How quickly does a Cherry Laurel grow?
There are multiple factors that affect the rate at which your laurel hedge will grow, the main one being the variety of Laurel hedge plant you choose. Laurel hedges vary in growth, and depending on the species, they have the ability to grow between 15-60cm per year. Will Laurel grow back if I cut it back hard? Yes, in general, you can cut Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel and Bay Laurel right back to the stump and it will re-shoot. If you just want to trim the sides back hard then this will also re-shoot.Just like if you want your Laurel hedge to grow faster, regular pruning should help to encourage lateral branching, causing it to thicken. Give the sides a trim and remove a few inches of new growth to promote denser foliage.Remove dead or damaged branches as soon as possible to encourage laurel growth. Sharp pruners or hedge trimmers will make this a lot easier and quicker to do.Laurel hedges can technically be trimmed at any time; the main advice we can offer is to try and avoid trimming Laurel in the coldest months of the year as the cut edges can be susceptible to frost damage.
Is cherry laurel high maintenance?
Low maintenance and easy to grow Cherry Laurel is incredibly hardy and adaptable. It thrives in a variety of soil types, tolerates drought once established, and can handle both full sun and partial shade. It also requires minimal trimming—just one or two prunings per year—to keep it looking neat and tidy. Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is generally considered a tough evergreen but its leaves can be affected by diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot fungi and bacterial shothole. Affected plants or hedges look unsightly.It’s important to wear gloves and protective clothing when pruning cherry laurel, as the leaves and branches contain toxic compounds that can cause skin irritation or even respiratory issues.Benefits of Planting Cherry Laurels One of the key advantages of laurel plants is their ability to serve as privacy screens. With their dense foliage and upright growth habit, these shrubs create a natural barrier that shields your outdoor space from prying eyes.The Portuguese laurel’s leaves are darker, giving it a more formal and refined look. This makes it an excellent choice for structured, manicured gardens or formal hedge arrangements. In contrast, the cherry laurel’s larger, glossy green leaves lend it a vibrant, lush appearance.Cherry Laurel has a slightly spreading habit, tending to fill the surrounding space of its planting site and providing a gorgeous, bushy hedge that can be pruned into a smaller form if required. This is a common attribute for Laurel hedging in general.
Do cherry laurel have deep roots?
Cherry laurel has a large, fibrous root system that can damage nearby structures. Plant at least a couple of meters from buildings and structures, especially in clay soil, to avoid potential damage. Cherry Laurel’s rapid growth and ability to thrive in the shade or drought means that it will quickly overtake other plants, and shade out native trees, taking away from their habitats and causing big problems for our ecosystems.Leaves may turn yellow, brown, and fall off as branch tips die back. Cherry laurel does not tolerate compacted clay soil that drains poorly. In those conditions, excess soil moisture reduces oxygen levels. This can stress or kill roots, resulting in a reduced root system that is unable to function well.Water your Cherry Laurel frequently to keep a consistent moist soil, but be careful not to have a constantly saturated soil.Generally, an overwatered Bay laurel will have yellowing leaves and may even drop some leaves. Also, overwatering can cause the overall structure of your plant to shrivel and may also promote root rot.
What is the disadvantage of Cherry Laurel?
Cherry laurel leaves, stems and seeds are toxic for humans and pets to ingest. In forests, cherry laurel competes with native plants by forming a dense cover that shades tree seedlings and shrubs. Cherry laurel leaves, stems and seeds are toxic for humans and pets to ingest. In forests, cherry laurel competes with native plants by forming a dense cover that shades tree seedlings and shrubs.Cherry Laurel is particularly dangerous for pets because of its cyanide-inducing glycosides in the berries and leaves. Even just chewing on the leaves can release these toxins, so it’s something to be cautious of if you’re considering planting it in an area where your pets are likely to roam.All parts of the cherry laurel shrub are toxic to pets, but the leaves and seeds contain the highest concentration of harmful substances. Signs and symptoms of cherry laurel poisoning: salivation.To lend a helping hand and encourage Laurel to grow faster, plant them in well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Water them regularly, especially during dry spells, and apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring.Once established, cherry laurel is a relatively low-maintenance plant. While it is establishing, water regularly through dry spells, particularly in summer. Avoid overwatering, as cherry laurel does not tolerate waterlogged soil.
Do cherry laurels like sun or shade?
It grows in full sun to deep shade. Cherry laurel is accepting of most soil types and textures but grows best in rich soil high in organic matter. This plant blooms in the spring with heavily fragrant flowers that bloom even in heavy shade. They are hardy down to -20°C, which adds to their versatility in varied conditions, whether it be weather or soil type. Laurel can be planted at any time of the year; if you plant between March and October, you will need to water the plants until October passes.The best time of year to plant a laurel hedge is during the late autumn or early winter months, typically from November to early March when the laurel plants are dormant. Planting during this period allows the laurels to establish their root systems before the onset of spring growth.They are hardy down to -20°C, which adds to their versatility in varied conditions, whether it be weather or soil type. Laurel can be planted at any time of the year; if you plant between March and October, you will need to water the plants until October passes.As stated above, bare-root laurel needs to be planted from November to March, before the spring and summer. However, container grown laurel hedging can be planted year round.
How do you make laurels grow faster?
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. When crushed the leaves smell of almonds (unlike Spurge-laurel which do NOT smell of almonds). Cherry Laurel is an evergreen shrub, branching from the base, up to 6 m high. It was widely introduced as an ornamental hedge plant and suited to almost all kinds of soil.Cherry laurel is a tall, dense evergreen shrub or small tree that forms dense thickets. It can grow up to 30 feet tall either as a single trunk or multi-stem shrub. It is native to parts of Europe and Asia.Both Cherry Laurel and Portugal Laurel are fast-growing hedging plants and will make fantastic hedges reasonably quickly. Apart from some types of conifers, Cherry Laurel is one of the fastest-growing evergreen plants to use as hedging and has a growth rate of approximately 60cm (2ft) per year.Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a popular evergreen shrub, prized for its dense foliage and ability to create natural privacy screens. Propagating cherry laurel is a cost effective way to expand your garden, and it can be done using either softwood or hardwood cuttings.