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Otto Luyken Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'
Otto Luyken is a dwarf English laurel. It is a lush, compact, evergreen shrub that offers year-round interest with glossy dark green leaves. Its fragrant white flowers are followed by small black ornamental berries.
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Otto Luyken Laurel for Sale Online
Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel is a selection that grows shorter than other cherry laurels and features spikes of creamy white flowers that rise about the foliage in spring and give way to shiny black fruit, which birds adore.
The showy, fragrant white flowers attract butterflies, and the attractive dark green foliage is deer resistant. Otto Luyken Cherry Laurels make a perfect evergreen privacy hedge or buffer screen.
| Hardiness Zone: | 6-9 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 4 to 6 feet if left unpruned |
| Mature Width: | 5 to 6 feet |
| Classification: | Broad leaved evergreen shrub |
| Sunlight: | Full sun to part shade |
| Habit: | Densely branched, spreading |
| Foliage: | Dark green evergreen leaves |
| Flower Color: | White fragrant flowers that produce black fruit |
| Pruning Season: | Prune in spring after flowering |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as in the mixed border, foundations, or planted in mass. Works well as a hedge |
How to Care for Otto Luyken Laurel
Before you buy an Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel, be sure to read about the care instructions that are required and recommended to keep this plant healthy and thriving!
How do I plant an Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel?
When planting your newly purchased Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel plants, dig a hole twice as wide as the root system but not deeper. Depending on the quality of your existing soil, you may need to add locally sourced compost or topsoil to the back-fill soil. Adding compost or topsoil will help the young feeder roots of Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel to spread through the loose, nutrient-rich soil, much easier than if you used solely the existing soil, which more times than not will be hard and compacted. The most common cause of plant death after transplanting is planting the new plant too deep. A good rule is that you should still see the soil the plant was grown in after back-filling the hole. Bio-tone starter fertilizer is a starter fertilizer that provides plants with a mycorrhizal fungus. It is a naturally occurring beneficial fungus that colonizes the new growing roots of plants. It creates a barrier between the roots and fungus and pathogens that can cause root rot. We love this product and use it on all plants we install in our gardens. Bio-tone is a gardener's best friend and can help guarantee your success.
How do I fertilize my Otto Luyken?
Plants such as Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel grow best when fertilized once in the spring and again in early summer. Schip Laurel favors nutrient-rich soil and ample fertilization. Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel benefits from a fertilizer that can help raise the acid level of the soil. When selecting a fertilizer for your Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel, a balanced fertilizer can be used, such as Tree-tone. If you choose to use chemical fertilizers on your Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel, applying a slow-release, balanced fertilizer once a year in the spring is probably the simplest solution. A fast-release fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 will work just as well if applied twice during the summer. Never fertilize a plant with a chemical fertilizer if the plant looks sick or wilted. If a plant is struggling due to a disease or root problems, the fertilizer will only add stress to its life. Don't fertilize Cherry Laurel Otto Luyken after August in the North. Fall is the time for cherry laurels to begin preparing for dormancy. Fertilizing at this time may stimulate new growth that will be too tender to withstand the winter. In the South, late summer into September application would be about right. Over-fertilization can be much more detrimental than under-fertilization.
How do I water Otto Luyken Cherry Laurels?
If your Laurel is new (not established), we recommend giving it water once a week or twice a week if you live in a hot climate. Your plant will grow fast if it has a good supply of water and nutrition when it is developing. Once your plant is well established, it is extremely drought-resistant. The only time you will need to water your plant is during periods of extended drought. If your plant looks extremely dry and wilted, give it some water, and it will bounce right back.
What type of mulch is best for a Cherry Laurel?
Adding mulch around your Laurel is an excellent way to conserve moisture and prevent weed competition. Weeds sometimes like to compete for sunlight or moisture if they begin to grow around your plants. We recommend covering the root area about 2 to 3 inches deep with mulch, but no more than that. Also, be cautious about putting mulch too close to your plant's stem and foliage. It is best to leave a couple of inches around the stem and the beginning of the mulch.
