With glossy, evergreen leaves, cherry laurel is useful as a low-maintenance hedge, decorative ground cover and magnificent specimen. Depending on the variety, a Prunus laurocenasus reaches an impressive 3 meters in height and keeps prying eyes away at all times of the year. Newcomers appreciate the fact that laurel cherries are easy to cut. However, expert cutting is recommended. This tutorial explains in comprehensible steps when and how to properly cut cherry laurel.

Cherry laurel can be wonderfully cut as a hedge

Table of Contents

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  1. Types of cuts and dates
  2. plant cutting
  3. Hedge trimming
  4. hedge trimming
  5. Hedge trimming
  6. Solitaire maintenance cut
  7. taper cut
  8. Ground cover cut
  9. standard education
  10. frequently asked Questions

    11. Cut tolerance allows various types of cuts - options with appointments

    The combination of multifaceted varieties and tolerant pruning qualifies cherry laurel for a wide range of possible uses. The ornamental shrub always cuts a fine figure as a representative solitaire, opaque hedge, decorative topiary, distinctive standard or elegant ground cover. The following table summarizes the appropriate types of cuts with information on the best dates:

    cut type aim Appointment Option I Appointment option II
    plant cutting dense branching from base to apex after planting in spring after planting
    Hedge trimming gradual training in trapezoidal form to the final height late January to early March late June to late July
    Hedge main cut Thinning, healthy growth, control of height and width late January to early March none
    Hedge trimming preservation of shape End of June (St. John's Day) late July to mid-August
    Solitaire maintenance cut lighting and shaping late January to early March none
    Rejuvenation cut solitaire or hedge Revitalization of bare shrubs Late January to March 1st none
    Ground cover maintenance pruning thinning, growth control if necessary in winter until March 1st none
    High-stem training cut Education of a spherical crown with a short trunk after planting several times per growing season

    For the exact date selection, please note the appropriate weather conditions. Winter pruning should be done at temperatures above freezing and not in direct sunlight. For summer cut care, please choose a dry, overcast day, because rain increases the susceptibility to fungal infections at the cuts.

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    Observe the grace period for radical pruning

    The overview table above rightly lacks information on summer date option II for extensive pruning measures. To protect nesting birds and other wild animals, the Federal Nature Conservation Act writes for the pruning a summer grace period. Deep pruning, such as thinning out or sitting on the stick are allowed in the time from October 1st to March 1st. Moderate trimmings may be carried out during the breeding season, provided they are limited to this year's growth. Before starting the pruning work, the trees and shrubs must be carefully checked for nesting or wintering wild animals in order to postpone the planned pruning time if necessary.

    Plant pruning promotes dense branching - this is how the pruning premiere succeeds

    This tutorial is dedicated to pruning a laurel cherry in detail, and with good reason. Regardless of whether you plant the evergreen deciduous shrub as a specimen plant or as a hedge, pruning is aimed at densely branched growth from base to tip. The one-hand secateurs with bypass mechanism are perfect for a targeted cut. The scissors cut with two sharp blades and leave smooth cut edges. The perfect pruning is so easy:

    • The best time is after planting
    • Sharpen scissor blades, clean and disinfect with alcohol
    • Put on gloves to protect against the poisonous plant sap
    • Cut back all shoots by half
    • Start the cut 3 to 5 millimeters from an outward-facing leaf

    The figure below illustrates the extent of the pruning. In contrast to other trees and shrubs, pruning cherry laurels is also recommended if they are in containers. If the young plants are bare-rooted, carefully examine the root system before planting. Please cut off any root strands that are damaged or bent as a result of clearing in the tree nursery.

    After planting, cut back all shoots by half. The resulting accumulation of sap below the interfaces causes dense branching from below.

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    Plant pruning benefits from law of growth

    The result of dense branching on young cherry laurels after pruning is based on the growth law of top support. This states that a tree or shrub always grows strongest in the shoot tips because most of the nutrients are transported to the top bud. Buds located further down sprout weaker in proportion to their distance from the branch tip. By removing the upper buds from each shoot when pruning, the growth potential is distributed to the lower part of the bush. The juice pressure is even stronger because it has a shorter distance to travel.

