Author Topic: Anyone got Laurel hedging? (Read 7899 times)

OhLaLa · « **on:** October 01, 2010, 12:42:57 pm »

Anyone heard anything one way or the other about having Laurel hedging bordering turnout/hay fields?

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2010, 01:25:56 pm »

I don't keep horses, but laurel killed one of my sheep and made another very sick

Daisy · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2010, 03:03:06 pm »

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is poisonous, pics here http://www.floralimages.co.uk/page.php?taxon=prunus_laurocerasus,1,2

Hardfeather · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2010, 03:59:24 pm »

Quote from: Fleecewife on October 01, 2010, 01:25:56 pm

I don't keep horses, but laurel killed one of my sheep and made another very sick

A one-time neighbour of mine had some BF ewes which ate laurel and he drenched them with copious amounts of black coffee, and saved their lives. It works for rhododendron poisoning as well.

I do have laurel in a mixed hedge in my garden, which is accessible when/if the horses are on stubble next to the house. They will eat the odd yellow/brown fallen leaf, but I've never known them to eat from the bushes. I do, however, always run a scare fence along the hedge as I don't want them at it anyway. Our tying-up rail is right next to a laurel bush but the horses don't seem interested in it.

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2010, 08:32:10 pm »

Its not as poisonous as some things, but definitely not something I would allow horses access to. Electric fence = cheaper than vet bill!

darkbrowneggs · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2010, 11:25:46 pm »

Some of my overgrown old hedges that bordered the shrubbery part of the garden where full of both types of laurel, which had made trees over 20 ft high and wider across, and their branches hung right down into the orchard. I was worried about them, but at the time just couldnt get anything done, after a few years of keeping sheep and cattle without problems, when I got a couple of ponies, I had more or less forgotten about it being a potential problem.

They all used the orchard for several years without problems. I also had a few foxgloves come up, and never seemed to have a problem. I think sometimes if animals are short of feed they are more likely to be tempted, or if they have some sort of mineral deficiency.

All the best
Sue
Dark Brown Eggs

OhLaLa · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2010, 07:10:59 pm »

Thanks folks. I remember being taught it was to be avoided, but value your hands on experiences.

Think I'll swerve the 50 odd plants I have been offered...