Cut tolerance allows various types of cuts - options with dates
The combination of multi-faceted varieties and patient cut tolerance qualifies cherry laurel for a wide range of uses. As a representative solitary, opaque hedge, decorative topiary, distinctive tall trunk or elegant ground cover, the ornamental shrub always cuts a fine figure. The right ones Types of cuts The following table summarizes the best dates and times:
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| Cut type | target | Appointment option I. | Appointment option II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant pruning | dense branching from base to tip | after planting | in the spring after planting |
| Hedge construction cut | Gradual upbringing in a trapezoidal shape up to the final height | Late January to early March | Late June to late July |
| Main hedge cut | Thinning, healthy growth, control of height and width | Late January to early March | no |
| Hedge trimming | Preservation of shape | End of June (Midsummer Day) | End of July to mid-August |
| Solitaire conservation cut | Thinning and shaping | Late January to early March | no |
| Rejuvenation pruning solitary or hedge | Revitalization of bald shrubs | End of January to 1. March | no |
| Ground cover conservation pruning | Thinning, growth control | if necessary in winter until 1. March | no |
| Standard training cut | Raising a spherical crown with a short trunk | after planting | several times per growing season |
Please note the suitable weather conditions for the exact date selection. A cut in winter should take place at temperatures above freezing point and not in direct sunlight. For summer cut care, please choose a dry, overcast day, because rain increases the susceptibility to fungal infections at the cut points.
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Observe the grace period for radical pruning
Plant pruning promotes dense branching - this is how the pruning succeeds
This tutorial is extensively devoted to pruning a cherry laurel for good reason. Regardless of whether you plant the evergreen deciduous shrub as a solitary or a hedge, pruning is aimed at densely branched growth from the base to the tip. The one-handed cut is perfect for a targeted cut.Secateurs with Bypass mechanism. The scissors cut with two sharp blades and leave smooth edges. The perfect plant cut is so easy:
- The best time is after planting
- Sharpen, clean and disinfect scissor blades with alcohol
- Put on gloves to protect against the poisonous sap
- Cut back all shoots in half
- Make a cut at a distance of 3 to 5 millimeters from an outward-facing sheet
The figure below illustrates the scope of the planting pruning. In contrast to other woody plants, pruning cherry laurels is also advisable when it comes to container goods. If the young plants are bare-rooted, carefully examine the root system before planting. Please cut off any damaged or kinked root strands as a result of the clearing in the nursery.
After planting, cut back all shoots by half. The resulting accumulation of juice below the interfaces causes a dense branching from below.
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Plant pruning benefits from growth law
Build up the cherry laurel hedge successively - assembly section instructions
Popular cherry laurel varieties for hedge planting gain up to 40 centimeters in height per year. Although the pruning ensured a fairer distribution of the nutrients, the top buds still gain the upper hand. So that the lower hedge regions do not lose out, we recommend one step-by-step construction to the desired final height. Here's how to do it properly:
- Cut to the final height twice a year in late winter and summer
- Measure the cut back so that the hedge is 10 centimeters high
- Aimed at a conical shape with a wider base and a slightly narrower hedge crown
Obtain from Body section You're welcome all hedge sides with a. The perfect cutting technique on evergreen trees starts just above an outwardly directed, healthy leaf. In this way you avoid cutting into the beautiful leaves and encourage vital budding.
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Cherry laurel hedge flooded with light thanks to the trapezoidal shape
Take a bold approach to the main hedge pruning - instructions for clearing pruning
Cherry laurel owes its high esteem as a hedge plant to its excellent pruning tolerance, which continues seamlessly after the planting and topping-up pruning. Based on the vigor of the planted variety, you can up to three times a year reach for scissors for a well-groomed appearance. The main cut also includes the thorough clearing of the entire hedge. How to proceed correctly step by step:
- The best time is in late winter between the end of January and the beginning of March (observe the Federal Nature Conservation Act)
- In the first step, cut out dead wood from the hedge using one-hand scissors or a folding saw
- Cut the hedge back to the desired height and width on all sides
- Ideally, do not cut into the leaves, but at a short distance from a leaf that is growing outwards
So that the advantageous conical hedge shape is preserved, stretch cords for orientation between wooden stakes that you hammer into the earth at the ends of the hedge.
Safe on the garden ladder
For the cut of a Privacy hedge the stable garden ladder is part of the basic equipment. Pay special attention when purchasing your safety by choosing a product with the "GS" label for "tested safety". Also make sure that you have a secure footing. A leaning ladder can twist or slip on wet leaves. As a precaution, tie the ladder with ropes. For hedge trimming we recommend a folding ladder, optionally with rubber caps for paved areas or metal spikes for open ground.
