Like many evergreen trees, you can cut the cherry laurel into a ball, cuboid, or pyramid shape to give the shrub a figurative look. With this decorative cut you create interesting design accents that give the garden an elegant and noble touch.

The right time for the shape cut

Trees cut into shape should only be pruned moderately, but several times a year. As a result, they require a little more maintenance, but this is offset by the extraordinary appearance. At least three times a year you should cut the laurel cherry into shape:

  • Create the desired shape for the first cut.
  • This pruning is ideally done immediately after flowering.
  • You should plan a second, corrective care cut for fast-growing varieties in July.
  • You can make a third cut at the end of August or beginning of September.

From the beginning of October, no more pruning, so that the shoots can sufficiently lignify and not freeze back too much in winter.

The correct procedure for topiary

The cherry laurel also tolerates extreme pruning and usually recovers from this in a short time. Nevertheless, there are a few points to consider so that the wood does not suffer too much when it is cut into shape:

  • Never cut in strong sunshine as the UV rays will sunburn the leaves.
  • Use very sharp cutting tools and disinfect them before cutting.
  • Always prune the cherry laurel from the inside out and from top to bottom.
  • For the first cut, always cut into the healthy wood of the previous year so that the wood grows richly and densely.

Appropriate Varieties

Not all types of laurel cherry can be cut equally well into shape. For spherical or conical shapes, you should choose varieties such as the Etna cherry laurel, which grow about as tall as they are wide. For very complex or pyramidal topiary, fast-growing laurel cherries like Caucasica are better suited.

tips and tricks

Take your time for these artistic care measures and prune the shrub carefully. In the first step, work out the rough basic shape and correct it by cutting the tree into shape a second time.

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Trees