The real laurel or spice laurel (Laurus nobilis) should not be confused with the inedible cherry laurel. While the latter type of plant is often planted in the form of dense and evergreen hedges, hedges made from real laurel can only be planted in suitably mild locations and overwintered outdoors.
How do you plant a laurel hedge correctly?
To plant a laurel hedge, choose true laurel (Laurus nobilis) and plant it in spring or autumn in a location with lots of sun, little frost and well-drained, humus-rich soil. Maintain a planting distance of 60-100 cm and avoid waterlogging when watering.
Which plants to choose for the laurel hedge?
If you want to have a head-high hedge with opaque growth within just a few years, you are sometimes better off with cherry laurel than with real laurel. However, the real laurel (Laurus nobilis) has the advantage that it does not have to be cut as often and can also be harvested for use in the kitchen.
What should a good location for a laurel hedge be like?
In an ideal location for the real laurel, the following conditions should be met:
- only a few degrees below zero at the temperature in winter
- lots of warmth and sunshine
- a humus-rich and permeable soil
How should the laurel hedge be planted?
When planting the laurel hedge, make sure that the roots can branch out easily in the loose soil. If necessary, you should remove areas with loamy or stony substrate and refill them with loose soil.
How can the laurel be propagated for planting a hedge?
The easiest way to propagate real laurel is to use semi-ripe cuttings that are about 10 to 15 centimeters long. You need to keep these evenly moist in a partially shaded place in a loose substrate for about 6 months so that they can take root.
When is the best time to plant a laurel hedge?
Laurel trees can be planted and transplanted in spring and autumn if the weather is not too hot and dry. Plants with fresh shoots tend to have yellow or brown leaves and drought damage after transplanting.
When can leaves and twigs be harvested from a laurel hedge?
Basically, bay leaves can be harvested and dried almost all year round. This can often be combined with a planned pruning.
What planting distance should be maintained for a laurel hedge?
You should maintain a distance of around 60 to 100 centimeters between the individual plants, as the real laurel sometimes also reproduces via root runners.
Tips & Tricks
A laurel hedge, like any other hedge, should be watered well after planting, but the plants don't particularly like waterlogging.
