Laurel Hedges can give you everything you need from a hedge. They are fast-growing, with dense and attractive foliage so they offer full privacy and protection for your garden. They attract a wide range of wildlife, and they can go without watering once they've fully established. It's no wonder that they are one of the most popular types of hedges in the UK.
Another huge factor in their popularity is the fact that they are relatively low maintenance. Laurel hedging doesn't require that much pruning - but it's important to know how and when to trim a Laurel Hedge, and that is exactly what we're going to look at in this blog. Read on for everything you need to know.
Best Time of Year to Prune a Laurel Hedge
We often get asked when is the best time to cut a laurel hedge, and it's a question with a few different answers. First off, we should say that you can prune Cherry Laurel, or any other Laurel Hedging species, at any time. A job like that takes a little time, so we are big believers in the idea that if you have the time, then that's the most important thing. Get out there!
Ideally, the best times for pruning Laurel Hedges are in Spring, before the growth in the Summer, or in Autumn, leaving enough time for the damaged branches to heal before the Winter kicks in.
When Not to Cut a Laurel Hedge
The only caveat is the 'whenever you are able to' policy is this - if you prune Laurel hedges when it is particularly cold, the cut branches may be vulnerable to damage from frost. Also note that the Bay Laurel hedge is less hardy than some of the other Laurel plants, so it needs longer to heal before the Winter months. Prune these in the Spring if you can.
How Often to Prune a Laurel Hedge
All Laurel hedging plants will differ slightly here, but as a general rule, you will only need to prune your Laurel Hedge once a year. That should be enough to keep it under control and at the right kind of height. Some members of the Laurel family will grow faster than this, though, so may require a couple of pruning sessions a year.
Why Trim Laurel Hedges
There are plenty of reasons to prune Laurel Hedges - and we are going to look at each one in a bit of detail now.
Encourages Growth
When you prune a Laurel Hedge, like with most hedges, you are encouraging new growth. The energy that the plant generates is diverted away from the old branches, and goes towards the new growth. It's the best way to encourage strong new growth.
Keeps the Laurel Hedge Healthy
The older the branches are, the more likely it is that they are dead or diseased, so it's always better to get rid of these to keep your whole hedge healthy. Not only does it allow the energy to be focused on new growth, but it also stops any diseases from spreading.
You Can Control the Size of the Hedge
Perhaps the most obvious reason, but by pruning your Laurel Hedge, you are ensuring that it stays the right size. Most will have a maximum height (2.5 metres for this Laurel Bare Root Hedge or up to 7.5 metres for some Portuguese Laurel Hedge. So by trimming when it goes above your desired shape or height, you keep in control.
How to Prune Laurel Hedges
Okay, so now you know when and why you prune Laurel Hedges, the only thing left is a step-by-step guide to show you how to Prune Laurel Hedges:
Get the Right Tools
Here it might come down to preference: some people prefer to use a good set of secateurs so that you can be very precise and get the perfect shape to your hedge. This is quite time consuming, though, and many others will much prefer using pruning shears or a hedge trimmer to get the job done quickly.
The main reason people might warn you about using hedge trimmers is that you will end up with some half-cut leaves, but don't worry too much about this as the plant will heal quickly enough. Whatever equipment you feel comfortable using, make sure they are good quality - see our hedge cutting tools for some inspiration.
Decide What Shape You Want to Cut
It's always a good idea (and one that often gets ignored) to take a moment before you start to decide what you are going for when you are pruning Laurel. If you want a certain shape to your hedge, decide now, before you start cutting and just have to make do with whatever you can cobble together.
Pune One End to the Other
The best way to prune a Laurel Hedge is to start at one end and work all the way to other, one section at a time. This will help you get a nice, even cut for the whole hedge.
Cut Laurel Hedges at an Angle
It's recommended that you always cut edges at a 45 degree angle, with the cut facing up to the sky. This will help them heal more quickly, so it's especially important if you are cutting in the Autumn.
Remove Strays & Water the Hedge
Once you've finished the main bulk of the pruning, go back with a pair of secateurs and look for any stray branches that you may have missed, and trim them back. Also keep an eye out for any diseased or dead branches, or any that look too thin or weak. Give it a big drink of water to help it recover.
Conclusion
That's all there is to it! It's all quite straightforward, and follows common sense - the main things you need to remember are to not prune in the Winter months when it can suffer from frost damage, and to always keep an eye out for dead and diseased branches.
So if your Cherry Laurel hedge is your pride and joy, or you are a newbie to all this and you are now ready to shop our Laurel Hedges, you now know everything you need about when to prune a Laurel Hedge. Nothing will stop you!
