Portuguese cherry laurel inspires with Mediterranean flair and frugal cutting tolerance. In creative garden design, the evergreen ornamental tree is on the rise as a picturesque solitaire and elegant hedge. These instructions explain in detail how easy it is to cut a Portuguese laurel cherry.

Regular thinning is good for the Portuguese cherry laurel

Built-up cut ensures dense branching

An annual pruning sets the course at an early age so that your Portuguese cherry laurel thrives densely and compactly. By slowing down the growth, you create a jam of juice below the interfaces. Reserve substances contained in it encourage dormant buds to sprout, so that the Mediterranean shrub branches out luxuriantly from the base. Here’s how to do it professionally:

  • Best time is in February
  • Carry out a build-up cut up to the desired final height
  • Cut back last year's growth to 5 or 10 cm
  • Cut at a short distance (3-5 mm) to a leaf, bud or dormant eye

If you have assigned the function of a hedge to Portuguese laurel cherries, please ensure a conical cutting profile. With a broad base and narrow crown, the sun's rays can penetrate deep into the evergreen foliage beauties and stimulate the leaves to photosynthesize.

Thin out Portuguese cherry laurel regularly

Once the Portuguese cherry laurel has reached the desired size, pruning leads to an annual pruning. An appointment in late winter is well tolerated by the evergreen deciduous shrub and takes into account the provisions of the Federal Nature Conservation Act.

Thin out dead shoots at the base. Take this opportunity to cut back frozen, damaged and stunted branches back to healthy wood. One of the many advantages of Portuguese laurel cherries is that the ornamental shrub also reliably sprout again as old wood. Healthy, undamaged shoots are spared the shears in late winter as they carry the buds for a fragrant flowering period in June.

Summer shape cut - this is how it works

At the end of the flowering period, the time window opens for topiary on Portuguese laurel cherries. In the home garden, wilted flowers should now be trimmed before they turn into mildly poisonous drupes. Since the cut is limited to this year's growth, you are acting in accordance with the legal regulations for the protection of our endangered bird life. How to proceed correctly step by step:

  • Check shrub for nesting birds to reschedule if necessary
  • Cut back shoots that protrude from the mold with garden shears or hedge shears
  • Optionally cut off withered flowers to the next healthy pair of leaves

Gardeners with a large hedge of Portuguese laurel will appreciate the smaller leaf size. In contrast to cherry laurel, the leaves do not get caught in the cutter bar of a motorized hedge trimmer (€24.99), which could lead to unsightly leaf damage.

tips

Portuguese cherry laurel benefits from a pruning whether you cultivate the evergreen shrub as a hedge or specimen plant. Immediately after planting in spring, cut back all shoots by a third. Position the secateurs so that the cutting point is 3-5 mm above a leaf or bud.

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Trees