does anyone know what’s happened to my acuba i brought it from a garden centre a few months ago and it just seems to be getting more and more black spots is it underwatered or overwatered or does it have a disease?
Hi @jess.lane1318 and welcome to our forum. I'm afraid I find aucubas an eyesore at the best of times, and IMHO your specimen is an epitome of hideousness. I'm sure your GC has plenty of much better-looking plants to replace it.
@jess.lane1318 Hi - they are prone to black spots, which are caused by two different things: water logging or too much sun (they prefer shade). Where do you have it?
It's a matter of personal taste. I quite like them and they make good lasting decorations at Christmas! I had one that I bought to grow under a lime tree. Not a lot will grow under lime trees. It did very well until I had to have the lime tree pruned and it was a very hot summer so it got sunburnt, but it regrew pretty well the following year.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
@jess.lane1318 You should be able to tell, the leaves that catch the sun look a little bleached yet underneath they will be greener. Do you water the leaves or the compost. Water droplets can cause leaves to scorch. Do you grow it in a pot? Lots of questions but will try to help.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS. Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler. James Alexander Sinclair
Yes - they aren't as straightforward as the standard cherry laurel, and don't like being waterlogged. Sunny sites can be problematic unless you're in a generally cooler, damper climate . Info on how you're growing it will help though
Not something I care for either, as they always look sickly, but we all have our likes and dislikes.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@jess.lane1318 When I first started gardening this was one of the first plants bought. I am sure that when people are new to gardening they are attracted to how healthy they look at the GC only to find they are not so easy to keep looking good at home.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS. Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler. James Alexander Sinclair
@jess.lane1318 Hi - they are prone to black spots, which are caused by two different things: water logging or too much sun (they prefer shade). Where do you have it?
i have it in a spot which roughly gets two hours of sun is that too much?
@jess.lane1318 You should be able to tell, the leaves that catch the sun look a little bleached yet underneath they will be greener. Do you water the leaves or the compost. Water droplets can cause leaves to scorch. Do you grow it in a pot? Lots of questions but will try to help.
i water the compost about once a week and grow it in a flower bed.
@jesslane It needs to be in the ground so good, watering correctly, once a week a good soaking and not the leaves. You will need to continue to make sure it doesn't dry out over the summer by then it should have established.
Two hours of sun is fine, you will see bleached leaves as said if it is too sunny. The black markings on the leaves are common on spotted laurel. Frost and cold will affect leaves and blacken them, also hail. They do recover, you could take off the worst affected leaves only, wear gardening gloves. On a mature plant I think you would just accept it.
Spotted laurel becomes a big shrub. it is often planted, then before you know it hard pruning is needed that is when it can look unsightly. As it regrows ,you will see where you have cut it reshoots in two places on each stem.
Things that grow fast need more maintenance than slow growing plants.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS. Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler. James Alexander Sinclair
Hi @jess.lane1318 and welcome to our forum. I'm afraid I find aucubas an eyesore at the best of times, and IMHO your specimen is an epitome of hideousness. I'm sure your GC has plenty of much better-looking plants to replace it.
They're not my favourite plant either @Papi Jo ... many folk on here know that ... however it's not my garden or yours that this brand new member of the forum is asking about ... you have a very good command of English but I know it's not your first language ... did you really mean to be so gratuitously rude and unpleasant to a new member asking her first ever question? It's not like you to be unkind ..
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
James Alexander Sinclair
Info on how you're growing it will help though
Not something I care for either, as they always look sickly, but we all have our likes and dislikes.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I am sure that when people are new to gardening they are attracted to how healthy they look at the GC only to find they are not so easy to keep looking good at home.
Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
James Alexander Sinclair
Two hours of sun is fine, you will see bleached leaves as said if it is too sunny.
The black markings on the leaves are common on spotted laurel. Frost and cold will affect leaves and blacken them, also hail. They do recover, you could take off the worst affected leaves only, wear gardening gloves. On a mature plant I think you would just accept it.
Spotted laurel becomes a big shrub. it is often planted, then before you know it hard pruning is needed that is when it can look unsightly. As it regrows ,you will see where you have cut it reshoots in two places on each stem.
Things that grow fast need more maintenance than slow growing plants.
Building a garden is very personal. It's not quite the same as installing a boiler.
James Alexander Sinclair
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.