Cutting back only necessary once a year
On average, the Portuguese laurel cherry grows around 15 centimeters per year, while remaining quite narrow and growing nicely upright. For this reason, an annual pruning is sufficient, in which the individual shoots are shortened by about 10 centimeters. This makes the Mediterranean plant very suitable for a slim and easy-care hedge plantingHowever, you have to be patient - due to the slow growth, it also takes a few years for an opaque hedge to grow out of it.
also read
- Caring for the Portuguese laurel cherry
- Portuguese cherry laurel is highly toxic
- Schnipp Schnapp - cut the cherry laurel
The right time for a cut
Basically, you can cut the Portuguese laurel all year round, it is only better to leave the cutting tools lying around when there is frost or very hot temperatures. However, the best time for pruning is in spring or immediately after flowering.
How to cut the Portuguese laurel cherry
Cutting the Portuguese cherry laurel is not that difficult. Simply shorten all branches and twigs by about 10 centimeters, but you should pay attention to a pyramid-shaped cut. This means that the plant is wider at the bottom and tapers towards the top. In this way you ensure that all parts of the plant are adequately supplied with light and air. You should definitely wear gloves when cutting, as the Portuguese laurel cherry - like all cherry laurel plants -
is very poisonous.Tips
If possible, only use mechanical cutting tools for cutting, which should also be freshly sharpened and clean. Electric Hedge trimmers Often leave unattractive cut edges, while blunt scissors squeeze the branches and twigs rather than cut them and injure them unnecessarily.
