New Laurel Hedge Issues - Help Please!!

[steveoracle]

Hi All,

Hope someone can give me some help/advice re. a laurel hedge.

I planted a laurel hedge in late autumn last year, 30 trees on either side of my West facing back garden. Pot grown 6ft high plants, in reasonable well drained soil, with bonemeal and slow release fertilizer in each hole. There are 10 trees on the right of the garden and 20 on the left. orientation means that the right side (South facing) has full sun all day and the left (North facing) gets some sun at different times of the day but also lots of shade.

So what's the issue? Well the 20 trees on the North facing aspect are very deep green, look very healthy and have started to grow vigorously with lots and lots of healthy new growth. Those on the South facing aspect aren't doing anywhere near as well. They're a lot paler in the leaf, aren't growing anywhere near as vigorously and have some yellow/dropped leaves. It's been very dry here so I've been soaking both sides regularly and have applied soluble feed to both sides - they are growing but not nearly as well. I've attached some pics.
Anyone got any idea what's going on and what about it?

Many thanks, Steve

There are lots of big things growing the other side of that fence, they could be causing issues by taking water /nutrients they need.
They are planted pretty close to the fences, just be aware they can cause damage to fences as they grow.

I think laurel likes the shade better than the sun.

They are far too close to the fence. As they grow they ar3 going to push forward. It is also very dry at the base of a fence.

Sorry, but another one querying the positioning of plants.
Laurel grows very thickly and unless you can get in behind it to prune (which you could only have done if the fence panels were lift out), it will ultimately be putting pressure on the fence.

This year has been a terrible one for new plants with many areas getting only a tiny fraction of the normal amount of rain.
Make sure they are fed & well watered (without drowning of course) and hopefully they will be fine.

Came to say exactly as above about position etc

Long term they will probably pull through, but they are going to have that fence over in a couple of years - laurel is a big, tough, spreading plant that needs regular trimming if you want it as a hedge.

Also there is no benefit in feeding them now - they do need watering (although not waterlogging) but they’ve been given good soil to grow into.