Portuguese Laurel Hedge

Hi All,

Last year we planted a Portuguese Laurel with the intention to form a formal hedge, the were only small plants but have quickly grown. See pictures.

Question is do I just leave them for now without trimming or topping them? I want them to form the hedge so it is about 5ft-7ft high.

If I top them will they stop growing in height? I want them to start bushing up. One plant even had small flowers this year.

 

The only way to make them fill out is to prune them. Looking at your picture above I would trim them so they are level with the bottom of your top fence rail. Not to harsh a pruning but enough to trigger side growth further down. This pruning will also start to create the top level of the hedge for you.

 

Thanks, When is the best time (month) to do this?

 

If it was my hedge I'd go for it now!

 

Done!

seemed a shame, hopefully will pay off.

 

is it the right time to trim this hedge again, or should I just leave as is ?

 

Hi Kevin

Wait for the winter to finish , how tall has it gone now ? any chance of a new photo ?

 

Thanks! i'll get some new snaps up in the morning

 

As promised, A picture to help with pruning comments - click on the image to see full size version.

 

Hi Kalvin

its looking great, if me I would leave at that height and give it a light trim just to nip out the top shoots to keep encouraging it to go more bushy at the base..
I would give a good feed of rose fertiliser granular in late March and then top dress (old compost/bark) but keep away from the main stem coming out of the soil will help keep the weeds down and help keep the moisture in.
I would suggest for the big gap in the middle plant another one

so not a lot to do

 

Great, I'll attack it tomorrow thanks for your advice it is much appreciated.

 

no attacking light prune

 

I love Portuguese Laurel. Just wish I'd used them for my hedge but I used Prunus Laurocerasus Otto Luyken instead. Had them in for several years now and they are such slow growers. Still, at least I won't have to prune them very often when they are at the size I want.

I have a Portuguese Laurel in a container and it's come on leaps and bounds so no doubt you'll have a beautiful hedge before you know it.