Cut the cherry laurel so that it becomes dense

Laurel niche is a very popular ornamental wood in this country. The evergreen shrub offers excellent privacy in the garden. In order for cherry laurel to be nice and dense, a few things have to be considered when cutting. Tips on cutting back can be found in this post.

Prune back in spring

The cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a relatively fast-growing evergreen shrub. In a short time, a hedge can grow into a dense privacy screen, reaching a height and width of four meters. The annual increase depends on the variety, but is 20 to 50 centimeters.

In order to achieve a compact and dense growth, cherry laurel must be pruned in good time. As a rule, it is sufficient if it is cut once a year. In the case of very fast-growing varieties, a second pruning can be carried out in autumn. However, the flowering will not be abundant in the following year. Young plants should be severely cut back in the first years of standing.

When cutting back, the point in time is particularly important:

• Late winter to early spring
• Observe the legal prohibition of cutting between March and October
• Even better pruning after flowering in June
• before Midsummer Day on 24. June
• there the first growth of the branches is complete and
• Growth of the St. John's shoots (second shoot) has not yet started
• do not cut in wet weather
• otherwise fungal attack possible
• also no pruning in strong sunshine
• Otherwise leaves can be sunburned

Note: The cherry laurel is in all parts poisonous, especially the berries in autumn. To prevent poisoning, the umbels can be cut off after flowering so that no fruits appear in autumn.

Cut the cherry laurel correctly

In order for the growth to be strong, compact and dense, the bushes must be cut back properly. Proceed according to the following instructions when cutting:

• Cut all new shoots on the green wood by half
• always cut or cut about 2 cm above a pair of leaves
• Always shorten the branch with an eye pointing outwards
• always cut on the sides first
• Always make cuts at a slight angle

• The bush tapers upwards
• more light gets into the interior of the bush
• even the lowest shoots benefit from it
• Follow vertical cuts: take care of the lower branches and lose leaves

Note: The evergreen cherry laurel has to be watered on frost-free days even in winter. Otherwise it can become too fast Frost dryness come. Due to a lack of water, the bushes can then dry out.

Thinning out older bushes

Older cherry laurel specimens in particular can be very leafy and sunlight cannot penetrate into the interior of the bush. The bush then begins to shed from the inside out. In this case only a strong thinning out helps. In this way, the cherry laurel can be easily rejuvenated without having to radically put it on the cane. The young shoots that then grow back can then prevent undesired shedding in the lowest area of ​​the shrub:

• best time: July to August
• simply cut out a few shoots from the inside of the bush
• Thicker branches can also be removed at the base
• thereby better ventilation and exposure of the plant

Tip: Cherry laurel can also be cut back into the old wood. After such measures, it can also be transplanted more easily.

Use correct tools

Due to its large leaves, sharp manual hedge trimmers should always be preferred to electric hedge trimmers when cutting cherry laurel.

• Major damage to leaves from electric scissors blades
• Brown discoloration of the leaves at the cut edges
• manual scissors allow more precise cuts
• the result is better optics

For the removal of thicker branches it is advisable to use pruning shears. Due to the poisonous nature of the wood, gloves should also be worn as it can easily cause skin irritation.

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