As a spice and medicinal plant, the laurel, which comes from the Near East and the Mediterranean region, is relatively undemanding, like many other herbs. If you want to fertilize the laurel for an even bountiful harvest, you should proceed with caution.

Location and care for the real laurel

The real laurel (Laurus nobilis) loves warmth and sunlight, so you should choose a location that is as sunny as possible and as lightly shaded as possible for its planting. Since the plant can only be overwintered outdoors in very mild locations in this country, it is advisable to cultivate it in a pot. With a regular pruning, a laurel bush can be kept well under control, which means that it can also be grown on the balcony. Although the laurel can withstand a few days of drought, it should be watered regularly, especially when growing in pots, due to its preferential sandy substrate.

The need for fertilizing for the laurel

When planting as a laurel hedge in the garden, you can usually do without a special fertilizer. On the other hand, the nutrients in potted plants are easily washed out with the irrigation water, so that a supply of nutrients and minerals can make sense here. Brown leaves are not necessarily a sign of a lack of nutrients in laurel, but are in most cases due to the fine roots drying out. Note that a laurel tree also needs a certain amount of care during the winter in the form of regular watering.

Only fertilize the laurel very sparingly and to a limited extent

The roots of the laurel are sensitive to salt, which is why you should use commercial complete fertilizers very sparingly. The following procedure is better:

  • Remove the top layer of soil around the trunk in March or April
  • Application of a mixture of herbal soil and compost
  • Possibly application of an organic liquid fertilizer

A molasses-based fertilizer is usually good for laurel plants if used sparingly during the growth phase between April and August.

tips and tricks

You can improve the conditions of your laurel bushes right from the start if you provide the right potting soil in the pot or in the bed. Ideally, it should be a sandy and humus-rich substrate that does not encourage waterlogging.

Category:

Trees