In order for the cherry laurel hedge to look attractive and grow evenly, it must be trimmed regularly. If you follow our tips and tricks, this care measure is not rocket science, even for mature hedges.
The right time
Even if you can in principle cut back the cherry laurel all year round, it is advisable to stick to fixed cutting intervals. Spring pruning should be done by the end of March, with a second pruning at the end of July. If you only want to prune the cherry laurel hedge once a year, it should be cut back immediately after flowering.
Observe hedge protection times!
From March 1st to September 30th, the radical pruning of hedges to protect wildlife is prohibited. If you want to put an old or partially bare cherry laurel hedge back on the trunk, you must definitely start this work before or after this period. Only topiary is allowed throughout the year.
Nevertheless, you should check the wood for breeding birds during all pruning measures and, out of consideration for our feathered friends, postpone the work if you discover a bird family in your hedge.
The right cutting tools
For a professional cut, you need a smooth-running, manual hedge trimmer (€24.99) with sharp cutting surfaces. Hedge trimmers with a serrated edge are stronger and easier to use than those with serrated blades. With these cutting tools, you can also cut through thicker branches without any problems and the pruning is easy to do by hand. With pruning shears, even thick branches inside the bushes can be easily cut out.
Clean and disinfect the cut surfaces of the tools before work. This prevents germs or fungal spores from penetrating the plant through the inevitable wounds and spreading diseases.
The evergreen laurel cherry must not be shortened with electric or petrol-driven hedge trimmers. When pruned, these damage the large leaves of the cherry laurel and make the hedge look torn for a long time.
How is it cut?
When cutting, these basics must be observed:
- A horizontally stretched cord makes shaping easier.
- Cut from top to bottom, making sure the hedge is wider at the base than at the crown.
- Work slowly and carefully; always check whether the overall picture is even.
- Remove branches that grow inwards during pruning so that enough light penetrates the shrubs. This prevents diseases.
- For this reason, the corners of the hedge are also rounded off.
- Always cut on cloudy days, otherwise there is a risk of leaf damage from the unusual exposure to the sun.
Since all parts of the laurel cherry plant are poisonous and can cause allergies, you should definitely wear gloves when doing this work.
tips and tricks
When pruning, there is plenty of clippings from which you can obtain cuttings for offspring.