Repeated maintenance cuts keep the cherry laurel hedge in shape
Vigorous cherry laurel varieties require more than the main clearing cut for a hedge to retain its well-groomed appearance. Two more editing dates are appropriate. The first growth spurt of the season is over at the end of June, so you can enjoy the cutting result for a long time. A last cut in August, on the other hand, needs to be carefully considered because flower buds that have already been created fall victim to it. In return, the evergreen hedge shines through the entire winter as if peeled from an egg. This is how the skilful care cut succeeds:
- Carefully examine the hedge for inhabited bird nests
- Mark the shape of the cut with stretched cords
- Cut back any branches sticking out of the mold
- When cutting, always keep your eyes on the uncut area of the hedge
- First cut the sides and flanks into shape
- Then cut the top of the hedge
The illustration below demonstrates that the maintenance cut is based on the this year's growth concentrated. A fully grown cherry laurel hedge is prevented in this way from expanding in height or width undesirably. Deeper pruning measures take place outside the summer grace period to protect nesting birds. If you follow our recommended date, many birds will have ended their breeding business at the end of June anyway. If there are still feathered families in the hedge, please postpone the cutting time until later.
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Cut electrically or by hand?
Cut solitaire every now and then - guidelines for conservation pruning
If a cherry laurel acts as a representative solitary, pruning is limited to occasional thinning and shortening of shoots that are too long. After pruning, you can let the wood grow and enjoy the naturally beautiful habit. Vigorous varieties respond positively to maintenance pruning at 3-year intervals. Slow-growing varieties get by with a cut every 4 to 6 years. How to complete the solitaire conservation cut with flying colors:
- The best time is between the end of January and the beginning of March
- Cut off dead, weak and cross-growing branches at the roots
- Too long shoots derive on a young side branch in the lower area
The linchpin for the professional maintenance cut is the cutting technique. Do not cut a cherry laurel anywhere, but always in close proximity to an outward-facing leaf. As the figure below suggests, you can avoid unsightly gaps by shortening excessively long shoots so that a young side branch below serves as the new tip of the shoot.
After clearing the dead wood, the cut is devoted to the shaping. Oversized branches are not simply cut off, but specifically diverted to a lower, young side shoot. In this way, the uniform shape is retained without any gaps.
Rejuvenation of cherry laurel as a solitary and hedge - this is how it works
Time does not go by without a trace on any cherry laurel. If the bush or hedge is of an advanced age, over-strong branches or balding regions form inside the plant. Cherry laurels, which are not granted a regular cut, have a similar experience. With a radical rejuvenation cut, a breath of fresh air comes into growth. This is how it works Cut type on solitary and hedge alike:
- The best time is in winter by the beginning of March at the latest (Federal Nature Conservation Act note)
- Cut off dead shoots at the base
- As shown in the illustration below, cut all branches back to 50 centimeters
- Place scissors a few millimeters above a leaf, bud or sleeping eye
The rejuvenation cut is also referred to in the gardener's language as "putting on the stick". In fact, the radical cut on completely aged cherry laurels leaves a small framework of young ground shoots. From this the plant sprouts freshly until summer.
If cherry laurel is balding from below, cut all shoots back to a height of 50 centimeters in late winter. Do not cut anywhere, but just above outward-facing buds, leaves or sleeping eyes.
Cutting the ground cover cherry laurel correctly - tips for pruning
The laurel cherry 'Mount Vernon' is very popular with home gardeners as an evergreen ground cover. The shiny, narrow leaves are up to 11 centimeters long and gather in a dense foliage that reliably suppresses weeds. With an annual growth of 5 to 15 centimeters, creeping cherry laurel shows a leisurely growth. Accordingly, pruning measures are rarely on the maintenance program:
- The best time is in early spring before budding begins
- Check the ground cover shrubs for deadwood every 2 to 3 years
- Cut out dead branches at the roots
If the shoots extend beyond the assigned area, simply cut them back. Proceed in a similar way with branches that are crosswise or inward.
Tips
With ground cover cherry laurel, you can save yourself the pruning and benefit from the growth law of the top side promotion. On branches growing diagonally or horizontally, the buds sprout with uniform vigor. In the absence of an upright top bud, the nutrients are distributed evenly over all the buds. The eyes preferred on the branch tops because they are positioned closer to the light. Regular thinning therefore has a beneficial effect on the dense, leafy growth of ground cover laurel cherries.
Raising cherry laurel to a high stem - this is how it works
Thanks to the exceptionally good cut tolerance, cherry laurel is predestined for decorative tall trunks. Resourceful home gardeners have only discovered the attractive version of pruning care for the small garden and cultivation in the bucket in recent years. Ready-made cherry laurel stems are expensive because they involve a lot of cutting work. A point of honor for the ambitious hobby gardener to take the education into their own hands. This is how it works:
- Select young plants with a stable, straight central shoot
- Connect the central shoot as a future trunk to a support rod
- Cut off all side shoots seamlessly
- Parallel to the growth, guide the central shoot on the support rod to the desired height
In this tutorial you have already familiarized yourself with the growth law of Top funding familiarized. The legality plays an important role for that Crown formation. Only cut off the tip bud when it is 4 to 6 leaves above the desired crown height. The sap pressure is then distributed to the lower-lying leaf and shoot buds, so that the cherry laurel branches to the crown. You continue to cut off superfluous side shoots along the central shoot without a trace.
