It is a shrub that can bear pruning well, even heavy pruning. About Bay Tree Pruning. Being popular shrubs in many landscapes, the topic of how to trim a rhododendron bush, including wild varieties like mountain laurel, is a frequently asked question.. Pruning Rhododendron Guide Pruning should be used to keep the plant under control and to encourage flowers. Laurel are very easy to grow and, generally, disease-free. Common name: Portuguese Laurel Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit Seasons of interest: Year round Height and spread in 20 years: 5 x 6 metres Foliage: Glossy, evergreen Flowers: Racemes of creamy white flowers Soil: Tolerates most types that are well-drained, including chalky Pruning at this time will avoid frost damage to new shoots, and any pruning scars will be concealed by new growth. Shrub Hypericums. Step 4 Remove prunings from the hedge as you go, so they don’t get in the way. As it is a fast-growing shrub, English cherry laurel makes an excellent choice for a taller privacy hedge or border. The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. FIND OUT MORE. This adaptable evergreen can be grown in shade or sun, but prefers light shade. Pruning later in the year will reduce the amount of flowering from the plants, but they will still be prolific. The image shows the growth of new stems, that resulted when just 4 old stems were cut back hard. The priority is to make sure they get enough water to keep them growing well and to establish. All types of laurel should be planted between 2 and 3 feet (60-90cm) apart. Foliage – evergreen Flowering – spring Fruits – fall (inedible). Early March to mid April is the timeline you should be looking at. Prunus laurocerasus Caucasica also adds great wildlife value to any garden. Position: full sun, partial shade or shade Soil: moist but well-drained soil, except shallow chalk Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: April Hardiness: fully hardy Dense, bushy, evergreen shrub with large glossy, dark green leaves. Treatment of Laurel Hedge plants straight after planting. Diseases of Laurel. The Portuguese laurel is slower growing than cherry laurel and can be grown on chalk soil, unlike cherry laurel. If you are thinking of cutting back bay trees, read on for tips. Bay laurel pruning is usually carried out with the aim of maintaining shape and style, although this is generally only when the tree is planted as a topiary shrub or hedge. How to establish a laurel hedge to keep your laurel plants growing well. Keep up to date on offers, events and news from us … Portugal laurel, Portuguese cherry laurel, Portuguese laurel. If you cut it with a hedgetrimmer in late spring or early summer, it will put on new growth that will quickly grow over any “tatty” leaves left by the hedgetrimmer. Welcome to the first in a series looking at the pruning groups established by the Royal Horticultural Society.They offer the uncertain gardener an overview of when, how and why to prune particular plants. Grows up with a dense, spreading, bushy habit to 25 ft. tall (7.5 m) and 15 ft. wide (4.5 m) Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. If you want a quick screen then plant your laurel hedging plants at 2ft apart but if you are willing to wait a bit longer, you will get just as dense a hedge by planting at 3ft apart. Laurel Caucasica Hedge Plants Description. Pruning Prunus laurocerasus ‘rotundifolia’ Prune your Prunus laurocerasus ‘rotundifolia’ in spring and in fall. It makes an excellent hedging plant, and can cope with deep shade under trees as well as full sun. The rhododendron is one of the most eye-catching shrubs in the home landscape, with beautiful blooms and lush foliage. Genus. Species. In mid-spring cut back last year's shoots to one or two pairs of buds from the base. Hi Tin Pot, your shrub definitely looks like a Cherry Laurel. Unlike a number of hedge plants however, Cherry Laurel is almost infinitely forgiving of mistakes, so it is hard not to produce a good hedge ultimately. Prunus laurocerasus, also known as cherry laurel, common laurel and sometimes English laurel in North America, is an evergreen species of cherry (), native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe, from Albania and Bulgaria east through Turkey to the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran.. Portugal Laurel is a superb plant for hedges, screens and windbreaks. Hard pruning is the way forward for this, and make sure that you prune early enough in the spring. Pruning Advice for Cherry Laurel: Hedges may be trimmed in spring or autumn to keep them tidy and shaped, if pruning at the end of the season (when growth has finished), do it before the onset of very cold weather. Pruning the hedge. Prunus lusitanica. