does not tolerate drought, therefore it requires irrigation during rainless days. The soil around the bushes should be mulched to slow down the drying of the substrate around the roots. For this purpose, we use composted bark, which we spread to a thickness of 5 cm.From spring to mid-summer we fertilize the bushes with compound fertilizers or in spring we mulch the bushes with compost.
Eastern laurel should be plantedin semi-shaded and shady positions. Bay leaves should be protected from direct sunlight in both summer and winter. This plant feels best under the canopy of evergreen trees, in quiet, sheltered places.
Eastern laurel - fruit
Fig. Karduelis, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons
Eastern laurel - cut
The laurel bushes grow quickly, losing their desired habit and quickly grow out of their place in the garden. That is why they require cutting, often very radical, which will keep the bush in the right shape.We start cutting laurel leaves from the first year of cultivation
In the first year of cultivation, after planting, in March or November,shorten all shoots by 1/3 of the lengthto stimulate the plant to spread.
In the second year in Marchwe shorten all the shoots growing from the base of theshoot. We do not cut shoots pruned in the previous season, or shorten those that disturb the plant's habit.
Mature laurel does not require an annual pruning . In the following years, usually in March, we make a conservative cut in order to keep the shape of the bush. Remove dead or frost damaged shoots.
Anotherterm for pruning laurel leavesis the summer period (June-July). During this period, when pruning bay leaves, we can take semi-woody cuttings from the bushes, which we root in a moist sandy substrate (a mixture of peat and sand).
Important!When calming laurel leaves, be careful not to damage the leaves. The trimmed leaves turn brown and dry.
Eastern laurel - diseases
Diseases in eastern laurelappear extremely rarely. It is a plant that is resistant to both diseases and pests. Sometimes, however, in conditions of high humidity, it can be attacked by perforated leaves or powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew(Erysiphales) - young leaves are curled into a cigar, wrinkled, covered with a white dust on the underside. The disease develops on densely planted laurel trees, one next to the other at a short distance (e.g. in a hedge). Plant parts affected by powdery mildew must be removed. Powdery mildew on laurel leaves can be combated with Topsin M 500 SC.
Note!
Until recently, it was common practice to burn plant debris infested with diseases or pests to prevent the spread of pathogens. However, according to the current regulations, smoking leaves and branches, even if they come from sick plants, is forbidden. From gardens and plots, we should dispose of them in accordance with the principles of segregation and waste return in force in our commune. Cut branches and removed leaves are called green waste.
The perforation of laurel leaves(Clasterosporium carpophillum) - it is a fungal disease that affects laurel shrubs in early spring.On the surface of the leaf blade, regular, large dark brown spots appear first, surrounded by a light green border. Later, holes are formed in the places of the stains. The disease can lead to the complete loss of leaves by the plant. Plants infected by the disease become more sensitive to frost. In order tofight the holes in the leaves of bay laurel , you should strip off sick leaves, rake fallen leaves and remove them. Avoid sprinkling the leaves while watering. Additionally, diseased plants and adjacent shrubs should be sprayed with fungicides, e.g. Topsin M 500 SC.
Symptoms of leaf perforation may be confused with bacterial cancer of fruit trees (Pseudomonas syringae). During the attack of this disease, laurel leaves, especially at the bottom of the bush, have round red spots with a characteristic bright halo surrounding them. Over time, the tissue crumbles at the site of the stains. Stains may also appear on shoots. Then the rush above the lesion dries up. If bacterial cancer is suspected, the affected parts of the plant should be removed and sprayed with copper fungicides, e.g.Miedzian 50 WP.
From pests on laurel we can see the butterflythe decor of the serpentine(Lyonetia clerkella). It is a leaf-mining pest. Its caterpillars leave lines on the leaves that start at the main nerve and run down the snakeskin. The parts of the leaf evaporated by circular pavements fall out completely, creating holes. There are greenish larvae inside the sidewalks, and cocoons can be found on the underside of the leaves. At an earlier stage (before the caterpillars appear), pest eggs may be visible on the underside of the leaves. This bay leaf pest does not cause much damage and is usually sufficient to remove damaged leaves that may have eggs or larvae.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
