Some laurel cherries, under ideal conditions, quickly outgrow their owners and reach an impressive size. Thanks to their rapid growth, the bushes form an attractive green privacy screen in a short time, but should be cut at least once a year so that the fast-growing tree does not take up too much space in the garden.
How high can a cherry laurel grow?
The growth height of the cherry laurel varies depending on the variety and frequency of cutting. Regularly trimmed hedges can reach three meters high, while under ideal conditions free-growing shrubs can reach up to six meters.
The height of growth varies depending on the variety
The height at which the cherry laurel ultimately reaches depends on which variety you plant and how often you cut the bush back. For example, regularly trimmed cherry laurel hedges of the Caucasica variety can reach heights of up to three meters. Growing freely under ideal conditions, these shrubs can, over the years, develop into impressive trees with a height of six meters or more.
Tall and slim or rather wide
Cherry laurel is available both as a tightly upright grower, such as the Etna cherry laurel, and as a more spreading variety, such as the Prunus Herbergii variety. Species such as the Mount Vernon laurel cherry, on the other hand, grow in a creeping manner and only reach heights of around fifty centimeters. With these species you can plant trees under or add greenery to unsightly garden corners. These ground cover plants are also popular as evergreen grave decorations, although they should be pruned regularly to avoid excessive growth.
The laurel cherry is fast-growing and tolerates pruning
A cherry laurel bush can grow up to half a meter in height per year and thus reach its final size within a very short time. However, since the bushes usually grow as wide as they are tall, this rapid growth can also become a problem in small gardens. Therefore, choose a cherry laurel variety whose growth height matches the size of your property.
Cut cherry laurel regularly
In order to keep the size of the cherry laurel within the desired range, the shrub should be cut at least once a year. The best time to prune is spring, directly after flowering. Since motorized cutting tools and hedge trimmers (€23.00 at Amazon) make the beautifully shaped foliage of the laurel cherry appear torn, pruning should always be done with rose or pruning shears. If desired, you can cut back the cherry laurel a second time in late summer.
Tips & Tricks
You don't have to dig up and destroy a laurel cherry that has grown too large. The wood also tolerates heavy pruning well and can be cut back into the old wood if necessary. After this radical cut, it will willingly sprout again.
