Laurel Hedge

Jennywren3

What is the best time to prune a laurel hedge - I have read conflicting advice and don't know whether this should have been done already, or April, or May. 

Dave Morgan

Laurel is just starting to grow, you can do it now and late summer, but depends where you live, the more southerly you are the earlier you can prune and vice versa if northerly. 

Jennywren3

Thanks Dave - I'm on the south coast - so will get stuck in without the fear of killing it off!

Peter-11

The first photo was taken a few months after planting in July 2014 the ground is hard and mostly clay and stone. The other two July and August this year purchased of eBay in small pots,there was very little growth for two years. I laid down a cheap membrane and topped with cedar bark. I know nothing about gardening and hoped to create a hedge, to clip or not to clip? Isn't it better to let them grow naturally allowing them to create a better root ball then clip when they reach the required height. 

Fairygirl

They're tough as all hell Peter - so you can prune virtually any time, apart from in severe frosts of course, without them coming to harm. A small plant (of any kind) takes time to establish and then it will 'take off'. 

Pruning encourages them to bush out which means a thicker hedge in the long run. 

Peter-11

Hello and thank you fairy girl, contradiction seems to rule the day as the more you look the more you find. Planted in 2012 not 2014.The area is on my deeds and we're responsible for it,that includes the irresponsible dog owners and their dogs.There seems to be green caterpillars every where, but I'm avoiding using any pesticides as they dont discrimination. I didn't realise they release a sap from the bark to attract bees ants wasps etc as a reward for a little protection.