Why the struggle?
It was late July and very hot when I did a welfare check on newly planted Portuguese laurels (Prunus lusitanica). One specimen showed a lot of brown foliage inside and the pregnant unit owner was rightfully worried. Hmm.
So I dropped to my knees to see what was going on. There was a lot of soil amender piled against the plants which can be a problem. When the owner waters, I’m almost sure the water barely penetrates the several inches of soil amender.
We need water in the root zone!
The fix?
Just like with tree planting, you can’t pile soil or mulch against the trunk like a volcano. I’ve written numerous posts about the many problems with mulch volcanoes. If you don’t know what I’m talkin about, please search through my YouTube shorts.
So I reached in and pulled the soil amender away from the stems until I could see the root flare. That’s the zone where stems become roots. When you do this, you create a well.
Then the next step is turning your water hose on low trickle so you can slow soak the plant for a few minutes. With the soil amender pushed out of the way, it’s almost guaranteed we’ll get water into the root zone.
I will try to check on the laurels when I’m in the area next. It would be a shame to lose them because they have beautiful glossy foliage and they’re pricey. Over time they will provide a nice screen for the owners and their kids.
Conclusion
Adding soil amender after planting gives the plants a nice kick and keeps moisture inside. But never pile the soil against the trunk: this is true for trees and shrubs. The laurels in this post probably couldn’t get water deep into the root zone because the amender absorbed whatever water the owner gave it.
In my experience, homeowners don’t slow soak their plants. Their treat them like their cars at a car wash. If you’re not sure about moisture levels, stick your finger into the planting hole to get an idea.
Over-watering can also be a problem: water displaces oxygen so too much water could suffocate your plants.