    Gradually build up a cherry laurel hedge - instructions for building up pruning

    Popular cherry laurel varieties for hedge planting gain up to 40 centimeters in height per year. Although the pruning ensured a more equitable distribution of nutrients, the top buds still gain the upper hand. So that the lower hedge regions are not left behind, we recommend one gradual construction up to the desired height. Here’s how to do it professionally:

    • Prune twice a year in late winter and summer to final height
    • Measure the pruning so that the hedge gains 10 centimeters in height
    • Aim for a conical shape with a broader base and a slightly narrower hedge crown

    Please refer to the construction section all hedge sides with a. The perfect pruning technique on evergreen trees starts just above a healthy leaf pointing outwards. In this way you avoid cutting into the beautiful leaves and promote vigorous budding.

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    Cherry laurel hedge flooded with light thanks to the trapezoidal shape

    The dense foliage makes it difficult for the sun's rays to reach the inside of the hedge. You can promote light-flooded growth by cutting your cherry laurel hedge in a conical shape. Similar to a trapezium, the shrubs thrive with a broad base that tapers towards the crown. In combination with a regular pruning, the branches in the center of the hedge cannot complain about a lack of light supply and happily carry out photosynthesis for densely branched growth.

    Tackle the main hedge pruning courageously - instructions for clearing out pruning

    Cherry laurel owes its high esteem as a hedge plant to its excellent pruning tolerance, which continues seamlessly after planting and trimming. Based on the vigor of the planted variety, you can up to three times a year reach for the scissors for a well-groomed appearance. The main cut also includes the thorough thinning of the entire hedge. How to proceed correctly step by step:

    • The best time is in late winter between the end of January and the beginning of March (observe the Federal Nature Conservation Act)
    • The first step is to cut dead wood out of the hedge using one-handed scissors or a folding saw
    • Cut the hedge back to the desired height and width from all sides
    • Ideally, do not cut into the leaves, but keep a short distance from an outward-growing leaf

    So that the beneficial conical hedge shape is maintained, stretch cords between wooden posts for orientation, which you hammer into the ground at the ends of the hedge.

    Safe on the garden ladder

    The sturdy garden ladder is part of the basic equipment for cutting a privacy hedge. Pay special attention to your safety when purchasing it by choosing a product with the "GS" mark for "tested safety". Also make sure you stand securely. A leaning ladder can twist or slip off wet leaves. As a precaution, tie the ladder with ropes. For trimming hedges, we recommend a folding ladder, optionally with rubber caps for fixed standing areas or metal spikes for open ground.

    Repeated pruning keeps the cherry laurel hedge in shape

    In the case of strong-growing cherry laurel varieties, it takes more than the main pruning for a hedge to retain its well-groomed appearance. Two more editing appointments are appropriate. At the end of June, the first growth spurt of the season is over, so you can enjoy the cutting result for a long time. A last cut in August, on the other hand, needs to be carefully considered, because flower buds that have already formed fall victim to it. In return, the evergreen hedge shines like peeled eggs all winter long. This is how the skilful care cut succeeds:

    • Inspect the hedge carefully for inhabited bird nests
    • Mark the shape of the cut with stretched strings
    • Cut back any branches sticking out of the mold
    • When cutting, always look at the uncut hedge area
    • First cut the sides and flanks into shape
    • Then trim the top of the hedge

    The figure below demonstrates that the grooming cut affects the this year's increase concentrated. A mature cherry laurel hedge is prevented in this way from expanding in height or width. Deeper cutting measures take place outside of the summer grace period to protect nesting birds. If you follow our date recommendation, many birds will have ended their breeding business at the end of June anyway. If there are still feathered families in the hedge, please postpone the cutting time until later.

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    Electric or hand cutting?

    The elegant shiny leaves are up to 14 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide. Cutting a cherry laurel with the electric hedge trimmer (€77.00) leaves a picture of devastation in the foliage. The large leaves inevitably get caught in the counter-rotating cutter bar and are literally shredded. As a result, the cuts on the fleshy bay leaves dry up with unsightly brown edges. The use of a manual hedge trimmer has the advantage of a controlled cut and guarantees an optimal cut.)

