Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Check if you have recently applied fertilizer.
- Look for signs of heat stress during a dry spell.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf tips turn crispy and brown, and the leaves may start to curl inward. The soil feels very dry and hard to the touch.
What to do: Water the plant deeply until the water reaches the root zone. Maintain a consistent schedule of watering every 7 to 14 days depending on the heat.
Fertilizer burn
PossibleHow to tell: The tips turn brown suddenly after you have applied fertilizer. This is caused by too much salt accumulating in the root zone.
What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing again until the plant shows signs of new, healthy growth.
When to worry
Brown tips are rarely fatal, but they indicate the plant is struggling to manage its water. If the browning spreads to the whole leaf, it is time to adjust your care.
Stopping it coming back
Apply a 2 inch layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture. Water deeply during dry summer months to keep the roots hydrated.
Not sure which one it is? Photograph your cherry laurel.
This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the brown tips?
- You can trim them off for aesthetic reasons using clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green part of the leaf.
- Is my tap water causing this?
- If your water is very hard or high in salt, it can cause tip burn. If you suspect this, try watering with collected rainwater instead.
More problems with Cherry laurel
Back to the Cherry laurel guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.