Couple of questions.......where geographically are you located? And how large are these boxes?

Cherry laurels want to grow into large, almost tree-sized shrubs, so growing them in the restricted setting of a box or other container may be challenging. And again depending on location, how well they may tolerate cold winter temperatures in a container is also of concern.

The laurels do not look that bad, although obviously still showing the effects of some irregular irrigation/drought stress from the summer. If you can come back with more detailed info, we can better advise on winter care.

Hi Gardengal,

Thanks for your post. I hope you can help.

The location is central Hungary, not in any mountains or hills. There is farmland and a forest nearby.

The Cherry Laurel shrubs are in a row of eight boxes. Each box is 60cmX60cm. These shrubs were purchased in small pots and put into the boxes about two years ago.

Last winter some of them suffered cold/wind damage (partially browned leaves). People on this board said don't worry, they will come back, and they were right. By June of this year they were all thriving.

The Summer was hot and a breeze comes between the houses. This created an interesting phenomenon. The two or three shrubs closest to the neighbor's house wall gets some shade during the day. These two bushes thrived even with the watering just one time a week and only had a few brown leaves from the hot weather. At the other end of the row of 8 boxes, these shrub recieved some damage, but not awful. The three in the middle were still green, with some brown, but wilting had begun and it continued even after I increased watering to two times a week, and then three times. Our home was being renovated during these same Summer months and that took most of my time and attention. Sadly our Cherry Laurels suffered because of this.

Currently the shrubs that are next to the neighbor's house wall are 110 cm tall and pretty thick. The shrubs at the other end aren't as tall, but they are coming back pretty well. They don't have a wall giving them shade during part of the day or protecting them from the wind. However, maybe because they are closer to out house wall, maybe the wind isn't as strong there. The two or three in the midde are the ones I sent pictures of. One of them (in the picture) has only 15 leaves, and some new little ones that are just barely starting. I'm a bit shocked because in June these same shrubs in the pictures I sent were also thriving, maybe 80-100 cm tall. Anyway, such a drastic change has me worried of course.

Next Summer, particularly in July and August, and maybe June as well, I will water them three times a week. I have placed some cardboard around the middle shrub, the one in the picture with just 15 leaves, leaves that are cracking or browning. I removed the cardboard when I took the picture. I am thinking planting some trees to block some of this wind, and perhaps offer more shade might be useful, though I suppose planting the trees right next to the row of cherry laurels, and blocking too much fo the sunlight, may not be a good idea. I don't know.

Do you think the cardboard protection is a good idea? Is the idea of planting trees worthwhile? How should I care, at this moment, for the most damaged shrubs, the two or three in the middle of the row, especially that one that has only 15 leaves? And what should be the winter regimen for watering these laurels in their boxes? I don't think I waterd them last winter, there is more rain here during those months and the sun is less intense. However, some of them had significant cold or wind damage, which as posters had suggested, healed themselves. Maybe watering in the winter, when these shrubs are healthy, isn't so needed.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Is there a reason they need to be in containers? They're not a great subject for it.

These shrubs are to create some privacy. I agree with you that it would be better planted in the ground. Unfortunately, it is not allowed (for good reasons) to plant trees, etc. too close to a gas line here.