Mountain Laurel Growing Care Of Mountain Laurel In The Landscape

Keep It Alive

Plant mountain laurel in well-drained, cool, moist, acidic soil in USDA zones 5-9.
Good drainage is essential to avoid rot. ...
Mountain laurel will grow in deep shade to full sun but is happiest in moderate to partial shade. ...
Deadheading spent blooms will increase the next year's flower production.

Do mountain laurels like sun or shade?
How do you keep mountain laurel healthy?
Can you keep mountain laurel small?
How fast does mountain laurel grow?
Do hummingbirds like mountain laurel?
Why is my mountain laurel not blooming?
How do you rejuvenate mountain laurel?
What is a good fertilizer for mountain laurel?
What is the best fertilizer for mountain laurels?
Why is my mountain laurel dying?
What grows well with mountain laurel?
Is Mountain Laurel poisonous to dogs?

Do mountain laurels like sun or shade?

Mountain laurel will grow in USDA Zones 5 to 9 in deep shade to full sun, but it does best in moderate to partial shade. In deep shade it won't produce as many flowers and can become spindly. Too-bright sun can cause scorching of the leaves.

How do you keep mountain laurel healthy?

A fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants is best. Mountain laurels are accustomed to fertile, moist, well-drained soil that is shaded from summer sun. A one-inch application of compost or fine mulch each spring cools the roots and increases fertility as it breaks down.

Can you keep mountain laurel small?

Texas Mountain Laurel is a native evergreen shrub that can be trained as a multi-trunked small tree. It can be pruned to keep it shrub-like. While it can reach 30' tall if given lots of water, it usually holds in the more manageable and desirable 10' to 15' range and gets about 10' wide.

How fast does mountain laurel grow?

This shrub grows at a slow rate, with height increases of less than 12" per year.

Do hummingbirds like mountain laurel?

This plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees (although their honey will be toxic and should be avoided). Protect the delicate fibrous mountain laurel roots with a two-to-six-inch layer of mulch.

Why is my mountain laurel not blooming?

Environmental factors that can cause Texas mountain laurel to not bloom include too much shade, waterlogged or heavy clay soil, and too much nitrogen. Texas mountain laurel can grow in dappled to part shade. ... Nitrogen promotes leafy green growth on plants, not bloom or root development.

How do you rejuvenate mountain laurel?

When cutting back mountain laurel, older, tired branches can actually be rejuvenated by cutting them all the way back to the ground. Mountain laurel plants are very forgiving about hard pruning. However, a general rule of thumb when pruning trees and shrubs, is to never remove more than 1/3 of the plant in one pruning.

What is a good fertilizer for mountain laurel?

Some serious gardeners spray dilute liquid fertilizer mixed with dilute seaweed extract on the mountain laurel foliage once or twice early in the season at 6 week intervals to boost the shrubs' vigor. It is not required, but it is beneficial.

What is the best fertilizer for mountain laurels?

Use a fertilizer designed for acid-loving plants mixed at one-quarter strength once a year in spring. You can also add a thin layer of compost to the soil for additional nutrients and to add to the organic matter of the soil. Mountain laurel begins forming the buds for next year's flowers soon after the flowers fade.

Why is my mountain laurel dying?

Fungal Leaf Drop on Mountain Laurels

Fungal diseases primarily occur when temperatures are warm and conditions are wet or humid. Fungal spores bloom on consistently wet leaves causing spotting, lesions, halos and eventually die-off of the leaf.

What grows well with mountain laurel?

It combines well with other spring-blooming shrubs like dwarf summersweet and Virginia sweetspire. Mountain laurel, which is hardy in zones 4 through 9, prefers acidic, evenly moist soil and near perfect drainage. For that reason, the shrubs are not drought tolerant, nor will they tolerate heavy wet clay.

Is Mountain Laurel poisonous to dogs?

Mountain Laurel: This beautiful flowering plant can be quite toxic to both dogs and cats. The toxin associated with this plan results in abnormal functioning of muscles and nerves. Common symptoms include lethargy, drooling, uncoordinated walking, and a decreased heart rate.