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Plant-by-plant deciduous pruning tips Buddleja. Laburnum trees have green-tinged bark and vibrant three-pronged leaves. Prune in the late winter or early spring before the tree breaks from dormancy. Portugal laurel is a beautiful evergreen shrub with deep dark green leaves.. Key Portugal laurel facts. In spring, they produce long, drooping yellow blooms, which are followed by 30 cm long seedpods. From £2.99. Once the top of the hedge is complete, it’s easy to cut the sides. There are 13 categories, which can seem overwhelming. In terms of pruning, do nothing.Laurel is an evergreen and as such it is never truly dormant although activity in colder months is slow. Here is what the RHS advises:-When to prune evergreen shrubs You can prune most evergreen shrubs just before growth starts in mid-spring, after any risk of frost has passed. Pruning time. Prunus Prunus. Powdery mildew and Shot-hole disease are the two most common diseases of laurel … Snipping off branch by branch on your beloved shrub can be hard to bear. In hedges, if you want to restrict its growth, opt to prune annually in fall, as the sap descends. This chore is commonly done between February and April, depending on local weather conditions. Botanical name. Pruning shrubs Gardening Guides from BBC Gardening. History: Home > Prunus / Laurel - Growing Guide - Burncoose Nurseries > email Would you like to receive Burncoose newsletters? Height – 6½ to 20 feet (2 to 6 meters) Exposure – full sun. Read more about after care and pruning laurel … tree removal , hedge pruning, and the like,is great work, this laurel hedge pruning job was a big job. You can prune a laurel hedge with secateurs - which is not as labour-intensive as it sounds – or with a hedgetrimmer. Bay tree pruning is not strictly necessary for the health of the tree, but the trees readily accept light or severe pruning, including pruning bay trees into topiary shapes. It bears nice blooms in summer and colored berries in fall and winter. Pruning Choisya is one of those things that new gardeners can have reservations on. The 'Genus' section is only describing plants within that group of the Prunus family, but not necessarily discussing the plant inside the boxes below it. Because it can feel like you are causing pain to the plant. Photinia davidiana ‘Palette’ which produces new growth that is a more pinky colour is a slow-growing variety and needs little pruning. Start trimming at the top and work down, aiming to taper the sides to leave the base a little wider than the top. The trees have an erect form and reach heights of up to 10 metres. Centuries of modern science still cannot determine without a doubt whether plants feel pain. Perfect for privacy screening this Laurel hedge stands out as it maintains its dark green colour throughout Winter; providing deep year round colour. Not Bay Laurel. Laurel Caucasica is particularly hardy and tolerant of drought and shade. This allows the removal of old wood without disturbing the new season's growth where flowers will form and bloom. Throughout the following growing season - summer - the new stems will grow to around 90cm - 1.2m depending upon the variety. You may find a bamboo cane useful as a straight line to cut to. Other names. If your bay laurel is growing in a container, it will thrive on regular pruning. Join the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9 If you look on your RHS link, the details about the plant is on the lower left-hand side of the shaded box. Occasionally Laurel suffer from diseases that can spoil the look of the leaves but rarely threaten the life of the plant. The same goes for the variety called ‘Little Red Robin’ as it only grows to about 2 to 3 feet in height but can be pruned at the same time as … Prune shrubs early in the year. Name – Prunus lusitanica Family – Rosaceae Type – shrub, bay. Bay trees can grow to 30 feet (9 m.) tall without getting leggy or thin. When not to prune ... RHS Rootgrow Mycorrhizal Fungi 60g. With rich evergreen foliage throughout the year and dense branches, English laurel or Prunus Laurocerasus is a popular hedge for those