A laurel bush or a laurel tree exudes a touch of southern flair on the balcony or in the garden. With good care, the real laurel can not only be used as a long-lasting and compact topiary, but can also be harvested for use as a kitchen spice.
How do you properly care for a laurel bush?
Laurel bush care includes regular watering, occasional repotting, targeted topiary, protection from pests, checking for drought damage as well as economical fertilization and suitable overwintering. With proper care, the laurel bush can be used as a long-lasting topiary and kitchen spice.
How often should you water the bay laurel?
Since the spice laurel originally comes from the Near East and is native to the Mediterranean region, the plants can withstand short dry periods even in sunny locations. However, you should water plants in pots regularly, as their root balls are dried out more by wind and sun than outdoor plants. You should also water the laurel sufficiently in its winter quarters, as drought damage is more often the cause of brown leaves than frost damage due to temperatures that are too low.
How to repot spice laurel?
The Laurus nobilis is ideally repotted after overwintering if its growth requires this. It can have a positive effect on the development of the laurel if the shoots and roots are slightly cut back when repotting.
When and how is the Laurus nobilis cut?
Since the real laurel is very compact and grows rather slowly, it does not necessarily need to be cut regularly. However, with targeted topiary cutting, geometric shapes or animal figures can be created from a laurel tree. In general, pruning should take place after the first growth spurt at the end of April or beginning of May. However, leaves and twigs for drying as a spice can be harvested throughout the entire growing season.
What pests are there and how do you protect plants from them?
Pests such as spider mites or aphids attack the laurel preferentially when it is overwintered too warmly. This can be remedied by spraying the plants and moving them to a cooler place with a room temperature of less than 10 degrees Celsius.
What to do if there are diseases and brown leaves?
Since the real laurel is a very robust plant, it is usually not affected by diseases. Deficiency symptoms such as yellow, brown or falling leaves are usually due to drought damage or rotten roots due to waterlogging.
How often should the laurel bush be fertilized?
Since Laurus nobilis is a very undemanding plant, fertilization is not absolutely necessary if the soil is good. However, from spring to autumn you can fertilize approximately every 14 days with the following fertilizers:
- liquid complete fertilizer
- Horn shavings
- Bluegrain
However, you should proceed sparingly, otherwise the shoots may grow unsightly and the distance between the leaves may become larger.
How can the real laurel be overwintered in this country?
In mild locations, the real laurel can spend the winter outdoors. However, it is usually necessary to place it in the pot in a cellar or garage with temperatures between freezing and around 10 degrees Celsius.
Tips & Tricks
Use the pruning of the plant for topiary purposes and at the same time dry the cutting material as a stock of spices.
