Yellow leaf discoloration is often observed on cherry laurel. However, they usually do not signal a serious illness in the plant, but are rather a visual problem. A few easy-to-implement care measures provide quick relief and ensure strong, dark green foliage.
Why does my cherry laurel have yellow leaves?
Yellow leaves on cherry laurel can be caused by incorrect location, poor soil conditions, sunburn, waterlogging or lack of irrigation. To remedy the situation, check the location and soil, provide UV protection and water sufficiently.
Wrong location or poor soil conditions
First you should take a close look at the location of the laurel cherry. Even though the tree is relatively undemanding, it prefers a sunny to partially shaded garden spot and well-drained, humus-rich soil. The tree often reacts to all-day shading with yellowing of the leaves, as photosynthesis occurs more slowly under these conditions.
Due to heavily compacted and depleted soil, the laurel cherry can no longer absorb enough nutrients and the foliage turns yellow. You can remedy this as follows:
- Loosen the soil around the bushes with a digging fork.
- Work coarse sand into the soil.
- Fertilize the cherry laurel with ripe compost, horn shavings or another suitable agent.
Sunburn on the leaves
Too much sun also leads to yellow leaf changes. Maybe you felled a tree that previously shaded the cherry laurel, or the cherry laurel grew in the shade before it was replanted. As a result, the shrub was exposed to UV radiation less often and now reacts sensitively to the sun. Give the plant some time to adjust to the changed conditions. After a few weeks of adaptation, the yellow leaves disappear on their own.
Waterlogging or lack of irrigation
Evergreen shrubs such as cherry laurel are very sensitive to longer dry or rainy periods. If the laurel cherry suffers from waterlogging, loosen the soil and provide the plant with sufficient water during longer dry periods. The cherry laurel must be watered even on frost-free days in winter, as the tree evaporates a lot of moisture through the leaf surface.
Tips & Tricks
Freshly moved or planted plants often react to the change of location with yellow leaves. Give the cherry laurel a few weeks to get used to it. The yellowing of the leaves usually disappears on its own.
