Do you love evergreen hedges that protect your property from prying eyes even in the cold season? Then the easy-to-cut cherry laurel may be just the living fence you're looking for. You can find out how to plant the hedge plant correctly and what you need to consider when planting the hedge in this article.
How do you plant cherry laurel correctly?
To plant cherry laurel correctly, choose a sunny or semi-shady location sheltered from the wind and humus-rich, nutrient-rich soil. Plant in autumn or spring and keep enough distance from buildings and fences when planting the hedge.
Which locations are suitable?
Cherry laurel prefers sunny or semi-shady locations. However, in winters without snowfall, this preference can become dangerous. Cold easterly winds and bright sunshine can dry out the leaves and the plant cannot absorb fresh water due to the frozen ground. A location that is somewhat sheltered from the wind is therefore ideal. Laurel hedges can also run under trees, as the tree is one of the most competitive deep-rooted plants.
When is the right time to plant cherry laurel?
If you get container goods from garden retailers, you can create the hedge throughout the entire growing season. However, the best time for planting is autumn, as the shrub does not form new shoots at this time and puts all its strength into root growth. It then grows particularly well and quickly. Alternatively, you can plant the laurel cherry in spring.
Which substrate does the laurel cherry prefer?
The evergreen shrub is sensitive to waterlogging. It also doesn't like wet locations in extremely acidic soil.
Ideal, however, are:
- A humus- and nutrient-rich substrate.
- The laurel cherry also thrives on dry, sandy soils.
- Slightly acidic and alkaline soil is well tolerated.
- The drier the ground, the more frost-hardy the cherry laurel is.
- Loosen compacted and clayey soils with sand.
- Avoid waterlogging (drainage).
What planting distance must be maintained?
The distance at which you plant the individual plants depends on the variety. The rule of thumb is three plants per meter. Thanks to the strong growth of the laurel cherry, you will have a dense privacy screen after just two years.
However, due to this very dense planting, there is a risk that the roots of the bushes will later become an obstacle and the laurel cherry will begin to suffer. It is better to be patient and only plant one cherry laurel per meter.
Distance to buildings and fences
Since most cherry laurel species grow very quickly, you must keep enough distance from house walls and fences. Plant the tree so that you can reach it from all sides even when it is fully grown and cut it back. The optimal planting distance is half the diameter specified in the variety description plus at least half a meter.
How to plant the laurel cherry?
In gardening stores you can mainly get cherry laurel in containers, which are very easy to plant. The slightly cheaper baled goods are usually only offered in autumn. It is a bit more delicate and you need to plant it properly immediately after purchase or delivery.
When planting, proceed as follows:
- Dig the planting hole. This should be significantly larger than the planting container.
- For baled goods, the roots must be spread out in the planting hole.
- To avoid waterlogging, you can add a drainage layer of sand.
- Enrich the excavated topsoil with compost (€12.00 on Amazon), manure or horn shavings.
- Insert the bale so that the laurel cherry sits exactly as deep as in the container.
- Fill the planting hole with the excavated soil and make sure that the cherry laurel is vertical.
- Only then press the earth firmly.
- Fill additional soil if necessary.
- Water abundantly (sponge).
In the first few weeks after planting, the laurel cherry should always be watered when the top layer of soil has dried out. The shrub needs a lot of moisture so that the roots grow well.
Can cherry laurel be propagated yourself?
Despite the fact that the laurel cherry can be propagated by seeds, this is very time-consuming. The seeds germinate quite slowly and the small plants need a lot of time to develop into strong bushes. You can propagate cherry laurel more easily and quickly using planters or cuttings. In this way you will get robust young plants and a dense hedge relatively quickly.
Does the cherry laurel tolerate transplanting
If you are planning a garden redesign, it is sometimes necessary to move one or more laurel cherries. If possible, move the trees in autumn, as the cherry laurel takes root particularly well then. Alternatively, the laurel cherry can move to another location in spring. Cut the shrub back slightly before transplanting; This makes it easier to transport and reduces evaporation through the leaves. When inserting, proceed in the same way as when planting a newly purchased laurel cherry.
Good and bad neighbors
Cherry laurel gets along well with plants that love partial shade. These include, for example, azaleas and rhododendrons, many conifers and ferns. The dark, glossy foliage of the cherry laurel beautifully highlights the flowers of lily of the valley and lilies.
Tips & Tricks
Cherry laurel doesn't just look attractive as a hedge plant. Even planted as a solitary plant, the pretty shrub with its shiny dark green foliage is a feast for the eyes. Some species even thrive in pots and transform the balcony or terrace into a green oasis.