    Pruning solitaire every now and then - a guide to maintenance pruning

    If a cherry laurel acts as a representative solitaire, pruning is limited to occasional thinning and shortening of shoots that are too long. After pruning, you can let the wood grow and enjoy the naturally beautiful habit. Vigorous varieties respond positively to maintenance pruning at 3-year intervals. Slow-growing varieties can do with a cut every 4 to 6 years. How to complete the solitaire maintenance cut with flying colors:

    • The best time is between the end of January and the beginning of March
    • Cut off dead, weak and cross-growing branches at the base
    • Divert shoots that are too long to a young side branch in the lower area

    The pivotal point for a professional maintenance cut is the cutting technique. Do not cut a cherry laurel just anywhere, but always in close proximity to an outward-facing leaf. As the illustration below suggests, you can avoid unsightly gaps by shortening overly long shoots so that a young side branch below serves as a new shoot tip.

    After the deadwood has been cleared out, the cut is dedicated to the shape. Overly long branches are not simply cut off, but are deliberately diverted to a lower-lying, young side shoot. In this way, the uniform shape is preserved without gaps.

    Rejuvenation of laurel cherry as a solitaire and hedge - this is how it works

    Time does not pass by without a trace on any laurel cherry. When the shrub or hedge reaches an advanced age, excessively strong branches or bare regions form inside the plant. Cherry laurels, which are not granted a regular pruning, fare similarly. A radical rejuvenating cut is a breath of fresh air for growth. This is how the cut on solitaire and hedge works equally well:

    • The best time is in winter by the beginning of March at the latest (observe the Federal Nature Conservation Act)
    • Cut off dead shoots at the base
    • Cut back all branches to 50 centimeters as shown below
    • Place scissors a few millimeters above a leaf, bud or dormant eye

    The rejuvenation cut is also referred to as "putting on the stick" in gardening parlance. In fact, the radical pruning of completely senile cherry laurels leaves behind a small framework of young shoots. From this, the plant sprouts freshly until summer.

    If the cherry laurel is bare from below, cut back all shoots to a height of 50 centimeters in late winter. Do not cut anywhere, but just above outward-facing buds, leaves or dormant eyes.

    Cut ground cover laurel cherries correctly - tips for cutting care

    'Mount Vernon' laurel is a favorite with home gardeners as an evergreen ground cover. The glossy, narrow leaves grow up to 11 centimeters long and gather into a dense foliage that reliably suppresses weeds. With an annual growth of 5 to 15 centimeters, creeping cherry laurel shows a leisurely growth. Accordingly, pruning measures are rarely part of the care program:

    • The best time is in early spring before budding begins
    • Check the groundcover shrubs for deadwood every 2 to 3 years
    • Cut out dead branches at the base

    If the shoots stretch beyond the allocated area, simply cut them back. Proceed in a similar way with branches pointing inwards or across.

    tips

    With ground cover cherry laurel, you can save yourself the pruning and benefit from the growth law of top support. The buds sprout with uniform vigor on branches that grow diagonally or horizontally. In the absence of an upright top bud, the nutrients are distributed evenly over all buds. The eyes on the tops of the branches are preferred because they are positioned closer to the light. Regular thinning therefore has a beneficial effect on dense, leafy growth of groundcover laurel cherries.

    Educate cherry laurel to be a standard - this is how it works

    Thanks to the exceptionally good pruning tolerance, cherry laurel is predestined for decorative standard trees. For the small garden and cultivation in tubs, resourceful home gardeners have only discovered the attractive version of pruning care in recent years. Ready-made cherry laurel stems are expensive because there is a lot of pruning work in them. A point of honor for the ambitious hobby gardener to take care of the upbringing himself. How to do it:

    • Select a young plant with a stable, straight center shoot
    • Tie the center shoot to a support stick as a future trunk
    • Cut off all side shoots seamlessly
    • Parallel to the growth, guide the central shoot on the support rod to the desired height

    In this tutorial, you have already become familiar with the law of growth top promotion familiarized. Legality plays an important role for the crown formation. Only cut off the top bud when it is 4 to 6 leaves above the desired crown height. The pressure of the juice is then distributed to the lower-lying leaf and shoot buds, so that the laurel cherry branches towards the crown. Continue to cut off superfluous side shoots along the center shoot.

    Similar to the pruning of a cherry laurel hedge, devote yourself to the shape of the spherical crown in June and August. In addition, thin out the crown of the older standard stem in late winter to encourage the growth of young crown branches. Overly long, out-of-shape twigs ideally direct you to a younger side shoot.

