Cherry Laurel wind damage

[KazB]

In January of this year I had a brand new cherry laurel hedge planted but unfortunately 2 weeks later we had storm Eowyn which uprooted nearly all my plants. I was away at the time so I contacted the landscaper who had planted them and he assured me he would go round and secure them. It actually took him 10 days to go round but he assured me they would be fine as they are a very hardy plant. So here we are 10 weeks later and all but 3 of the plants appear dead. The leaves are brown and brittle and a lot of them have fallen off. The landscaper has said the plants are guaranteed but I doubt

very much they are covered for storm damage and although he has been promising to contact the supplier 2 weeks later he still hasn't. So first off do you think they will recover and should I remove the rest of the leaves as they are all dead. Any help greatly appreciated and I have attached photos of how they were when first planted then after storm Eowyn at the end of January and how they look now.

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @KazB and Howdy

Personally, I would get a new landscaper or better yet DIY.

The before and after photos really help understanding your situation. Remove any/all dead stuff from the remaining living plants and those that are completely dead like the above remove entirely.

If you can get replacements under warranty, certainly take advantage of it. " The landscaper has said the plants are guaranteed but I doubt"

I'm sorry but 10 days is ridiculous "took him 10 days to go round but he assured me they..."

Replanting and securing those plants in that space shouldn't take more than a couple of hours at most. If some of those plants were out of the ground during the 10 days, then that landscaper is to blame for their demise, not necessarily the storm.

From the photo it appears to me the landscaper failed to add adequate soil around the replanted plants. The root ball is showing on some and that should NOT happen. Again, a new landscaper should be considered.

Just guessing but the damaged ones appear to be underwatered...when replanted they should have been thoroughly watered in to help the roots get re-established.

I don't see anything the landscaper did to secure those plants from future such happenings...but maybe its there and I fail to see it in the photos.

Storms come and go and most all of us have to deal with them in some way or another...but it appears to me your plant damage was possibly quite exacerbated by the landscaper.

 

[oneeye]

Since they are only in the ground for a few months it would be easy to pull the dead ones up. I agree with Medowlark you should remove any dead wood and leaves and replant new ones now that its Spring.

 

[KazB]

In January of this year I had a brand new cherry laurel hedge planted but unfortunately 2 weeks later we had storm Eowyn which uprooted nearly all my plants. I was away at the time so I contacted the landscaper who had planted them and he assured me he would go round and secure them. It actually took him 10 days to go round but he assured me they would be fine as they are a very hardy plant. So here we are 10 weeks later and all but 3 of the plants appear dead. The leaves are brown and brittle and a lot of them have fallen off. The landscaper has said the plants are guaranteed but I doubtView attachment 107875View attachment 107876View attachment 107877 very much they are covered for storm damage and although he has been promising to contact the supplier 2 weeks later he still hasn't. So first off do you think they will recover and should I remove the rest of the leaves as they are all dead. Any help greatly appreciated and I have attached photos of how they were when first planted then after storm Eowyn at the end of January and how they look now.

Thanks very much for your advice I will start on removing all the dead leaves tomorrow and prune back the ones where the stalk is still green. Unfortunately I can't afford to replace the dead ones at the moment (initial c

Welcome @KazB and Howdy

Personally, I would get a new landscaper or better yet DIY.

The before and after photos really help understanding your situation. Remove any/all dead stuff from the remaining living plants and those that are completely dead like the above remove entirely.

If you can get replacements under warranty, certainly take advantage of it. " The landscaper has said the plants are guaranteed but I doubt"

I'm sorry but 10 days is ridiculous "took him 10 days to go round but he assured me they..."

Replanting and securing those plants in that space shouldn't take more than a couple of hours at most. If some of those plants were out of the ground during the 10 days, then that landscaper is to blame for their demise, not necessarily the storm.

From the photo it appears to me the landscaper failed to add adequate soil around the replanted plants. The root ball is showing on some and that should NOT happen. Again, a new landscaper should be considered.

Just guessing but the damaged ones appear to be underwatered...when replanted they should have been thoroughly watered in to help the roots get re-established.

I don't see anything the landscaper did to secure those plants from future such happenings...but maybe its there and I fail to see it in the photos.

Storms come and go and most all of us have to deal with them in some way or another...but it appears to me your plant damage was possibly quite exacerbated by the landscaper.

Thanks very much for your advice tomorrow I will remove the rest of the dead leaves. If any of the stalks are still green (some of them are) should I prune them back and hope they revive? If course the ones that are totally brown I will remove. Sadly I can't afford to replace them at the moment (initially plants cost around £350 ) so hoping they can be covered by the guarantee but unfortunately the landscaper is now ignoring all my calls

 

[KazB]

Since they are only in the ground for a few months it would be easy to pull the dead ones up. I agree with Medowlark you should remove any dead wood and leaves and replant new ones now that its Spring.

Thanks I'm going to remove all dead leaves and any that are beyond saving but sadly I can't afford to replace them at the moment

 

[Meadowlark]

Thanks very much for your advice tomorrow I will remove the rest of the dead leaves. If any of the stalks are still green (some of them are) should I prune them back and hope they revive?

Yes, only prune out the dead stuff on those that have green stalks. There is a very good chance they will be just fine.

 

[Meadowlark]

...but unfortunately the landscaper is now ignoring all my calls

Another reason to find another or DIY.

 

[KazB]

Yes, only prune out the dead stuff on those that have green stalks. There is a very good chance they will be just fine.

I will give it a go wish me luck

 

[KazB]

Another reason to find another or DIY.

Definitely DIY spent all my money on 45 laurel plants

 

[Meadowlark]

I will give it a go wish me luck

By the way, that is a beautiful patio as shown in the first picture.

Certainly, wish you well in restoring it.

 

[KazB]

By the way, that is a beautiful patio as shown in the first picture.

Certainly, wish you well in restoring it.

Thanks very much