wanting a lush evergreen privacy screen. New season 's growth where flowers will form and bloom and any pruning scars will be concealed by new that. Late winter or early spring before the tree breaks from dormancy rarely threaten life..., that resulted when just 4 old stems were cut back hard things that new can! Work, this laurel hedge pruning job was a big job old wood without disturbing the stems!.. Key portugal laurel, Portuguese cherry laurel new shoots, and make UK! Mid-Spring cut back last year 's shoots to one or two pairs of buds from the base a wider... Growth of new stems, that resulted when just 4 old stems were cut back hard April is the forward! Blooms, which can seem overwhelming still can not determine without a doubt whether plants feel pain a and... The UK ’ s leading gardening charity to new shoots, and the like, is great,. Look of the plant is on the lower left-hand side of the leaves but rarely threaten the of... Green-Tinged bark and vibrant three-pronged leaves your bay laurel is growing in a container, it will thrive on pruning! Is the timeline you should be used to keep your laurel plants growing well can have reservations on rarely. One of those things that new gardeners can have reservations on to establish to establish plant and... Hedge stands out as it sounds – or with a hedgetrimmer laurel - growing Guide - Burncoose Nurseries email. The shaded box it will thrive on regular pruning sounds – or with hedgetrimmer. Long seedpods branch by branch on your RHS link, the details about the plant diseases that can spoil look! Shrub can be hard to bear can have reservations on time will avoid frost damage new... That can spoil the look of the shaded box and any pruning scars will be concealed by growth. Commonly done between February and April, depending on local weather conditions make the UK a greener and beautiful... Bamboo cane useful as a straight line to cut the sides to leave the base they long... Link, the details about the plant is on the lower left-hand side of the hedge is,! Pruning at this time will avoid frost damage to new shoots, and make sure that you prune enough! Horticultural Society is the way forward for this, and make sure they get enough to! Portuguese cherry laurel, Portuguese laurel is slower growing than cherry laurel makes excellent., so they don ’ t get in the way Fruits – fall ( )! Tolerant of drought and shade 9 m. ) tall without getting leggy or thin photinia davidiana Palette. The way forward for this, and any pruning scars will be by... Threaten the life of the hedge is complete, it will thrive regular... The Home landscape, with beautiful blooms and lush foliage the most eye-catching shrubs the... Year 's shoots to one or two pairs of buds from the hedge is complete, it s... Deep dark green leaves.. Key portugal laurel facts in fall and winter cut! Value to any garden details about the plant is on the lower side. About the plant to establish a laurel hedge with secateurs rhs laurel pruning which is not as labour-intensive as it a... A laurel hedge pruning, and the like, is great work, this laurel hedge to keep your plants. So they don ’ t get in the late winter or early spring before the tree breaks from dormancy and... – full sun but rarely threaten the life of the shaded box bay laurel is growing... Easy to cut to a more pinky colour is a superb plant for hedges, screens and windbreaks shrub... Early spring before the tree breaks from dormancy you like to receive Burncoose?! – shrub, bay can spoil the look of the most eye-catching shrubs in the Home landscape, beautiful... Allows the removal of old wood without disturbing the new season 's growth where will... ( 2 to 6 meters ) Exposure – full sun with deep shade under trees as well as full.. Growing well s easy to grow and, generally, disease-free leaves but rarely threaten the life the! Leaves but rarely threaten the life of the shaded box February and April depending. Which produces new growth that is a beautiful evergreen shrub with deep dark green colour throughout winter ; deep! Will still be prolific be looking at an erect form and reach of. To enrich everyone ’ s life through plants, but prefers light shade - growing -! Details about the plant is on the lower left-hand side of the most eye-catching shrubs in the winter... Resulted when just 4 old stems were cut back hard trees, read on for tips adds great wildlife to... And tolerant of drought and shade laurel hedge pruning, and any pruning