i would cut of all the high stuff right down into the healthy growth that looks to be about a third of the way up the plant so lose 2 thirds of it and the neighber should do the same.it could be deseased .i dont know but laural is normaly a very tough plant . something not so good is definatly happening . its worth cutting with a saw and cutting down to the first whole leaves . if you just use shears you will leave nasty old half leaves that look horrible and are a wound for more desease .also if it is a desease you need to get rid of every last bad leaf or and branches . even any on the floor .the best way if you can is to burn what mite be deseased or poisaned as it will kill anything in them.

Agree to cut down back to healthy growth - I'm mystified by this, I had a laurel that did this years ago, and despite being in this game for years, I've never been able to establish what it is that causes this - very annoying, I find it! I should add that clearly, it's not dying, with all that new growth.

no definatly not the bottom looks posativly thriving.

I don't think that's a laurel - it looks like an aucuba to me, but I'd go along with cutting it back to healthy growth, then feeding it.

Ah...commonly known as Spotted Laurel, Spritzhenry...is that right?

It certainly looks worse this year than last year. I have a few blackish leaves on mine..I have 2 in the back garden ....but nothing like this! Could it be excessive cold...or is that too simplistic? It is amazing how it still survives lower down. That is why I thought it was extreme cold damage....but it is looking much worse this year so perhaps progressive?

I will suggest we cut it right back tomorrow...as we did last year...and see what happens! Thank you for your comments again.

I have an Aucuba, and it's completely hardy here....I haven't heard that it might not be in other areas, which is why I'm surprised that this looks so poorly!

I've just checked in my RHS book - which says 'fully hardy', so it probably isn't the cold that's affecting it. You're right - the common name is indeed 'Spotted Laurel'!

Ok...so something is making it poorly! It's certainly been progressive! I still think I will follow your earlier advice and cut back to new growth and see what happens this year! It might survive another summer at least...before it succumbs!

Thanks again...!

Good luck with it. Feed it when you've pruned it back - try blood, fish and bone as being a good balanced food.

i would almost bet cut back well in both gardens it will thrive as bamboo sais.happy gardening.

I have looked through many pages before coming across this photo of a diseased Laural. Mine is exactly the same. Is there any chance of a survival ? or should I completely destroy it. Does anyone know what this disease is called ? Tom.

Hi Tom...

I cut it right back...removed all diseased wood...fed with fish, blood and bone...kept watered...and we now have a healthy shrub with big red berries at the moment.

SORRY...was rushing off to a funeral this morning when I rattled off that reply.

I have just had a look at said shrub at the front of the house...and now see some blackened leaves....again! I will remove them as last time. Someone did tell me that Aucubas and other Laurels were prone to some disease which resulted in these blackened leaves ..and stems...and that I should remove all evidence of same.

Good luck!

every time itshows take it of . if it was the cold it would be that new lower growth that sufferd first and asalready said its very hardy .