Description
Probably the top choice for evergreen screening, cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus Rotundifolia) makes a first rate hedge. It is quick to grow, cold hardy, suitable for all soils except for damp sites, and makes an excellent dense hedge which provides high levels of screening and sound-proofing all year round.The large round glossy leaves make a perfect foil for more colourful plants, and are equally at home in a formal or informal setting. The sprays of pure white flowers in late spring provide added interest, and the small fruit are loved by wildlife.
Cherry laurel is one of the quickest growing evergreen hedging plants, so perfect if you need an instant screen or windbreak. Allow plenty of space when planting - one plant every 50cm or so is ample - as the plants will soon knit together and if planted too closely they will compete for moisture and nutrients. Our cherry laurel plants are all root-balled - supplied with a ball of soil around the roots, wrapped with a piece of hessian. Leave the hessian in place when planting, as it will minimise root disturbance and the hessian will rot once planted and the roots will soon escape and establish.
Prune using secateurs in early spring - this way you will avoid cutting leaves in half which can make the hedge look very untidy.
Originally from the Caucasus, an area spanning the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, cherry laurels have been grown in the UK for over 600 years.
