Hedge planted 3 years ago. No previous problems. Regularly watered.
This is an infection, likely from just a little too much watering.
These shrubs will not need extra water unless there is a severe drought, once established.
It will be best to only water once the soil dries out, very thoroughly, down to about 4 or 5 inches. This will not likely be very often.
From here, a fungicide will be necessary. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/biofungicide-information.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/homemade-fungicide.htm
Here is an article that will help you to care for the shrub:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
The laurel tree is 15 years old, he is overtaking his space and growing over the garden fence into next door garden. Quite thick branches. we are in SW London.
Spring is the best time to prune. I've included info for mountain laurel and bay laurel and hopefully one of those is what you have. If it's cherry laurel, just search our site for it.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/bay/cutting-back-bay-trees.htm
These are well established Laurels with proper growth in spring as well as bearing fruit after blooming. Just within a week has this problem happened. No sign of mold, mildew or bugs on the branches.
Unfortunately, your photos did not come through. I suspect the issue is microbial, though I couldn't say which. Here are two articles that will be most likely:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/fire-blight-remedies-and-symptoms.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/verticillium-wilt-treatment.htm
I had 7 strong laurel plants. One by one they are wilting and dying. The leaves droop, wilt and fall off, and the branches go black. It seems to spread from one plant to the next, one at a time.
This is a fungal infection from severe overwatering. At this point, they will likely not make it, but you can make an attempt at correction with fungicides:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
Thanks for the reply. They are probably 4 feet tall but have never been watered. Up against my garden fence, with the street pavement on the other side. Puzzling that they prospered to get to this height over a few years then fell ill. I'll look into the fungicides.
Will the location just be a poor one for them?
I need to know how big it will get and if I need to take it down for being too close to the house.
It may be an anise tree. Depending on the variety it may only get 8 feet tall. A star anise gets much taller. Yours looks very shrubby, rather than like a tree. I also considered a cherry laurel or bay laurel. You might want to visit with your local cooperative extension or local nursery for their evaluation. Here is more info:
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/shrubs/star-anise-shrubs.html
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/star-anise/growing-star-anise.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-extension-service.htm
Our young laurel hedge plants were planted Last spring & were growing well, but recently we have noticed the leaves turning yellow & also black holes appearing on the leaves. The overall span of the hedge is 24 metres, the hedge goes from top to bottom of our driveway, this is a significant drop from top to bottom. The yellowing of the plants started at the bottom & has now worked more than halfway up. If it has got any revelence to the situation, the laurel hedge replaced an existing laylandi, We were instructed that these could be cut off at ground level & the new laurel plants be put in between the stumps
Not sure if you have mountain laurel or bay laurel. Here is info on both:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/bay/bay-laurel-turning-yellow.htm
Planted laurel at the front of garden ... wanted an evergreen... but the hedge at either side is 100 odd year old beech ... I thought I could fill in gaps with evergreen do gaps are less see through in winter ?
Sounds good to me. Here is more about their care:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm