Are my Laurel's fooked?!

[WildBear]

Hello,

I bought some Laurel last year. In all honesty, they didn't look in the best condition when I bought them but I'd travelled some distance so went ahead anyway. Their condition seems to have got worse... I'm hoping that they may shed old leaves and new ones will take their place (wishful thinking?!).

Can anyone tell me what's wrong with them, how to resolve the issue (if at all possible) etc? I'm hoping the holes are to do with insects where they were prior to my purchase and not disease.

TIA

Mine didnt look too good during the first winter l had them. Some of the leaves turned yellow and dropped off. I mulched then with compost and mature late winter, early spring and they soon recovered. This winter they are looking so much healthier and stronger.
It does look like something has been eating the leaves on your plants.
Mine are approx 4 yrs old now and forming a good solid hedge, l want them quite tall.

Laurel isn’t easy to kill. I might consider feeding those - the leaves look a bit pale.

The leaf damage is unmistakable, they are infested with vine weevils. Very common in plants that have been languishing in a garden centre for some time. You need to get some vine weevil killer and give them a good dose according to instructions. The larvae eat plant roots, and the adults eat the leaves in that notched pattern you have there.

I'd also give the plants a dose of liquid seaweed as they are suffering from a nutrient deficiency as well - evidenced by the yellowing leaves.