Didn't know where else to post this, so here goes.

I planted about a dozen cherry laurel saplings bare root this winter. Needless to say they all lost their leaves went into some kind of dormancy.

Some are now showing some signs of life(swelling/new buds) some have not, but all are still green when I scratch the surface of the twig and supple when I try and bend them a little bit.

When I got these they were all tall and spindly so I buried them 3-4 inches deeper than they should have to reduce dessication and for improved support.

From research I have found that cherry laurel can supposedly be propagated by layering.

Will these saplings initiate root growth where they are in contact with the soil without action on my part?

Can I help them without digging them up?

Sorry for the long winded question and thank you for any input.