Not all cherry laurel species have naturally dark green leaves. For example, new growth of the Etna variety is initially bronze-colored. The young shoots of the laurel cherry Rotundifolia are always light green and later darken. However, if the leaves of a previously dark green variety turn light green, the cherry laurel is often suffering from a nutrient deficiency.
Why do cherry laurel leaves turn light green?
If cherry laurel leaves turn light green, this may indicate a lack of nutrients, especially iron, manganese or magnesium, or soil that is too calcareous. This can be remedied by loosening and enriching the soil with compost, horn shavings, mulch or sandy soil.
Chlorosis – the yellowing disease
The light green color of the foliage indicates a lack of iron, manganese or magnesium. These substances are often present in sufficient quantities in the soil, but cannot be absorbed by the plant. The reason for this can be:
- Waterlogging
- drought
- Soil compaction in heavy soils
- Lack of aeration of the earth
- Long periods of frost in the winter months
The undesirable light green color of the leaves is primarily visible on the freshly sprouted leaves.
These measures can help:
- Cut the lawn in the area of the cherry laurel hedge at least one meter wide and keep the ground open.
- Loosen the soil with a spade or digging fork.
- Work coarse sand into heavy soils.
- Improve soil with mature compost, seasoned manure or horn shavings.
- Mulch the bed under the hedge with bark mulch or wood chips.
Through mulching, the long-term fertilizer incorporated can slowly rot. The mulch layer also regulates the moisture content of the soil and keeps the subsoil warm.
Leaf discoloration due to too much lime in the soil
Another cause of the light green foliage of the laurel cherry can be soil that is too calcareous, to which the tree reacts with deficiency symptoms. The optimal pH value of the garden soil is between 5 and 7.5. To determine whether this is the cause of the yellowing of the leaves, you can easily check the pH value yourself using measuring sticks from the garden store or pharmacy.
If the pH value is not in the ideal range, it is sufficient to improve the soil in the home garden by mixing in compost (€41.00 at Amazon). In order to shift the pH value into the acidic range, it is also recommended to mulch the subsoil.
Tips & Tricks
If the light green foliage continues to discolor and turn yellow, you should cut off the leaves. The foliage then no longer regenerates and costs the plant unnecessary energy. Pruning, on the other hand, stimulates strong new growth, so that the laurel cherry recovers quickly.
