Worst thing I've ever done to a plant
Believe it or not, I almost killed my laurel bushes by not watering them. I'm serious.
I love my laurel bushes and not just because of the name. These are evergreen and have flowers with strong, sweet scents. I've had them for 15 or 20 years, and for a time they rose almost to the top of a 6-foot fence.
A couple of years ago, they started turning brown. I cut off the dead branches. More branches died and I kept pruning them off until the bushes look like this now.
I finally got around to taking a couple of the branches with the brown leaves to the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension , and at the same time I started searching on line for answers. The only thing I came up with was lack of water. When Wendy from the university called me, she said the same thing.
As unbelievable as it was, it wasn't surprising. I'd noticed the soil appeared dry but hadn't done anything about it.
However, a couple of years ago, about the time the bushes started to die as I look back now, my husband moved the lawn sprinkler head out from the back corner because the laurel bushes were blocking the spray. As far as the lawn was concerned, the move was a complete success. In fact, you can see from the dark area in the mulch that the sprinkler now waters right up to the edge of the lawn. The laurels no longer block it. At the same time, however, the sprinkler no longer waters the laurels!
I had no idea it would make such a difference, and now I feel as guilty as if I'd hurt my own children. I'm soaking the laurels by hand now and hoping they'll come out of it.
I love my laurel bushes and not just because of the name. These are evergreen and have flowers with strong, sweet scents. I've had them for 15 or 20 years, and for a time they rose almost to the top of a 6-foot fence.
A couple of years ago, they started turning brown. I cut off the dead branches. More branches died and I kept pruning them off until the bushes look like this now.
I finally got around to taking a couple of the branches with the brown leaves to the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension , and at the same time I started searching on line for answers. The only thing I came up with was lack of water. When Wendy from the university called me, she said the same thing.
As unbelievable as it was, it wasn't surprising. I'd noticed the soil appeared dry but hadn't done anything about it.
How could I let this happen?
Keep in mind that these bushes thrived for 15 or 20 years without my ever watering them. I counted on their getting enough water when we watered the lawn next to it.However, a couple of years ago, about the time the bushes started to die as I look back now, my husband moved the lawn sprinkler head out from the back corner because the laurel bushes were blocking the spray. As far as the lawn was concerned, the move was a complete success. In fact, you can see from the dark area in the mulch that the sprinkler now waters right up to the edge of the lawn. The laurels no longer block it. At the same time, however, the sprinkler no longer waters the laurels!
I had no idea it would make such a difference, and now I feel as guilty as if I'd hurt my own children. I'm soaking the laurels by hand now and hoping they'll come out of it.
Coop Extension
Did you know you can take samples of weeds and sick plants to the UNCE office on Mill Street for identification? I talked to a master gardener who filled out a form about the plant and who told me it might take up to a couple of weeks for someone to call me about it. I got the call in less than 24 hours.
I transplanted some hastas this year and some aren't doing so well. They're impossible to kill, unless you're me. I've been watering the plants in the full sun twice daily, but they're struggling. The plants in partial sun have taken well.
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