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Can I hard prune Portuguese Laurel?

KirstyWYKirstyWY Posts: 35
in Plants
Everything I read suggests I can, but I'm still quite scared to do it!
They are large, 20 year old shrubs that have been neglected by a previous owner. The "inner" of the shrubs do not have leaves on them, so I'm worried about cutting back and having no leaves on the shrubs. 
Also, if I can do this, when is the best time of year?

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I had some like that,  sawed off to about 6” from the ground they made a lovely hedge by the end of the summer. 
    I don’t know the best time,  we cut ours whenever they need it.  Maybe March is best. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    I've just had this done to some cherry laurel in a new area that we've just bought to extend our garden.
    They were getting tangled in the overhead telephone wires .... so a bit too big for us to tackle ourselves.
    The tree surgeon has taken them all down to knee height ... and has left a lovely big pile of chippings from all the wood.
    I'll use these for paths around our woodland.

    As @Lyn says, I expect them to bush out quickly and will keep them to a maageable height from now on.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    One thing I would say about hard pruning,  cut the branches on an angle rather than straight across so the rain drains off rather than soaks in. 
    That maybe just me though, await others opinions. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    That's a good shout @Lyn
    I'll check tomorrow, but I don't think our guy has done that.
    Be easy enough for us to go over them.
    We are on the drier side of Scotland .... but we do still get a fair amount of rain here.

    Thanks,
    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • KirstyWYKirstyWY Posts: 35
    Thanks all.
    That's a great tip about sawing at an angle, I will definitely do that.

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