{"id":2794,"date":"2023-10-09T06:45:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T06:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=2794"},"modified":"2023-10-09T06:45:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T06:45:35","slug":"how-to-grow-cherry-laurel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/how-to-grow-cherry-laurel\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Cherry Laurel {A Simple Guide}"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cherry laurel is a great plant to grow – it is easygoing and robust, and takes very little effort to create a beautiful screening plant.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering how to grow cherry laurel then you\u2019ve come to the right place – we have all the best hints and tips to grow your own fabulous cherry laurel hedge!<\/p>\n

How To Grow Cherry Laurel<\/h2>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Although this plant is typically very easy to grow and fairly hardy, like all plants is has some conditions that it prefers above others, that will help it to thrive.<\/p>\n

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  1. Use well draining soil as an absolute must. No plant likes to sit in soggy soil, and cherry laurel is quite particular about this.<\/li>\n
  2. Most soil types are acceptable, from hard clay to soft loam, as long as the water is allowed to drain away freely.<\/li>\n
  3. Give it a full sun position if you want to get lots of flowers and fruits, though it will also tolerate partial shade.<\/li>\n
  4. You will need to prune it annually to keep it in good shape and to stop it taking over your garden – these shrubs can get pretty big!<\/li>\n
  5. It will only need watering, once established, in prolonged hot periods in the summer, as it is quite happy in dry soil.<\/li>\n
  6. Mulch it once a year with leaf mould or bark chips, to allow nutrients to be released into the soil.<\/li>\n
  7. Keep an eye out for leaf spot and powdery mildew – cherry laurel is pretty resistant to most pests, but these fungal diseases can cause problems.<\/li>\n
  8. Cherry laurel is easy to propagate, using either the seeds, suckers or from cuttings, so you can easily increase the size of your cherry laurel plantation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This plant is pretty easygoing, and can produce startling results quickly, so just keep an eye on the size, so that it doesn\u2019t take over your whole garden!<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a good article<\/a>, telling you all about how to care for cherry laurel.<\/p>\n

    How Quickly Do Cherry Laurels Grow?<\/h2>\n

    If you are looking for a good screening plant that grows quickly, cherry laurel is one of the best you can get.<\/p>\n

    With the right conditions, this plant can grow between 30 and 60cm per year<\/strong>, making it ideal for those who need a hedge quickly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Cherry laurel can end up to be pretty huge – left to its own devices with the right conditions, it can reach 20-30ft <\/strong>by the time it\u2019s fully grown!<\/p>\n

    It is much easier to maintain it when it is smaller, however, so we do recommend giving it a good haircut to ensure that it doesn\u2019t completely take over.<\/p>\n

    Pruning will also encourage good overall health of your plant, and can also encourage it to grow even more quickly – surprising as that may sound!<\/p>\n

    How Do You Encourage Cherry Laurel To Grow?<\/h2>\n

    This plant does love to grow, and it will do its best to produce lots of beautiful foliage – however, there are things you can do to encourage it more.<\/p>\n

    The right conditions<\/strong> is the most important thing. Well draining soil, sunshine, and enough space to spread will help your cherry laurel reach its potential.<\/p>\n

    A good pruning<\/strong> is another huge factor. Pruning will encourage your cherry laurel to grow back stronger, and in the shape that you want too.<\/p>\n

    Fertiliser<\/strong> can be another factor – giving your cherry laurel a good dose of extra nutrients once a year will go a long way to making it grow happy and healthy.<\/p>\n

    Watering<\/strong> is key to a happy cherry laurel – it will need a good drink once a week in hot seasons; you can drop it right back in the winter.<\/p>\n

    Whether in pots or in the ground, your cherry laurel can bring you a lot of joy, as long as you care for it properly.<\/p>\n

    Can You Keep Cherry Laurel In Pots?<\/h2>\n

    Some plants simply cannot handle growing in pots, and must be planted out – cherry laurel is not one of these!<\/p>\n

    You can very happily grow your cherry laurel in a pot, if you want to move them around or if you do not have space to plant them out.<\/p>\n

    Growing in a pot is, in some ways, an easier option than planting your cherry laurel into the ground:<\/p>\n

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    • You can move it around. If you don\u2019t like where it is, simply pick up the pot and shift it to a different spot!<\/li>\n
    • You can get the soil right. Rather than digging up your entire garden and replacing it with different soil, simply use the correct soil in the pots for your laurel.<\/li>\n
    • They don\u2019t like to be soggy, and growing in a pot will restrict the amount of water in the soil they have access to.<\/li>\n
    • If they are getting blown about by the wind, you can simply move them to a more sheltered area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What Is The Best Fertiliser For Cherry Laurel?<\/h2>\n

      All plants like a little boost of nutrients now and then, and cherry laurel is no different.<\/p>\n

      The best thing you can give yours is a slow-release shrub and tree food<\/strong> – this is specially designed for the needs of this type of plant.<\/p>\n

      You only need to do this once or twice a year – in the spring, before the main growing season, and in the autumn, before it goes to sleep for the winter.<\/p>\n

      If you are growing your cherry laurel in pots, the easiest thing to do is to give a slow-release all purpose liquid fertiliser.<\/p>\n

      You can also use organic mulch<\/strong> – simply place leaf mould or bark chips around the base of the plants in the autumn, for a nice natural slow release feed.<\/p>\n

      This video (sorry about the robotic voice!) gives you some useful information on fertilising laurels:<\/p>\n