Old Laurel Hedge

Hi All, I'm new to for forum but I hope it will be the first of many discussions.

I recently moved into a new home (well 18 months ago) and the garden is lined with a laurel hedge.

I think its probably around 20 years old, the base stems are a good 5inches Diam.

Its not been looked after in the past and a few of the plants can died and I uprooted these and re planted with the hope they will eventually blend in.

The problem I have is, the end of last summer one died (right on the end of the row) i had it professionally trimmed and the dead one taken back down to the floor, in the past 4 weeks the healthy one next to is randomly shed 80% of its leaves and it not looking great. (image attached is a few weeks old, more of the leaves have shed since. If there something I need to be keeping and eye on?

its a good 4 feet deep I throw a hose pipe in the middle of the bush every 2-3 weeks maybe this is to much / no enough? I try to take out as many weeds as i can from the bed but its hard as its so thick in there. I have attached a pick, the ones to the right have all been re planted as they where dean when I brought the property.

I suppose I'm worried next year the next one will die and so on.... ?

Thank you in advance for your reply's.

 

Might be worth a soak once a week if your in a dry area. A little feed may help too. Watch out for too much rock salt on the pavement this winter if its a harsh one and the council go nuts with the salt spreading.
Really easy plant to take cuttings from btw so free replacements if yoj have a dead un.
I take cuttings,12 inch,strip lower leaves,chuck em in a bucket of water,put in light shade,come back mid spring where theve made roots,plant them up.Sorted.