What is eating my laurel tree leaves?
Slugs. Slugs can cause damage by eating the edges of the leaves of laurel. The damage is superficial and will not harm the overall health of the plant.
What causes holes in laurel leaves?
Leaves of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) are often affected by powdery mildew (Podosphaera tridactyla and Podosphaera pannosa), by leaf spot fungi (Stigmina carpophila and Eupropolella britannica) and bacterial shothole (Pseudomonas syringae), all of which can cause holes, tattering and distortion in the leaves.
How do you treat holes in laurel leaves?
Spray with a fungicide, repeating as recommended to treat fungal leaf spot disease on laurels and other ornamental members of the Prunus family. There are no chemicals approved for control of diseases on edible plants. If the shot hole is caused by bacterial canker, treatment with a fungicide is ineffective.
Do ants eat laurel leaves?
Laurel trees are especially vulnerable to leaf-eating pests during dry spells, so the tree has evolved a cooperative solution: bodyguard ants.
What do I feed laurels?
Use a Fertiliser Using fertiliser is a great way to encourage laurel growth. Established laurels grow better with the help of balanced fertilisers such as Rootgrow fertiliser, whereas new laurels struggling to establish and grow prefer a natural, organic fertiliser such as Bonemeal.
How do I stop eating my laurels?
What’s Eating My Laurel?
- Shothole usually affects young leaves so your plant should start to recover once the drier weather comes along.
- Keep the surrounding area free from debris.
- Spray with a fungicide. This will help with powdery mildew.
- Prune out any dead branches or twigs.
- Try not to water overhead.
Do ants harm laurel plants?
On passing by a hedge of Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus, we notice ants. Lots of Black Garden Ants, Lasius niger, walking all over the leaves. By visiting the plant to obtain nectar ants come across herbivorous insects, particularly caterpillars, that might feed on the leaves, and prey upon them.
What animals eat laurels?
Caterpillars. Caterpillars of several moth species are called cutworms because of the way they feed. On laurel and other shrubs, cutworms climb the stems and feed on leaves and buds.
Do you feed laurels?
Once your Laurel hedge is established we would recommend an annual feed early in the spring with a balanced fertiliser such as ‘Growmore’, this is very beneficial to a Laurel hedge if applied at the same time as a mulch (a layer moisture retaining material like bark chippings, lawn mowings or garden compost).
How do I stop ants from eating my plants?
Natural methods
- Boiling water. The most widely known natural ant extermination method is using boiling water.
- Dish washing liquid and oil.
- Boric acid and sugar.
- White vinegar.
- Nematodes.
- Diatomaceous earth (DE).
- Insect-repelling plants.
What is best to feed laurels?
When you are planting a new Laurel hedge we always recommend using bone meal, this is a natural organic fertiliser that should be well mixed with the soil. One kilo of bone meal will be sufficient for a 15 metres of hedge planting.
Does dish soap kill plants?
It’s not recommended to use dish detergent (like Dawn), laundry detergent, or hand soap (even the “natural” versions), since these soaps contain abrasive ingredients that could harm your plants. For DIY insecticide, organic pure castile liquid soap is the best solution since it’s all natural and highly effective.