Similar to the pruning of a cherry laurel hedge, dedicate yourself to the shape of the spherical crown in June and August. In addition, thin out the crown of the older tall trunk in late winter to encourage the growth of young crown branches. Extra-long branches protruding from the shape should ideally be derived from a younger side shoot.
Prefer dwarf varieties
For the upbringing of tall stems, majestic laurel cherries are not the best choice. For the sapling version, please use dwarf varieties. 'Etna' remains at a height of 150 to 200 centimeters, making it ideal for the bucket. 'Piri' grows up to 100 centimeters high and, thanks to its rounded shape, is perfect for raising small trees with a spherical crown.
frequently asked Questions
Is cherry laurel poisonous?
All cherry laurel varieties contain glycosides and other toxins. The highest concentration of toxins is found in the black berries. Chewed seeds turn into poisonous hydrocyanic acid in the stomach. Medical professionals rate 10 seeds as a lethal dose for humans. But the leaves can also cause severe symptoms of poisoning after consumption, such as vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Planting cherry laurel is therefore not advisable for the family garden with small children and pets.
Use clippings for propagation - is that possible?
In fact, with each pruning, you have a large number of splendid cuttings in your hands for uncomplicated propagation. Mainly non-flowering, half woody shoot tips (herbaceous in the tip, woody at the bottom) have plenty of vigor in their luggage to transform into a magnificent cherry laurel. The correct cutting is 10 to 15 centimeters long. Remove all but two at the top. These are halved to reduce evaporation. Put each prepared cutting in a pot with a mixture of soil and sand or admire its root formation in a glass of water.
Which varieties are best for a cherry laurel hedge?
Under the name cherry laurel, a colorful dance of different varieties comes together. For cultivation as a hedge plant, we would like to recommend the variety 'Herbergii', also known as 'Upright cherry laurel'. The Primus inspires with glossy green, elliptical leaves, stiffly upright growth and pronounced location tolerance. With a height of 250 cm and a width of 150 cm, the cherry laurel thrives with ideal dimensions for a hedge plant. Also recommended is the cherry laurel 'Caucasica' with its somewhat slimmer shape and pronounced frost resistance for regions with rough winter conditions.
Frost damage to a young cherry laurel - what to do?
If winter comes back parallel to the fresh budding, frost damage to the cherry laurel is inevitable. Primarily young plants have not yet fully developed the robust frost hardiness of adult shrubs and have to pay for it with frozen branch tips. Thanks to the excellent cut tolerance, you can easily repair the damage. When there is no longer any fear of belated frosts from mid-May, cut the affected cherry laurel back into the healthy wood.
We would like to transplant a 5 year old, so far uncut cherry laurel in the garden. Should we cut the shrub at the same time?
After five years of standing, an uncut cherry laurel has reached impressive dimensions and developed a correspondingly voluminous root system. In connection with a change of location, a large proportion of the roots are lost. By adequately pruning the branches, you restore the balance between underground and above-ground growth. Because it is easy to cut, you can cut back a cherry laurel by up to two thirds to compensate for the lost root volume.
What to do with the cherry laurel clippings?
The thick-fleshed, large leaves of cherry laurel rot only slowly. In addition, leaves and shoots contain toxins that are harmful to human and animal health. Disposal on the compost or on pastures does not make sense. Put the clippings in the Organic waste bin. You pack larger quantities in sacks or on the car trailer and take them to the nearest composting or garbage facility, where the clippings are accepted free of charge.
The 3 most common mistakes when cutting cherry laurel
The high tolerance towards pruning does not imply that the cherry laurel can never cut errors. On the contrary, the numerous references to simple pruning lead many home gardeners to disregard important prin- ciples of pruning. The following table draws attention to the 3 most common cutting errors and gives tips on prevention and damage limitation.
| Cutting errors | Damage image | Prevention / Correction |
|---|---|---|
| no plant pruning | bare shrub base from the start | always carry out plant pruning; Taper cut and rebuild |
| never exposed | Balding in the interior of the bush or hedge | Thinning out the hedge every year, thinning the bush every 3 to 4 years |
| Do not hedge in a trapezoidal shape | sparsely branched hedge base, premature aging from below | Cut the hedge in the broad base that tapers to the tip |
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Tips
As an evergreen ornamental wood, a cherry laurel loses moisture at any time of the year. Extensive watering is not only important during dry periods in summer. When the frost has closed the ground in winter and there is no blanket of snow, the cherry laurel comes under drought stress. She is therefore very grateful for regular watering even during the cold season.