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Bay laurel is a very popular ornamental tree in this country. The evergreen shrub offers excellent privacy in the garden. In order for cherry laurel to be nice and dense, a few things have to be considered when cutting. See this post for pruning tips.
In a nutshell
- proper pruning can encourage dense growth
- an annual cut is sufficient
- June is the best time
- Cut new shoots in half
- pruning older shrubs
Cut back in spring
The cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a relatively fast-growing evergreen shrub. In a short time, a hedge can grow into a dense privacy screen and reach a height and width of four meters. The annual growth depends on the variety, but it is 20 to 50 centimeters.
In order to achieve a compact and dense growth, cherry laurel must be pruned in good time. As a rule, it is sufficient if it is cut once a year. With very fast-growing varieties, a second pruning can be done in autumn. However, the flowering will not be lush in the following year. Young plants should be cut back heavily in the first few years.
The thick-fleshed leaves of the cherry laurel ensure that the cuttings rot for a long time. It is therefore better to put it in the compost bin than in the compost.
In the case of a pruning, the point in time is particularly important:
- Late winter to early spring
- Observe the legal ban on cutting between March and October
- Cut back after flowering in June even better
- before St. John's Day on June 24th
- since initial growth of branches is complete and
- Growth of St. John's shoots (second shoot) not yet started
- do not cut in wet weather
- otherwise fungal attack possible
- also no pruning in strong sunshine
- otherwise the leaves may get sunburnt
Notice: All parts of the cherry laurel are poisonous, especially the berries in autumn. To prevent poisoning, the umbels can be cut off after flowering, then no fruits will appear in the fall.
Properly cut cherry laurel
In order for the growth to be strong, compact and dense, the shrubs must be pruned properly. When cutting, follow the instructions below:
- Cut back all new shoots by half on the green wood
- always cut about 2 cm above a pair of leaves or
- Always shorten the branch over an outward-facing eye
- always cut on the sides first
- Always make cuts at a slight angle
Shortening older branches also stimulates the cherry laurel to grow more densely.
- Shrub thus tapers towards the top
- more light gets inside the bush
- even the lowest shoots benefit from it
- Consequence of vertical cuts: take care of lower branches and loss of leaves
Notice: The evergreen laurel cherry must be watered even in winter on frost-free days. Otherwise it can quickly lead to frost drying. Due to lack of water, the shrubs can then dry up.
Thin out older shrubs
Older cherry laurel specimens in particular can have very dense foliage and sunlight cannot penetrate into the interior of the bush. The bush then begins to bare from the inside out. The only thing that helps here is strong thinning. In this way, the laurel cherry can be easily rejuvenated without radically putting it on the stick. The young shoots that subsequently grow back can then prevent undesired bareness in the lowest area of the bush:
- best time: July to August
- simply cut out a few shoots from the inside of the bush
- It is also possible to remove thicker branches at the base
- thereby better aeration and exposure of the plant
Tip: Cherry laurel also tolerates pruning back into the old wood. After such measures, he will also be easier to transplant.
Use the right tool
Due to its large leaves, sharp manual hedge trimmers should always be used over electric hedge trimmers when pruning cherry laurel.
- major damage to blades from electric shears
- Browning of the leaves at the cut edges
- manual scissors allow more precise cuts
- better optics the result
Hand trim your cherry laurel hedge whenever possible.
Pruning shears can be used to remove thicker branches. Due to the toxicity of the wood, gloves should also be worn, as skin irritation can easily occur.
frequently asked Questions
Can maintenance affect cherry laurel growth?Good care tailored to the needs of the cherry laurel naturally influences growth and healthy development. The evergreen shrub usually copes well with drought. Additional watering should only be carried out in very hot summers. From the end of March, fertilizing with horn meal or compost or other long-term fertilizers is appropriate. So that the shoots mature in time before the start of winter, it is advisable to apply patent lime in August.
Which location and soil are good for healthy development?The cherry laurel loves a sunny to partially shaded and wind-protected location. The soil itself must be rich in humus, freshly moist and well drained. In addition, the evergreen shrub also loves a light lime content. The pH should be in the neutral to alkaline range. The cherry laurel does not tolerate waterlogging at all. It is therefore advisable to put a drainage layer of gravel in the planting hole when planting.
Does the cherry laurel in this country need winter protection?There are hardy and less hardy varieties. Varieties such as “Angustifolia”, “Etna”, “Herbergii” or “Mount Vernon” are hardy. The "Rotundfolia" variety, on the other hand, is a little more sensitive to frost. Minor cold damage can occur here. These should then be removed by pruning in early spring. The shrub will sprout again without any problems. A 10 cm thick layer of mulch can be applied as winter protection. Young plants should also be protected with vertical fir branches.