Cherry laurel normally grows very quickly and spreads quickly. This is not the case with the Portuguese cherry laurel, which comes from the Iberian Peninsula - often referred to as the Portuguese laurel cherry - which grows slowly but upright and rarely needs to be cut. The densely growing tree is not only very popular as a hedge plant, but also as a solitary plant in the garden and on the balcony. The Portuguese cherry laurel tolerates pruning very well.
When and how should you prune the Portuguese cherry laurel?
The Portuguese cherry laurel should be cut once a year, ideally in spring or after flowering. Shorten all branches and twigs by around 10 centimeters, ensuring a pyramid-shaped cut.
Pruning only necessary once a year
On average, the Portuguese laurel cherry grows about 15 centimeters per year, although it remains quite narrow and grows beautifully upright. For this reason, annual pruning, in which the individual shoots are shortened by around 10 centimeters, is sufficient. This makes the Mediterranean plant very suitable for slim and easy-care hedge planting, although you do need to have a little patience - due to its slow growth, it takes a few years until an opaque hedge grows out of it.
The right time for a cut
Basically, you can cut the Portuguese laurel all year round, but it is better to leave the cutting tools lying down when there is frost or very hot temperatures. However, spring or the time immediately after flowering is best suited for pruning.
How to cut the Portuguese laurel cherry
Cutting the Portuguese laurel cherry is not that complicated. Simply shorten all branches and twigs by around 10 centimeters, although you should make sure that the cut is pyramid-shaped. This means the plant is wider at the base and tapers towards the top. In this way you ensure that all parts of the plant are sufficiently supplied with light and air. You should definitely wear gloves when cutting, as the Portuguese laurel cherry - like all cherry laurel plants - is very poisonous.
Tip
If possible, only use mechanical cutting tools for cutting, which should also be freshly sharpened and clean. Electric hedge trimmers often leave unsightly cutting edges, while dull scissors tend to crush rather than cut the branches and twigs, thus injuring them unnecessarily.
