When is best time to prune Laurel?

Copperdog · May 2017

When is the best time to prune a laurel bush (5ft ball) I think I've usually pruned it by now. I like to keep it in a fairly tidy large ball shape. Its still in that shape but have lots of lovely new foliage which seems such a shame to cut it all off. When does everyone else do theirs? I had it in mind that I should be waiting for late May? Think I'm getting muddled with Box though? Many thanks

Fairygirl · May 2017

Any time with laurels is fine in my experience !

I'm assuming it's the bog standard one. They can be hacked any old time. I'd avoid doing it if you have severe frost forecast (as with any shrub really) but that's about the only time. They recover from that anyway.

Box is different - late May /early June is the time for it, and that's to avoid frost damage

Copperdog · May 2017

Thanks Fairy. Is there a time when you can do it once for the year? or if I trim it now will I have to do it again in august or September. Again I think that is whats required for box? two trims a year keeps it shape?

Fairygirl · May 2017

I don't prune laurel into a shape - I just remove stems if necessary. I expect you could do it once - around this time of year if you like it round, but you'd probably need to do it again before winter - depending on how much growth it makes.

Box usually gets done once and that does it for the year

When is best time to prune Laurel?

Posts