Any idea what is happening?

Hello,

Earlier in the year I planted about 15 Portuguese Laurel to create a hedge. I've noticed a few odd looking leaves. Any ideas what it is? A disease? Fungus? Too hot/too dry? Insects?

 

Don't know about the leaf with brown patches, but I think you might have an infestation of Vine Weevils eating the leaves and worth checking for them.

 

thanks @Scrungee Bloody vine weevils. I'll check for them today too. I have just been out there pruning the lower branches off the hedging as I want them to grow at a height above the wall (raising the skirt?! I think that is the term that is used?!). Whilst out there I found a damn caterpillar! A spikey fluffy caterpillar. Some of the hedging near here has been suffering with those damn things so I wonder if it is to do with that. Last week I found some of them in my amelanchier and quickly removed them (two huge clumps of about 20 caterpillars) I had to send them to caterpillar heaven.

And....just came inside and caught on tv (This Morning) that there is a really bad caterpillar attack ruining hedging etc etc. I wonder if it is that!!!

 

Tut tut, Snorky You can't go round condemning Nature's wonderful biodiversity like that On the other hand, if you've got problems with caterpillars of any variety, there is still one product available to home gardeners that actually works...both as prevention and cure. It's sold as a treatment for Box moth and Pine processionary caterpillars. The active 'ingredient' is a bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis) that just targets caterpillars but is harmless to other creatures As long as you don't get torrential rain shortly after spraying, it's very effective.

 

Don't worry @noisette47 I didn't actually kill the caterpillars...they were put into caterpillar heaven literally - at the bottom of my garden waste bin which is full of cuttings and leaves - they will have a great time until it is collected on Tuesday. I will definitely look up that spray. I've tried not to use any chemicals on my plants this year. I've sene so many birds eating the aphids on the roses etc. When the aphids got a little too much I used foamed up washing up liquid and it has worked a treat.

Thanks @Marley Farley I have removed all the bad leaves now. I think they had got a bit dry and maybe had been caught when it was frosty last!? They are new plants that had come from a local nursery and were kept in polytunnels.

I am making sure I keep them watered - I think they must have got a bit dry when we were on holiday.

 

Nice approach to the caterpillars @Snorky85 , hopefully they'll have a feast in the bin and get dumped in a good environment for them I totally agree with your policy with chemicals. Softer approach will not clean everything out, but will give the plants an advantage and not harm the beneficial (from a gardener's point of view) ones. Fairy washing up liquid is my trusted remedy as well. Nematodes are brilliant but an expensive solution, the Vine Weevil ones are a must have for anyone with containers.

I'm not so sure about lifting my skirts in the garden though but I'll give it a try.

 

Well this old fella remembers the joys of youth

 

Pleasuring hairy caterpillars? Naughty naughty (In the old sense of the word pleasuring! )