Caring for Cherry Laurel

Once established, cherry laurel is fairly drought-tolerant but performs best with moderate, consistent moisture. Water deeply during prolonged dry spells in spring and summer, especially plants in full sun or sandy soils. In shade and on heavier soils, natural rainfall is usually sufficient except in very dry years. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when growth slows. Feed in March or April with a balanced general-purpose fertiliser (such as Growmore or blood, fish, and bone) scattered around the base at the rate recommended on the packet, or apply a mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost, which feeds and conserves moisture. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds after midsummer, as they promote soft growth vulnerable to frost. A second, lighter feed in early autumn can be beneficial on poor soils but isn't essential. Cherry laurel is evergreen and fully hardy in zones 6a–8b, requiring no special winter protection in temperate Europe. Refresh the mulch layer each spring to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Common problems include powdery mildew in dry summers (white coating on leaves; improve air circulation and water at the base, not overhead) and shothole fungus, which causes small brown spots that drop out, leaving holes. Remove and bin affected leaves; avoid overhead watering. Vine weevil larvae occasionally attack roots of container-grown plants. Aphids may cluster on soft new growth in spring; a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap usually controls them. Cherry laurel is generally pest- and disease-resistant if grown in suitable conditions with good drainage and air flow.