Portuguese Laurels problem

Hi all, I've had a Portuguese Laurels hedge planted about a year now. About four or five are looking stunted and yellowing - the rest are doing well. Can't understand it?
Any help appreciated. Thanks

 

Did you water well last summer and when did they start to look poorly.
Just wonder if the drainage might be different in that area, what preparation was made to the soil.

 

Watered regularly and fed liquid seaweed.
Didn't grow as quickly as the rest and leaves turning yellow from about September?
No special preparation to the soil. Our area has a high water table.
Thanks

 

A high water table?
Possible water logging at some point maybe perhaps.

Certainly looks like the roots are not working and those affected ones might die.

 

Thanks for that, I can't understand why they are doing great about 2ft away from the suffering ones?

 

That area may be where water is collecting, due to poor drainage, causing the roots to rot. The drainage may be impeded by a seam of clay, rock, cabling or other substrate. To ascertain, I would remove one of the plants carefully to examine the roots and the area below to see if it is waterlogged. If the roots are rotting, they will be blackened and have a sulphurous smell.

Another possibility is that if that area is wetter and the mulch you have used is limestone, the wet limestone chips will leach calcium, increasing the alkalinity of the soil and causing a nutrient lock out, resulting in yellowing of leaves.

 

I looked at the picture last night and I think the limestone chippings are snow?

 

Thanks for the advice, I will do that and see what happens.

 

Looking again this morning, you’re right @pete. Bang goes that theory .

 

Points to consider in addition to above
What was in the ground before? Any treatment with weedkiller(s)
Seaweed extract is a root stimulant,not a nitrogenous feed
Are you a coastal location ?, potential of saline groundwater ?
Were these four the last to be planted ie the least viable/ enthusiasm waned at this point....?

 

Just one further thought @Selwynha, if you plan to dig up one of the plants to investigate, wait for the temperature to improve to avoid any further damage.