Laurel Hedging

Further Information about Laurel Hedging

Laurel hedge plants are one of the most popular hedging types available. Native to southeastern Europe and northwest  Asia, they have since become a common plant available across the UK and northern Europe. Laurel hedging was first introduced to the UK in 1576, as a gift given by the Ambassador to the Emperor of Constantinople.

Aside from conifers, Laurel hedges are one of the fastest-growing evergreen hedges, making them ideal for screening and privacy. Gardeners often use Laurel to help create a secluded outdoor space that they can enjoy in the privacy of their own homes. 

Gardeners also opt for Laurel hedging due to the ability to grow it almost anywhere. Laurel will grow in deep shade or full sun, making it one of the most resistant and easily-established hedging types available.

Types of Laurel Hedge Plants

Here at Hopes Grove Nurseries, we offer a wide range of Laurel hedging varieties, so you’re bound to find one suitable for your needs. We offer the following varieties of Laurel hedges:

• Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is an excellent evergreen for hedging or topiary and is the same plant that yields the aromatic bay leaves used in the kitchen and is considered to have many health benefits.
• Common Laurel (or Cherry Laurel) is incredibly popular and the fastest-growing variety. It has beautiful glossy evergreen leaves and is available from us in a wide range of sizes including bare root and root ball hedge plants to potted and instant hedging.
• Caucasica Laurel is similar to Common Laurel and grows at least as fast but with a slightly more upright growth and with narrower leaves. It is particularly tough and hardy making it ideal for all types of evergreen hedging.
• Etna Laurel is a very bushy compact variety of Common Laurel that covers particularly well, this plant is more suitable for cold and exposed sites, dense shade and even near the coast.
• Portuguese Laurel is a particularly attractive variety that has smaller, elegant glossy deep green leaves and rich purple-red stems. It is the hardiest variety of Laurel hedging that we supply.
• Compact Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’) is an excellent smaller variety of Cherry Laurel that is ideal for Laurel hedges up to a metre in height.
• The Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’) is in fact from a different plant family but has similar large evergreen leaves that are splashed with yellow. It makes an excellent fast-growing and low-maintenance hedge.

As a general guide three plants per metre in a single row is perfectly adequate for a new Laurel hedge, for faster results you could use 5 plants per metre in a double row for bare root Laurels and potted Laurel hedging up to 90/120cm in size.

Care Tips for Laurel Hedge Plants

We have written extensively about how to care for Laurel hedges, so please view our knowledge base pages for the answers to common queries about how to care for Laurel:

How fast does a Laurel hedge grow?

Different species of Laurel grow very differently. From slow growing Bay Laurel Bay to fast growing Caucasica Laurel, you can expect anywhere between 15-60cm of growth a year.

When is the best time to trim a Laurel hedge?

The best time for trimming is either in Spring (before growth has started) or in mid-late Autumn (when growth has finished); any later and the hedge could be susceptible to damage from frost.

What is the best fertiliser for Laurel hedges?

This depends on how established the Laurel hedge is – for freshly planted hedges, bonemeal is best. Be sure to mix it evenly through the soil for the best results. 

Check our guide on How To Make Laurel Hedging Grow Faster for more information on getting the most from your laurel hedging

What are the most common pests and diseases for Laurel hedges?

Laurel hedging tends not to be bothered greatly by pests and diseases, especially once established, but some problems to look out for include powdery mildew, shot hole and leaf drop.

Are Laurel hedges poisonous?

All Laurels with the exception of Bay Laurels are poisonous to humans and animals alike if ingested. For something animal-friendly please look at our variety of paddock and horse-friendly hedging for the ideal alternatives. With the exception of Bay Laurel, which is fine to consume. Most varieties are toxic to dogs and livestock, so we’ve listed a number of suitable alternatives if you require hedging in areas where you have animals roaming.

What kind of conditions are best for Laurel hedges?

Laurel hedges will struggle in soil that is poorly drained and becomes waterlogged in wet weather, and some varieties struggle with chalky soil and other slightly challenging conditions. It also does not fare well in exposed and windy sites with the exception of the hardy Portuguese Laurel which can withstand tougher conditions.

Why Choose Hopes Grove Nurseries?

Hopes Groves Nurseries are renowned UK hedge specialists, growing and tending to a number of hedge varieties for the benefit of homeowners and green-fingered gardeners across the UK. From Privet hedging to Birch hedge plants, we’re known nationwide for our great range of extremely high-quality plants. For over 30 years, we’ve perfected our growing and cultivating methods to bring you our fresh plants, delivered straight to your door.

Based in the UK’s Garden of England, our Kentish plants are lovingly grown and cared for across our multiple sites totalling over 80 acres. Our team have gathered knowledge about the half a million hedging plants we grow on-site. Our committed team members, from sales to planters, work tirelessly all year round to ensure your plants are in the best condition when they reach you. Our growers in particular work in all weathers, all year round, to make our business a success.

We grow the vast majority of hedging plants ourselves, meaning we have complete control over the growing process from start to finish. This means we can maintain the appropriate quality control measures required for fresh, high-standard plants. If you want to learn more about our Laurel hedge varieties, do not hesitate to contact our incredible team. We’re passionate about all things plants and would love to help you with your enquiries.

Take a look at our Laurel hedging range above, or simply get in touch with our exceptional sales team for more information.