Mountain Laurel Irrigation: How To Water A Mountain Laurel Shrub
A sometimes overlooked North American native (and the state flower of Pennsylvania), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a very hardy, shade tolerant shrub that produces beautiful, showy flowers where many other plants will not. While mountain laurel is tough and mostly self-sufficient, there are some basic guidelines to follow to make sure it lives its best life and produces as many flowers as possible. One obvious element to think about is irrigation. Keep reading to learn more about mountain laurel water needs and how to water a mountain laurel shrub.
Mountain Laurel Irrigation
The time mountain laurel water needs are the greatest is immediately after the shrub has been transplanted. Mountain laurel should be planted in the autumn when temperatures have just started to drop. You should water the shrub well after you’ve planted it, and then continue to water it regularly and deeply until first frost. Take care not to go overboard and waterlog the soil. Only water enough to give it a good drenching, then let the water drain away. Make sure to plant your mountain laurel in well-draining soil to avoid problems that stem from standing water.
How to Water a Mountain Laurel Shrub
After the first frost, leave it alone. In the spring, when temperatures start to rise again, it’s time to begin watering regularly. It’s helpful to put out a layer of mulch around the shrub to help retain moisture over the roots. Once it is established, a mountain laurel shouldn’t need too much watering. It should be able to get by on natural rainfall, though it will benefit from some supplemental watering during periods of heat and drought. Even established plants should be watered generously in the fall leading up to the first frost. This will help the plant stay healthy through the winter.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
The only child of a horticulturist and an English teacher, Liz Baessler was destined to become a gardening editor. She has been with Gardening Know how since 2015, and a Senior Editor since 2020. She holds a BA in English from Brandeis University and an MA in English from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. After years of gardening in containers and community garden plots, she finally has a backyard of her own, which she is systematically filling with vegetables and flowers.
-
4 Winter Composting Shortcuts To Fill Garden Beds In Time For Spring Planting
Discover quick, clever winter composting techniques to prep your garden beds and pots for spring planting. Reduce waste, enrich soil, and save time.
By Melanie Griffiths
-
Foraging Flowers: How To Forage Floral Plants – And Which Flowers You Can Pick For Free Edibles!
It’s fun to forage flowers, but it’s important to know the rules. Avoid areas that have been sprayed, beware of imposters and take only what you need.
By Tonya Barnett
-
Potted Mountain Laurel Care – Learn About Container Grown Mountain Laurels
Mountain laurel shrubs are usually used as landscape plants, and can often be seen blooming in dappled shade under trees and taller shrubs. But can you grow mountain laurel in a pot? Click here to learn more about caring for mountain laurel in containers.
By Liz Baessler
-
Mountain Laurel Leaves Are Browning – Why Are Mountain Laurel Leaves Turning Brown
Mountain laurel usually remains green year round, so brown leaves on mountain laurels can be a sign of trouble. Determining the reason for brown mountain laurel leaves can be challenging and involves careful detective work. The following information may help.
By Mary H. Dyer
-
Mountain Laurel Trimming Tips: How To Prune Mountain Laurel Bushes
Growing to a general height and width of five to eight feet (1.5 to 2 m.), cutting back mountain laurels may occasionally be necessary to fit the space they are in. To learn how to prune mountain laurel shrubs, click on this article for more information.
By Darcy Larum
-
Cuttings From Mountain Laurel Shrubs: How To Root Mountain Laurel Cuttings
Mountain laurels grow happily reproduce from seeds, but these won’t reliably reproduce hybrid cultivars. The only way to be sure of clones is with cutting propagation. Growing cuttings from mountain laurel is possible, but not always easy. Learn more here.
By Teo Spengler
-
Mountain Laurel Losing Leaves – What Causes Leaf Drop On Mountain Laurels
Plants lose leaves for a variety of reasons. In the case of mountain laurel leaf drop, fungal, environmental and cultural issues may be the cause. Figuring out which is the hard part but, once you do, most fixes are fairly easy. This article can help.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Growing New Mountain Laurels: Learn About Mountain Laurel Propagation
Propagating from plants in your yard is cheaper and more rewarding. Growing new mountain laurels can be done by a couple of accepted methods: by seed and by cuttings. Find out how to propagate mountain laurel shrubs in this article.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Diseases Of Mountain Laurel Bushes: What’s Wrong With My Mountain Laurel
If your mountain laurel has leaf spots or chlorotic foliage, you may be wondering, “Is my mountain laurel sick.” Like all plants, mountain laurels have their share of diseases. It is important to learn the signs of these diseases in order to treat them. This article will help.
By Amy Grant
-
Mountain Laurel Cold Hardiness: How To Care For Mountain Laurels In Winter
Mountain laurels do not require coddling in your garden. However, if you live in an area with harsh weather, you may want to consider winter protection for mountain laurels. If you are wondering how to care for mountain laurels in winter, this article will help.
By Teo Spengler