How to Trim a Cherry Laurel Hedge (and When)

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery

Trim a cherry laurel hedge once or twice a year — the main cut in mid to late summer (around July or August) once birds have finished nesting, with an optional light tidy in late spring. Use secateurs or sharp shears rather than a hedge trimmer to avoid shredding the large leaves, and never cut into bare old wood unless you are deliberately renovating. Here is exactly how and when.

When to trim a cherry laurel hedge

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is fast-growing — often 30–60cm a year — so it needs cutting once or twice a season to stay dense and in shape. The main trim is best in mid to late summer, after the nesting season, when growth has slowed enough to hold a crisp shape into autumn. A lighter tidy can be done in late spring. Avoid cutting in frosty weather, which can damage the fresh cut edges.

Secateurs or a hedge trimmer?

Because laurel has large leaves, a powered hedge trimmer shreds them, leaving torn, brown edges that look unsightly for weeks. For the best finish, use secateurs or sharp hand shears and cut just above a leaf. On a long hedge a trimmer is much faster — if you use one, expect some cut-leaf browning, which grows out with the next flush.

How to trim a cherry laurel hedge, step by step

1. Check for nesting birds first — it is an offence to disturb an active nest, so the main cut is left until late summer.
2. Set a line. Run a string line at your target height to keep the top level.
3. Cut to a slight batter — keep the hedge a little wider at the base than the top so light reaches the bottom and it stays full to the ground.
4. Cut just above a leaf or bud, removing the season's growth back to your line. Step back regularly to check the shape.
5. Clear and feed. Rake up clippings, then water and mulch if the soil is dry.

How hard can you cut cherry laurel back?

Unlike conifers such as Leylandii, cherry laurel responds very well to hard renovation pruning. An overgrown hedge can be cut back hard into old, bare wood in spring and it will reshoot from the stems. For a tall hedge, reduce it over one or two years (one side or the top each year) and feed and water well afterwards to fuel the regrowth.

Aftercare

Feed in spring with a general fertiliser, keep a new hedge well watered through its first couple of summers, and mulch to lock in moisture. A well-fed, well-watered laurel recovers from cutting quickly and stays glossy and green.

Browse our cherry laurel hedging and the wider laurel hedging range, or see our guide to when you can cut hedges in the UK.

FAQs

When is the best time to trim a cherry laurel hedge?
Mid to late summer (around July to August), after birds have finished nesting, is the main trim; an optional light tidy can be done in late spring. Avoid cutting in frosty weather.

Should I use a hedge trimmer or secateurs on laurel?
Secateurs or sharp shears give the best finish, as hedge trimmers shred the large leaves and leave brown edges. On a long hedge a trimmer is faster, but expect some cut-leaf browning that grows out.

Can you cut a cherry laurel hedge back hard?
Yes. Unlike conifers, cherry laurel responds well to hard pruning into old wood, ideally in spring. Renovate over one or two years and it will reshoot from the bare stems.

How often should you trim a cherry laurel hedge?
Once or twice a year. Cherry laurel grows quickly (30–60cm a year), so an annual or twice-yearly cut keeps it dense and to size.

About the author: Paul Watmore is a director at Grasslands Nursery, a family-run plant nursery near Knutsford, Cheshire, growing hedging, pleached trees and specimen plants since 1984. Meet the team →