    Prefer dwarf varieties

    Majestic laurel cherries are not the best choice for raising tall stems. For the sapling version, please use dwarf varieties. 'Etna' remains at a height of 150 to 200 centimetres, making it ideal for pots.'Piri' grows up to 100 centimeters high and, thanks to its rounded growth, is perfect for growing into a small tree with a spherical crown.

    frequently asked Questions

    Is cherry laurel poisonous?

    All cherry laurel varieties contain glycosides and other toxins. The highest concentration of toxins is found in the black berries. Chewed seeds turn into toxic hydrocyanic acid in the stomach. Physicians rate 10 seeds as the lethal dose for humans. But the leaves can also trigger severe symptoms of poisoning after consumption, such as vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Planting cherry laurel is therefore not advisable for the family garden with small children and pets.

    Use clippings for propagation - is that possible?

    In fact, with every pruning you have a large number of magnificent cuttings in your hands for uncomplicated propagation. Primarily non-flowering, semi-woody shoot tips (herbaceous at the top, woody below) have plenty of growth potential to transform into a magnificent cherry laurel. The right cutting is 10 to 15 centimeters long. Remove all but two of the leaves at the top. These are halved to reduce evaporation. Place one prepared cutting in a pot with a soil-sand mixture or admire its root formation in a glass of water.

    Which varieties are best for a cherry laurel hedge?

    A colorful array of different varieties comes together under the name cherry laurel. For cultivation as a hedge plant, we would like to recommend the 'Herbergii' variety, also known as 'Upright Cherry Laurel'. The Primus impresses with shiny green, elliptical leaves, tightly upright growth and pronounced site tolerance. With a height of 250 cm and a width of 150 cm, the laurel cherry thrives with ideal dimensions for a hedge plant. Also recommended is the cherry laurel 'Caucasica' with a slightly slimmer shape and pronounced frost hardiness for regions with harsh winters.

    Frost damage to a young laurel cherry - what to do?

    If winter comes back again at the same time as the fresh budding, frost damage to the cherry laurel is inevitable. Especially young plants have not yet fully developed the robust frost hardiness of adult shrubs and have to pay for it with frozen branch tips. Thanks to the pronounced cut tolerance, you can easily repair the damage. If there is no longer any fear of late ground frost from mid-May, cut back the affected cherry laurel to the healthy wood.

    We would like to transplant a 5 year old, previously uncut cherry laurel in the garden. Should we prune the shrub at the same time?

    After five years of standing, an uncut cherry laurel has reached impressive proportions and developed a correspondingly voluminous root system. In connection with a change of location, a large proportion of the roots are lost. By pruning the branches adequately, you restore the balance between underground and above-ground growth. Due to its pruning tolerance, you can cut back a cherry laurel by up to two-thirds to compensate for the lost root volume.

    What to do with the clippings from cherry laurel?

    The thick-fleshed, large leaves of cherry laurel rot slowly. In addition, foliage and shoots contain toxins that are harmful to human and animal health. Disposal on the compost or on cattle pastures does not make sense. Put the clippings in the organic waste bin. Pack larger quantities in sacks or on a car trailer and take them to the nearest composting or refuse facility, where the clippings will be accepted free of charge.

    The 3 most common mistakes when pruning cherry laurel

    The high tolerance for pruning measures does not imply that pruning errors can never occur on the cherry laurel. On the contrary, the numerous references to simple pruning tempt many a home gardener to ignore important principles of pruning care. The following table draws attention to the 3 most common cutting errors and gives tips for prevention and damage limitation.

    cutting error damage picture Prevention/Correction
    no plant cutting bare shrub base from the beginning always carry out plant pruning; Rejuvenation pruning and rebuilding
    never cleared Barking inside the bush or hedge Thin out hedges every year, shrubs every 3 to 4 years
    Do not hedge in a trapezoidal shape sparsely branched hedge base, premature senescence from below Hedge cut in a broad base that tapers to the top
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    tips

    As an evergreen ornamental tree, a cherry laurel loses moisture at any time of the year. Extensive watering is not only important during summer dry periods. If the frost has closed the soil in winter and there is no snow cover, the laurel cherry gets under drought stress. It is therefore very grateful for regular watering, even during the cold season.

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