Is my mountain laurel sick or dying?

[Glassonion91168]

Hi All,

See the pic I posted below. I feel like my mountain laurel is sick or dying. What can I do to help it? It happens to be our state tree too, so I'm worried very much about ramifications if there are any.

Thanks.

[GEOSAN]

Looks like fungal leaf spot. Daconil can be used as a fungicide...read the label.

[rainbowgardener]

It does look like a fungal disease.

Do you know what the pH of your soil is? Mountain laurel MUST have acid soil, pH down around 5. In soil that is neutral or alkaline it will be unhealthy and very vulnerable to any disease or pest that comes along.

[Glassonion91168]

It does look like a fungal disease.

Do you know what the pH of your soil is? Mountain laurel MUST have acid soil, pH down around 5. In soil that is neutral or alkaline it will be unhealthy and very vulnerable to any disease or pest that comes along.

I don't know the pH. It used to thrive and I don't know what happened. Can I save it?

[Glassonion91168]

IT LIVES!!!! Imagine my surprise the other day when I walked outside to look at it and it was blooming! We had a lot of rain a couple of weeks ago, so I think it may have helped. I also think it might be a late bloomer. So happy!

[rainbowgardener]

beautiful! I meant to say before but didn't, that IME laurel often gets a bit spotty like that. It withstands it pretty well.

[Glassonion91168]

I think you're right, but I guess I didn't really notice it until I started posting to this group and really evaluating my garden. This forum has been so helpful!!