How Do You Care For A Mountain Laurel Tree?
Mountain laurel is an evergreen shrub that grows in the eastern United States from Maine to Florida. It produces clusters of cup-shaped flowers May through June that range in color from white to pink. In its natural environment, the mountain laurel grows on the slopes of forest-covered mountains and thrives in acidic soil. Mountain laurel is the state flower of both Connecticut and Pennsylvania and belongs to the same family as azalea and rhododendron. Choose a planting location that drains well and receives partial shade. Plant the mountain laurel shrub in acidic soil with a pH level of 4.5 to 5.5. Cover the soil surrounding the mountain laurel tree with 3 inches of pine needles to keep the soil damp and cool. Water the shrub only during droughts. Remove the dead flowers after the blooming period has passed to encourage a better bloom in the following year. Set up a windscreen that will protect the shrub from the prevailing wind direction in the winter.
