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Planting Distance Portuguese Laurel (too close?)

billyp7WmtKKMbillyp7WmtKKM Posts: 34
in Plants
Hi there, I planted about 200 young portuguese laurel last year (60cm) and the instructions I was given were to plant them 3-4 per meter, which means that are 25cm-30cm apart.  Loads of websites say this for younger plants. (I dont know if this is a genuine recommendation for nice density or just trying to make extra money) Some website say 5 which sounds crazy 

https://www.google.com/search?q=portugese+laurel+3-4+per+meter&oq=portugese+laurel+3-4+per+meter&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i10i160.9336j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8v

It is a nice density look I am trying to achieve and about 7ft tall so went with the 3-4 recommendation, but I am no gardener.

After doing more research this year and some comments from friends and neighbours, they are are saying they are too close and should be be 2-3 per meter and may struggle and compete.

In hindsight I should have went 80cm and planted 2-3 per meter.

They are growing ok just now,but I am now worried incase they struggle when the roots get bigger or don't achieve a nice healthy look if they are too close.

Will they be ok or might I need to act once they grow a bit?

A lot of time and money has went in too plant them and any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    HI @billyp7WmtKKM - the spacing can sometimes seem odd, but often when a larger number is suggested, it's because they're planted in a staggered row, rather than a single line, if that makes sense.
    They can be planted quite densely to achieve a nice thick hedge, and the size you've chosen is ideal. There's a newish estate near me which has lots of P. laurel as the boundary hedging. Much of it is planted closely, and it all looks good.  :)
    I don't think you need to worry too much, and it would be a pain to start removing some. As ling as they have enough water, and the soil is in good nick, they should be fine  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    3-4 per m will be fine. In retrospect you could probably have planted at greater centres but this would have taken longer to achieve a continuous 'hedge' look. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited March 2022
    When I lived with my parents we had a 300ft (long, not high :)) beech hedge.
    The individual plants were spaced about 18" apart and 4 plants deep in a staggered pattern. It gave a really dense hedge.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I walked through that estate this morning, and had a closer look at the P. laurel hedging because of this thread!
    Plenty of them are planted around a foot apart. Most are single row hedges too, and all thriving well - at varying heights depending on the homeowners' preferences. 
    I think you'll be fine @billyp7WmtKKM :)

    My Dad's beech hedge was like that too @Pete.8. The only problem was - when I had to take over cutting it, it was about 8 feet deep in places... 
    and I'm only little...
    I had to straddle the top at full stretch with the hedgetrimmer, from the top of the ladder. Not ideal!  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • billyp7WmtKKMbillyp7WmtKKM Posts: 34
    Thanks everyone for your comments.  I hope its ok and forms a nice green healthy dense hedge.  I will have a better idea once the hedge starts growing together in the next couple of years.  Thanks again
  • billyp7WmtKKMbillyp7WmtKKM Posts: 34
    edited March 2022
    Photos from spacing showing around 30cm each at 3-4 per meter.  But if my desired height is 2 meters height these will be really close when trunk grows .  Should I remove every second plant while they still young and roots small? About 2 per meter? Catch them while they are young and easier to remove and have distance of 55-60cm?  I think they would benefit long term and be easier to maintain being 60cm apart and when they bush out and trunk grows.  Just want to sort for growing season.  Gutted if I have to remove them, but want to do what's best in long run.  

    30cm would be very tight 6-7 feet high? 2m?

    ng
  • billyp7WmtKKMbillyp7WmtKKM Posts: 34
    Any more advice on this? Everything is pointing towards 2ft, 60cm distance for 2m high hedging.  I want to make a decision this week so I can get them settled for growing season and not have any issues long term with roots being too close to each other once they have big trunks and 2m high and only 30cm apart.   I appreciate the advice so far, but my research is saying otherwise.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd leave them. They tend to naturally grow quite upright anyway. 
    As long as they aren't compromised in terms of watering, they'll be fine. Many of those hedges I mentioned are over five foot just now. A couple are far bigger, but I can't see the planting distance on them because of their site :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Leave them.  They can take a season or two to get their feet down and feel established and then they'll take off.   You do need to water in dry spells to help them along.

    Have to say tho that my experience of planting distance and growth for these laurels (thugs when happy) the next parish is too close.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Some of the hedging specialists sell Portuguese laurel in 1 meter length troughs for instant hedging at quite a high density.  Have a look at the trough options for sale on this site and you'll see the planting looks like 7 plants per meter:

    Portuguese Laurel hedge plants | Prunus lusitanica hedging (best4hedging.co.uk)

    If you are still concerned, you could consider rearranging your plants into a double staggered row of 5 plants per meter but that's a lot of work for 200 plants!


    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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