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Our long harsh winter that nearly the entire United States suffered may have did damage to your Cherry Laural.

I would trim away any damaged or dead branches and wait and see.
I have been assessing many of my shrubs and plants in my garden also! I always give plants plenty of time and care to see if they can come back.

Here is a link to the care needed for your shrubs.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/winter-damaged-trees-shrubs.htm

Your newly planted Cherry Laurel will need adequate water in order to establish it's root system.
I suspect the plants are needing daily water.

Here are a few links for you.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/watering-newly-planted-tree.htm

Giving it some high phosphorus fertilizer or adding bone meal to the soil around your plant should help encourage flowering. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/phosphorus-plant-growth.htm

The first year is generally the most important growing time for new planting.

Do the scratch and bend test. Do the branches snap or bend? If you scratch the bark is it still green underneath?
Snapping branches and no green under the bark, the trees have perished.
Most garden centers will replace a dead tree in the first year, you may want to contact them.

Here are a few links to help you.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/mountain-laurel/mountain-laurel-growing.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/watering-newly-planted-tree.htm

I did a bit of research and though there is some reports of the mulch being safe to use, the majority of sources recommend not using the Cherry Laurel mulch.

I would lend on the cautious side and dispose of the Cherry Laurel wood.

Cherry laurels have low fertilizer requirements with only a fall application required to boost the energy stores during the dormant, non-growing winter months. A fall application goes into the root system to keep the tree healthy and ready to being growing and producing blooms in spring.
Cherry Laurel trees prefer a slow-release granular fertilizer rated for flowering trees.
Try flushing the soil to remove the excess fertilizer or repot with fresh well draining soil.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm