Why Choose Bare Root Portuguese Laurel?

Bare root Portuguese Laurel combines the beauty of a premium evergreen hedge with the savings available from dormant-season planting.

Benefits include:

• Evergreen foliage for year-round screening
• Glossy, dark green leaves
• Attractive burgundy-red stems
• Dense, naturally tidy growth
• Excellent privacy and boundary planting
• More refined appearance than Cherry Laurel
• Suitable for formal and informal hedges
• Hardy and adaptable
• Valuable shelter for garden wildlife

With regular trimming, Portuguese Laurel forms an elegant, long-lasting hedge that complements both traditional and contemporary gardens.

Bare Root Portuguese Laurel Availability

Bare root Portuguese Laurel is lifted and supplied while dormant, normally between:

• November
• December
• January
• February
• March, subject to weather and remaining stock

Availability may be more limited than for deciduous bare root hedging. Pre-ordering is recommended, particularly for larger quantities and taller plants.

Where to Plant Portuguese Laurel Hedging

Portuguese Laurel is a versatile choice for:

• Garden boundaries
• Formal hedges
• Privacy screening
• Driveway planting
• Front gardens
• Larger landscaping projects
• Urban gardens
• Traditional and contemporary planting schemes
• Sheltered or exposed boundaries

It grows well in full sun or partial shade. Although it will tolerate shade, growth may be slower and less dense in heavily shaded positions.

Soil and Position

Portuguese Laurel adapts to most ordinary garden soils, including:

• Clay
• Loam
• Chalk
• Sandy soil
• Moist but well-drained ground

Avoid permanently waterlogged areas. On heavy clay, prepare a generous planting trench and loosen the surrounding soil to improve drainage and allow new roots to spread.

Portuguese Laurel is hardy and wind tolerant once established, although taller bare root plants may require temporary staking during their first season.

Planting Bare Root Portuguese Laurel

Bare root plants should be planted as soon as possible after delivery.

Protect the Roots

Never allow the exposed roots to dry out. Keep them covered and moist until planting. If planting must be delayed, temporarily heel the plants into loose soil.

Prepare the Ground

Remove grass, perennial weeds and debris from the planting area. Dig a trench or individual holes wide enough to accommodate the roots without bending or forcing them.

Loosen compacted soil around the sides and base of the planting area to encourage new root development.

Position the Plants

Plant each Portuguese Laurel at the same depth it was growing in the field. The previous soil mark should sit level with the surrounding ground.

Spread the roots naturally before replacing the soil.

Backfill and Water

Backfill using the excavated soil, firming carefully around the roots to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.

Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it slightly clear of the stems.

Watering and Aftercare

Bare root Portuguese Laurel requires consistent care throughout its first growing season.

For successful establishment:

• Water thoroughly immediately after planting.
• Check soil moisture regularly as temperatures rise in spring.
• Water deeply during dry weather throughout the first spring and summer.
• Keep grass and weeds clear from the root area.
• Apply mulch to reduce moisture loss.
• Firm plants back into the soil if winter frost lifts them.
• Stake taller specimens where wind rock may disturb the roots.

As an evergreen plant, Portuguese Laurel continues to lose moisture through its leaves while the root system is establishing. This makes regular deep watering especially important during warm, dry or windy weather.

Small amounts of water applied frequently may only wet the soil surface. A slower, more thorough soaking will help moisture reach the full root area.

Feeding Portuguese Laurel Hedging

Avoid placing strong fertiliser directly against bare roots when planting.

Once fresh growth begins in spring, a balanced slow-release fertiliser may be applied if required. An annual mulch of garden compost or well-rotted organic matter will also improve soil structure gradually.

Watering should remain the priority during establishment, as feeding cannot compensate for a dry root system.

Pruning Portuguese Laurel Hedging

Portuguese Laurel responds well to trimming and develops into a dense, refined hedge.

For the best results:

• Lightly shorten young shoots to encourage branching.
• Keep the base of the hedge slightly wider than the top.
• Trim established hedges once or twice during the growing season.
• Use secateurs where practical for a clean finish.
• Remove dead, damaged or crossing stems when required.
• Check carefully for active bird nests before pruning.

Allow newly planted hedging time to establish before carrying out any substantial pruning.

Portuguese Laurel Bare Root Hedging FAQs

When can bare root Portuguese Laurel be planted?

Bare root Portuguese Laurel is normally planted between November and March, while dormant and provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.

Is Portuguese Laurel evergreen?

Yes. Portuguese Laurel retains its glossy dark green foliage throughout the year, providing continuous privacy and structure.

How quickly does Portuguese Laurel grow?

Once established, Portuguese Laurel commonly produces around 30–40cm of growth per year, depending on soil, position, watering and maintenance.

Does bare root Portuguese Laurel require regular watering?

Yes. Because Portuguese Laurel is evergreen, it continues to lose moisture through its leaves. Deep and consistent watering throughout the first spring and summer is essential.

Can Portuguese Laurel grow in shade?

Portuguese Laurel grows well in full sun or partial shade and will tolerate more shaded positions. However, growth may be slower and less dense in deep shade.

What is the difference between Portuguese Laurel and Cherry Laurel?

Portuguese Laurel has smaller, darker leaves and attractive red stems, giving it a more refined and formal appearance. Cherry Laurel has much larger leaves and generally grows more quickly.

Is bare root Portuguese Laurel guaranteed?

Bare root plants depend on correct storage, planting and aftercare. As establishment is affected by weather, soil conditions, planting depth and watering, bare root hedging is supplied without guarantee.

Buy Bare Root Portuguese Laurel Hedging Online

Bare root Portuguese Laurel offers a cost-effective way to establish an elegant evergreen hedge with excellent year-round privacy. Its glossy foliage, attractive red stems and naturally tidy growth make it a superb choice for formal boundaries, contemporary gardens and larger landscaping projects.

Order your bare root Portuguese Laurel hedging during the winter planting season and provide consistent deep watering throughout its first spring and summer to encourage strong establishment and healthy new growth.