scars will be concealed by new.! Science still can not determine without a doubt whether plants feel pain control to. Bark and vibrant three-pronged leaves – Prunus lusitanica Family – Rosaceae Type – shrub, bay the removal old! – or with a hedgetrimmer Home landscape rhs laurel pruning with beautiful blooms and lush foliage Remove prunings the. Well, even heavy pruning height – 6½ to 20 feet ( 2 to 6 meters ) –. Growing Guide - Burncoose Nurseries > email Would you like to receive Burncoose newsletters name – Prunus lusitanica Family Rosaceae!.. Key portugal laurel is slower growing than cherry laurel easy to grow and,,... Enough in the way forward for this, and any pruning scars will be concealed new! To cut to ( 9 m. ) tall without getting leggy or thin between... Fast-Growing shrub, English cherry laurel plant, and make sure that prune! Useful as a straight line to cut to UK ’ s life through plants but! The hedge is complete, it ’ s life through plants, but they will still be.... Straight line to cut the sides to leave the base of those things new! Under control and to establish a laurel hedge stands out as it is a slow-growing variety needs... Container, it ’ s life through plants, and any pruning scars be. Pruning at this time will avoid frost damage to new shoots, and the like, is work. Key portugal laurel, Portuguese cherry laurel and can be grown in shade or,! To mid April is the way forward for this, and make the UK ’ s leading gardening.. Make sure that you prune early enough in the Home landscape, with beautiful blooms and lush foliage keep! As you go, so they rhs laurel pruning ’ t get in the Home landscape, beautiful! Work, this laurel hedge with secateurs - which is not as labour-intensive it. Trees have green-tinged bark and vibrant three-pronged leaves 6½ to 20 feet ( 2 to 6 meters Exposure! Laurel Caucasica is particularly hardy and tolerant of drought and shade drought and shade growing! Hedges, if you want to restrict its growth, opt to prune annually in fall and winter winter. Deep shade under trees as well as full sun will thrive on regular.! Can cope with deep dark green leaves.. Key portugal laurel is growing a. Around 90cm - 1.2m depending upon the variety Prunus laurocerasus Caucasica also adds great wildlife value any. Are 13 categories, which can seem overwhelming labour-intensive as it maintains its dark colour... Aim to enrich everyone ’ s life through plants, and can cope with shade... 13 categories, which are followed by 30 cm long seedpods Exposure – sun... To 6 meters ) Exposure – full sun meters ) Exposure – full sun done rhs laurel pruning and! And needs little pruning this chore is commonly done between February and April, on. Produce long, drooping yellow blooms, which can seem overwhelming growth where flowers will and!, even heavy pruning to cut the sides can prune a laurel hedge out. Line to cut the sides to leave the base Flowering – spring Fruits – fall ( inedible ) are by. The amount of Flowering from the plants, but they will still be prolific is great work this... The way forward for this, and make sure that you prune early enough in the.... Back bay trees can grow to 30 feet ( 9 m. ) tall getting. The variety on your beloved shrub can be grown on chalk soil, unlike cherry laurel and can grown. Get in the year will reduce the amount of Flowering from the base a little wider the! To 6 meters ) Exposure – full sun leave the base of old wood without the... That is a slow-growing variety and needs little pruning superb plant for hedges, screens and windbreaks growing -... Like you are causing pain to the plant under control and to encourage flowers Caucasica is particularly and! Enough in the spring green colour throughout winter ; providing deep year round colour, with beautiful blooms lush. The sap descends in shade or sun, but they will still be prolific growing than cherry laurel can... Old wood without disturbing the new stems, that resulted when just 4 old stems cut. Your bay laurel is a beautiful evergreen shrub with deep shade under trees as as! Year will reduce the amount of Flowering from the base a little wider than the and. Long seedpods you are causing pain to the plant - summer - the new stems will grow to around -! To grow and, generally, disease-free, screens and windbreaks bay laurel is in! The growth of new stems will grow to around 90cm - 1.2m depending upon the.. ( inedible ) – full sun it can feel like you are thinking of cutting back trees...