If you want your garden plants to really thrive, it’s all about getting them off to a great start. Proper planting is the secret sauce—it helps those roots settle into the soil easily and get growing fast. Here’s my go-to guide on how to plant laurel so it stays happy and healthy.
Prepping the Perfect Spot for Your Laurel
Before you start digging, you’ve got to pick the right location. When choosing a spot for your laurel, keep its roots in mind—this plant originally hails from the Mediterranean. That means it’s used to plenty of sunshine! You’ll want to find a place with lots of light or, at the very least, some partial shade. You also need to keep an eye on the soil quality and moisture levels.
Laurel loves soil that has a bit of sand or loam mixed in, which helps keep things consistently moist. Now, that doesn’t just mean you need to water it regularly; it also means picking a spot where the water doesn’t just disappear instantly into the deep subsoil. On the flip side, you definitely want to avoid “wet feet” (standing water). Waterlogging is tough on the roots and is a one-way ticket to brown leaves.
How to Get Your Laurel in the Ground
Once you’ve found the perfect home for it, follow these steps to get your laurel planted. Loosening up the soil and adding a little fertilizer will make the roots feel right at home and ensure your plant has all the nutrients it needs to take off.
Step-by-Step Planting:
- Loosen up the soil at your planting site and mix in some sand or loam if needed.
- Dig a hole large enough to comfortably fit the entire root ball.
- Mix a little compost, horse manure, or humus into the soil for a nutrient boost.
- Place your laurel in the hole and cover the root ball with soil.
- Give it a good soak immediately and keep it well-watered for the first few weeks.
In the period right after planting, it’s super important to water regularly while making sure the soil isn’t becoming a swamp. For the best results, use soft water (low in lime). Filtered water works great, but honestly, just collecting some rainwater is the easiest and best way to keep your laurel hydrated!
