WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Prunus laurocerasus, WUCOLS IV

How often to water English laurel in California

In July in the Central Valley, established English laurel in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 47 gallons a week. English laurel, also called cherry laurel, is a fast growing evergreen shrub or small tree with large, glossy leaves that smell of cherry when bruised. It reaches 10 to 20 feet and takes heavy pruning, so it is widely used as a tall hedge. Upright spikes of fragrant white flowers open in spring, followed by purple-black fruit.

ShrubTreeRated for 4 of 6 zones

How often to water English laurel, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for English laurel and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 3 to 4 inches down along the hedge line signals that English laurel needs a deep soak
  • Leaves losing their gloss and hanging limp into the evening can indicate a dry root zone
  • Gumming, boring dust or dying twigs on weakened branches point to shothole borers, which favor stressed plants
  • Round holes punched in the leaves come from shot-hole disease rather than from a watering fault
  • Yellowing leaves and a thinning hedge over soggy ground can indicate root rot from poor drainage

How to water it

  • Run drip line or a soaker hose along both sides of a hedge so the whole root strip gets water
  • Soak to about 12 inches deep, then let the top few inches dry before watering again
  • Plant in soil rich in organic matter that drains well, avoiding spots where water stands
  • Skip heavy fertilizer, which this shrub does not tolerate, and mulch the root area instead
  • Widen the watered band as the hedge thickens, since its roots are competitive and spread

Through the seasons

Keep a new English laurel evenly moist through its first summer while roots spread. Established plants tolerate poor soil but grow best with deep soakings through the dry season. This evergreen flowers in spring and holds its leaves all year. Winter rain usually supplies it on the coast and in the Central Valley. WUCOLS rates English laurel moderate water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley and on the south coast. It rates high water in South Inland. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the high desert or the low desert.

In pots

Dwarf cultivars of English laurel suit large containers on a shaded patio, while the species soon outgrows a pot. Use a container with drainage holes and a rich, well-drained mix. In summer heat, push a finger 2 inches into the mix every few days and water once that depth is dry. Soak until water drains out, then empty the saucer. Keep fallen leaves and clippings away from pets, since the plant is poisonous. In winter, water lightly when the mix begins to dry.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
1.02.03.04.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC1.02.03.04.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

English Laurel: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.40.781.24––
Feb0.530.650.811.39––
Mar0.871.091.152.08––
Apr1.181.521.42.58––
May1.462.081.613.12––
Jun1.612.481.743.67––
Jul1.612.671.984.02––
Aug1.492.391.863.72––
Sep1.241.81.492.98––
Oct0.871.181.152.13––
Nov0.470.560.841.44––
Dec0.310.340.651.09––
Year1217.1115.529.46––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like English laurel. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

RosesRosa hybrids..bushmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCitrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAzaleasRhododendron spp. (CA native and non-native spp.)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCamelliasCamellia japonica (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGardeniasGardenia spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAvocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae (shade in desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMagnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPalm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySago PalmCycas revolutamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyApple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPeach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPersimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than English laurel in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

LavenderLavandula spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRosemaryRosmarinus officinalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyOlive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyLantanaLantana camara ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyEucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySagebrushArtemisia spp. (shrubby)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes English laurel, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water English laurel in summer?

In July, established English laurel in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 5 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does English laurel need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established English laurel needs about 6.8 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 27 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for English laurel change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates English laurel separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, high water in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Is English laurel poisonous?

Yes. Its leaves, stems and seeds contain cyanide-producing compounds and are highly toxic if eaten, especially as they wilt. It is a problem for cats, dogs and horses. Clear away clippings rather than leaving them where animals graze.

Why does my English laurel have holes in the leaves?

Round holes usually come from shot-hole disease, to which this shrub is susceptible. It is a leaf disease, not a sign of thirst. Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves.

Is English laurel invasive?

It has escaped cultivation along the Pacific coast west of the Cascades and is considered a weed of concern there. Trimming off spent flower spikes limits the fruit it sets. Pull any seedlings that appear nearby.

How do I keep an English laurel hedge dense?

It grows fast and tolerates heavy pruning, so regular shearing keeps it full. Water the full length of the hedge, not just a few plants. Skip heavy feeding, which it does not tolerate.

Can English laurel grow in shade?

Yes. It grows in anything from full sun to deep shade and flowers even in heavy shade. Shaded plants dry out more slowly, so check the soil before watering.

Can you overwater English laurel?

Yes. It needs good drainage and is susceptible to root rot. Let the upper soil dry between soakings, especially in clay.

More plant watering guides

HorsetailBlood GrassSoft RushThymeRosesCitrus TreesAzaleasCamellias

Sources