How and When to Prune Laurel Bushes and Hedges

Laurel bushes and hedges are a popular addition to many lawns and landscapes. They look beautiful, and some basic pruning and maintenance can keep them in great shape. Read on for the easiest, most effective ways to keep your laurel plants looking even and uniform.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Bush Pruning

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Set aside time in late winter to prune your laurel. Pay attention to when flowers begin to sprout on your laurel bush—this is a good sign that it’s time to start pruning. Doing this in late winter gives your laurel plenty of time to grow and develop before summer starts winding down.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
- For instance, you can typically start pruning a mountain laurel in February.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Cherry laurels can be pruned anytime between January and July.
Spread apart your laurel’s branches and take a closer look inside. Do any limbs look a little worse for wear, or like they’re about to fall off? If so, use pruning shears to cut them completely back to the base of the bush.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
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Prune back branches that cross over each other. Your laurel plant needs some room to breathe! Poke around the branches and see if any are crossing over each other, or just generally tangled. Cut any tangled, intersecting branches back to the base, so your bush has a little bit of wiggle room.^{[4]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
- You don’t need to remove both branches—just take off 1 of the tangled limbs.^{[5]XResearch source}
Pruning is all about helping your bush grow big and strong in future seasons. With this in mind, look for any branches that look a little thinner or weaker than the rest. Completely cut back these branches, so your plant can grow stronger branches in future seasons.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
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Cut back one-third of your flowering shoots. You want your laurel bush to be healthy, but not too overgrown. Thin out your bush by cutting away one-third of your flowering branches back to the base.^{[7]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
- It can be tricky to cut back such a large number of branches! To make things easier, count your laurel boughs in groups of 3. Prune back every branch that lands on the number 3.
Always trim your branches at an angle, with the cut pointing upwards. This helps your plant heal more quickly, and will help your bush heal a little more quickly.^{[8]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Hedge Shaping

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Trim your hedges between June and September. Hedges are a beautiful addition to your yard, but they can look a bit unruly after a while. Plan to prune your hedges at least 2 times during June and September, especially when your laurel hedges go through a growth spurt.^{[9]XResearch source} Laurel hedges may be trimmed at any time during the season but it's best to avoid the coldest months of the year as the cut edges may be susceptible to frost damage.^{[10]XResearch source}
- As a general rule of thumb, plan to trim your hedges every 4 to 6 weeks.^{[11]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
Eyeball your laurel to figure out which branch is the tallest. Prune this branch with a pair of hedge trimmers until you’re happy with the height. This branch will now serve as the height marker for the rest of your hedges.^{[12]XTrustworthy SourceRoyal Horticultural SocietyLeading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plantsGo to source}
Secure 1 end of string along the very top of your hedge to mark the height. Pull this string taut along the very top edge of your laurel, and tie tightly along the other side. Leave this string in place throughout the growing season—if your laurel starts growing above this string, cut it back so it stays in line.^{[13]XResearch source}
Laurels have pretty big leaves—unfortunately, regular hedge trimmers tend to make larger leaves turn brown, which doesn’t look very nice from afar. Instead, use a pair of secateurs, which make it a lot easier to trim and adjust your edges without any cosmetic damage.^{[14]XResearch source}

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Tips

Always disinfect your pruning equipment with isopropyl alcohol or another sanitizing mixture before you start trimming. This way, you won’t spread any diseases to your laurels.^{[15]XResearch source}
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