Portuguese Laurel Hedge - leaf query

paulo_hagan4

I planted my Portuguese Laurel hedge about 15months ago and it has been growing really well, but I have noticed recently that some of the leaf look as if they are dying. Can anyone advise me on this??

Pete.8

It's not a shrub I know, but I wonder if it could be damage by hail stones on the young foliage.

Fairygirl

I'm not sure there's really anything much wrong. It's perfectly normal for all evergreens to drop foliage as they grow, which they replace.
However, as it seems to be the newer foliage, it's likely to be just weather related - whether cold, wet or heat. 
It does look like you have a lot of grass etc nearby too- a good clear border will help it retain nutrients and moisture, and also means you can add a mulch regularly which also helps retain moisture in drier spells, and also replenishes the ground. 
Have you pruned it at all? That would have helped encourage it to branch out and thicken up, especially if they were larger specimens you bought. Maybe a bit late to do it now, but it's worth doing next spring to get a better result. Even if you want it to get to certain height, pruning back doesn't stop that, as you're just taking a small amount off each time, and it will put on more growth than you take off over the course of the growing season