The laurel cherry - it is an optimal privacy screen, a natural boundary to the neighboring property, a pretty ornamental plant and much more. However, from time to time it may become necessary to tame their growth, remove unsightly parts of the plant and regain their shape. Then cutting is announced!

When might an incision be necessary?

In general, the laurel cherry tolerates pruning well and can be pruned sporadically. A cut can be recommended for the following reasons:

  • sprawling and bulky growth
  • diseased, dead, dried up and old wood
  • taking up too much space
  • afflicted by diseases
  • out of shape
  • Shoots froze in winter

The ideal time for the cut

The ideal time is just before budding begins. This is usually between March and early April. But the laurel cherry can still be pruned until June. But be careful: If you cut too late and too much, you will miss the sparkling white flowers in midsummer.

Thinning and pruning

Free-growing laurel cherries should be thinned out regularly. Hedges should ideally be pruned twice a year. The first time at the beginning of June and the second time at the end of September or in the spring.

If you want to keep a dense hedge, you should halve the new shoots. Subsequently, the laurel cherry branches well. Basically it can be said:

  • smaller specimens: cut back 10 to 15 cm
  • larger specimens: cut back 30 to 50 cm

Radical cutting

A radical cut is only necessary if the wrong variety was planted or the laurel cherry has grown unruly. All laurel cherries tolerate a radical pruning down to the old wood. The plant should then be regularly trimmed back into shape.

Warning: avoid mistakes

  • do not use hedge trimmers (24.99€) (otherwise cut, large leaves look unsightly)
  • Cut back by hand using sharp pruning shears
  • do not cut in frost to avoid frostbite
  • do not cut in warm, humid weather to minimize the risk of disease infestation

tips and tricks

Before you start pruning, think about which branches you want to remove. This prevents the cutting from creating an unsightly 'hole' and the plant from appearing unnatural in its growth pattern.

Category:

Garden design