To encourage laurel growth, trim the hedge in July or August. But bare in mind that this hedge has large, tough leaves and is best trimmed using secateurs. Pruning of Laurel hedges can be performed at any time up until the end of summer. However, it’s best done in spring.
How far can you cut back a laurel hedge?
Laurel can be trimmed or pruned to the height you require and, if it grows too big, it can be cut back as hard as you like – right back to the stump if necessary – and it will re-grow quickly into a new hedge.
Can you cut a laurel hedge with a hedge trimmer?
You can trim your laurel with shears, secateurs or a hedge trimmer. Many books will tell you to use secateurs because laurels have large leaves and the cut edges left by a hedge trimmer will leave them looking unkempt.
Does cutting laurel encourage growth?
To prune laurel to encourage growth, we’d recommend trimming the branches and cutting them back several times a year (depending on how fast it grows) by up to a quarter. This makes the bush come back bushier and thicker than before more rapidly.
What is the best month to cut a laurel hedge? – Related Questions
When should you not cut a laurel hedge?
Laurel hedges may be trimmed at any time during the season but its best to avoid the coldest months of the year as the cut edges may be susceptible to frost damage. Many text books advise trimming Laurel hedging plants with secateurs to avoid cut edges to the large leaves, it really isn’t necessary.
How many times a year should you cut a laurel hedge?
A laurel hedge only needs trimming once a year. The best time to prune is late spring or early summer.
When Should laurels be cut?
Late spring or early summer is the best time to trim most hedges including laurel and leylandii hedges. You can prune a laurel hedge with secateurs – which is not as labour-intensive as it sounds – or with a hedgetrimmer.
How quickly does laurel grow back?
Here are the expected growth rates for the different types: Laurel, Bay – slow growing – 15/30cm per year. Laurel, Caucasica – fast growing – 30/60cm per year. Laurel, Common – fast growing – 30/60cm per year.
Does cutting leaves promote growth?
Plants will benefit from a good trimming the most during spring and summer, which are their active growing seasons. Trimming can be done to both vines and trees to encourage new, fuller growth along the plants, as well as to get rid of any yellowing or dead sections.
Does laurel stop other plants growing?
Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), is an Allelopathic plant, and these plants have a form of chemical self-protection. They are able to produce natural chemicals in their leaves or roots which make it difficult for other plants to grow close by.
What is the lifespan of a laurel?
It has a life span of approximately 50 years. Laurel Oak thrives in either full sun or partial shade. It grows in upland, sandhill, and dune areas with dry, well-drained, and sandy soils; it is also tolerant of wet and periodically flooded conditions.
What kills laurel hedge?
Use a concentrated herbicide containing glyphosate or metsulfuron as the active ingredient if applying in late summer and early fall well before the threat of frost.
How do you maintain a laurel hedge?
Once you’ve planted your laurel hedging plants, you need to make sure they get enough water to keep them alive and growing well. Usually plants only need watering from March to October. During the winter months, they use less water and normally get enough from the rain.
When should overgrown laurel be pruned?
The best time to cut the plants back is in early Spring, well before the hedge is coming into growth (but provided the weather is not cold and frosty, if it is then wait until conditions improve).
How do you prune an overgrown laurel bush?
Can I cut laurel hedge in August?
Laurel is easier to trim if done twice a year; because the branches are not as woody, and there are a lot less trimmings to deal with. Laurel trimmed in August still has plenty of time for regrowth before the winter; but not so much growth as to leave the hedge looking untidy during the Winter, and early spring months.
What months are you not allowed to cut hedges?
We recommend avoiding hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs throughout March to August each year. This can be weather dependent and some birds may nest outside this period, so it is important to always check carefully for active nests prior to cutting.
Should you cut hedges in hot weather?
Generally, hedges tend to have two main growing phases – first in spring and then in summer. It’s best to avoid cutting your hedge down at these times.
Is it against the law to cut hedges in summer?
Wildlife Protection
The months of March through to the end of July is the breeding season for birds and as far as hedge cutting is concerned is considered a closed season and unless there exists unavoidable health and safety concerns hedge cutting during this season should be avoided.