SW> Any mountain laurel experts out there? I've been told
 SW> that they're generally tough to grow, but no one will
 SW> say why exactly. Any tips on perking up a droopy laurel
 SW> tree? The soil here in San Antonio isn't the greatest
 SW> (iron poor) and is normally tightly-packed clay. When I
 SW> planted it, I used ironite and root stimulator on the
 SW> little guy, but it doesn't seem to be growing much. One
 SW> of its branches yellowed up and died. No bugs or fungus
 SW> on it that I can tell.
Well, Stu, why didn't you pick a *really* tough job?  :)  I mean,
San Antonio is about as far removed for a mountain laural as
*Mars* would be!  (I'm joking, of course, but it *is* a pretty tall
order, to ask a mountain laural to grow in South Texas!
The first thing I can tell you it that you need to remember where
mountain laural is native to... and try to duplicate it.  I'm serious.
They like deep, acid rich soil, with a healthy topping of hardwood
leaves in varying stages of decomposition... in other words, leaf
mold.  They will grow in several hours of sun, but not *San Antonio*
sun, unless it is early morning (my preference) or late afternoon!
(Not all sun is the same, is it   :) and remember that they grow along
side plants like Oak, Pine, Mountain Azalea, Mountain Hydrangea,
Dogwood, Redbud, Larch, [the list is long], so give them company
that they will appreciate.
Please don't take this post to be any suggestion that I consider
myself to be an expert on mountain laural (or anything else, for
that  matter  :)  I just happen to be from an area which has more
than a few laurals (of all kind   :)
cheers,
WL Sakowski
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