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any laurel hedging experts here?

pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
in Plants
We will be replacing our mixed boundary hedge next weekend with cherry laurel.

We want to create an approximately 2.5-3m high hedge in as fast a time as possible.

What we aren't quite sure on is the planting gaps to achieve this height.

We planted another row 2 years ago that seems to be doing very well and is already around 1m (or slightly more) tall in the highest parts, and that is after pruning.    It is also filling out very nicely.    These were planted at a density of 3 per metre, i.e. 30cm between each plant.

We've been advised that the original hedge could certainly attain a height of 3m, but that this would take a bit longer because the roots have not quite as much room to grow as they would if planted at a lower density.

Basically, I'm trying to establish if there is a trade-off between bushiness and height here?

We want to try and attain the height as quickly as possible for privacy purposes, but at the same time we don't want there to be gaps at the bottom year after year.

Any advice re: planting density would be welcome here.

Thanks in advance.
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Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    My view is the bushier the plant the better it will form multiple branches to create height. Around 50cm apart will be more than enough for most young shrubs. It all depends on your shrub size. Anything above 50cm in height, I suggest a minimum of 75cm gaps. 
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    Picture a 3m laurel hedge... typically you might see trunks 1m apart or more. If you've got the patience I would go for that. Think of it as a row of nice individual plants for the first few years!
  • pierre_de_gayepierre_de_gaye Posts: 182
    Indeed - but does this mean 30cm apart will not reach 3m?   How much longer would it take to get there compared with 75cm spacing?    Presumably those would take longer to knit together also.    Is it a trade off ?    I hope that 1ft apart will get tall in the end.    That was for plants approx 60cm tall at the time.   

    The place recommended 3 to 5 plants per metre.   It's hard to imagine 5!
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    You got to consider each laurel plants is competing for water / light and nutrients. 30cm apart for a laurel edge seem over the top maybe they are after the £££. I agree with glasglowdan and borderline minimum 75cm apart up depending on plant size. A laurel full size leaf on its own must be at least 12-15cm.  
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    A foot apart short get taller in the end! The trunks will be 6” diameter, they will be touching each other, now room for side shoots. 
    Plenty of good advise here, but up to you in the end, you can always dig them up and throw them away in a few years time. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with Lyn ... at 12" apart ... if they grow to any size at all (bearing in mind the amount of competition for moisture, nutrients etc)  there'll be hardly any gap between the trunks ... you might as well have a fence. 
    A spacing of 75cm will allow them to grow to their full potential and provide a thick and healthy hedge.
    Growing things takes time ... if you can't wait and want something immediate erect a fence.  :/ 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • TooksTooks Posts: 4
    I recently planted my Laurels. I had 13 to plant and bought them root balled at just over 1.5m height. I planted them 90cm appart, I measured them from the centre of each plant so the actual gap between each plants edges is prob nearer 60cm, this allows space for the roots & light to reach the hedging, hope this helps
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  • 2oaktrees2oaktrees Posts: 160
    I was planting the rest of my laurel hedging on the other side of our front yesterday when a neighbour walking his dog shouted “they’re too close” and this was 50cm apart. My plants are 2/3 ft high. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    This is mine now,  it’s been in for 6 years, I’ve measured them they are roughly 60cms...2’  apart,  we cut it twice a year or it would be huge.
    We have another few on top of the bank, growing in rubble, hardly any soil, they are big and have to be kept cut, so it seems they don’t need much help to take off. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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