A laurel bush or laurel tree exudes a touch of Mediterranean flair on the balcony or in the garden. With good care, the real laurel can not only be used as a durable and compact topiary, but also harvested for use as a kitchen spice.

How often should you water the laurel?

Since the spice laurel originally comes from the Near East and is native to the Mediterranean region, the plants can withstand brief dry phases even in sunny locations. Plants in pots, on the other hand, should be watered regularly, as their root balls are dried out more by wind and sun than plants grown outdoors. You should also water the laurel sufficiently in the winter quarters, as drought damage is more often the reason for brown leaves than frost damage due to low temperatures.

How can you repot spice laurel?

The Laurus nobilis is ideally repotted after overwintering if its growth makes this necessary. 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 pruned?

Since the real laurel grows very compactly and rather slowly, it does not necessarily have to be pruned regularly. However, with a targeted shape cut, geometric shapes or animal figures can be raised 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 growing season.

What pests are there and how to protect plants from them?

Pests such as spider mites or aphids attack the laurel preferentially when it is overwintered too warm. This can be remedied by rinsing off the plants and moving them to a cooler place with a room temperature below 10 degrees Celsius.

What to do with 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 about every 14 days with the following fertilizers:

  • liquid fertilizer
  • horn shavings
  • blue grain

However, you should do this sparingly, as otherwise the shoots may grow in length and the leaf spacing may increase.

How can the real laurel be overwintered in this country?

In mild locations, the real laurel can spend the winter outdoors. In most cases, however, it is necessary to place the pot in a basement or garage with temperatures between freezing and around 10 degrees Celsius.

tips and tricks

Use the pruning of the plant for topiary purposes in order to simultaneously dry the accruing cutting material as a spice stock.

WK

Category:

Trees