Laurel hedge

[keptenjim]

Can someone advise please? We have a line of laurel that was originally planted as a hedge, way back. Problem is - it was never trimmed so now we have a line of laurel trees with trunks about 4 - 5 inches thick that grow to about 6 - 8 feet before branching out. I would like to try make a hedge out of them so plan to cut them all to about 6 feet high hoping that they will start sprouting branches lower down. Would they actually survive such a radical cutback? If so, what is the best time to do this? Would it be OK to do it now?

[nepia]

Do it any time at any height; they'll be back like a rash. Two winters ago I reduced several 25' trees to 3' stumps @12-14" thick. You couldn't see the stumps after 3 months.

[hamdogg]

^^^ what nepia said

[C.J]

Can someone advise please? We have a line of laurel that was originally planted as a hedge, way back. Problem is - it was never trimmed so now we have a line of laurel trees with trunks about 4 - 5 inches thickg that row to about 6 - 8 feet before branching out. I would like to try make a hedge out of them so plan to cut them all to about 6 feet high hoping that they will start sprouting branches lower down. Would they actually survive such a radical cutback? If so, what is the best time to do this? Would it be OK to do it now?

 

If there are no branches below 6 foot,I recommend you coppice next March /April and start again.It should grow 3-4 foot in the first year.

[TFLandscapesUK]

1' stump the lot and start over, the thing loves a beasting and always grows back

[keptenjim]

If there are no branches below 6 foot,I recommend you coppice next March /April and start again.It should grow 3-4 foot in the first year.

 

1' stump the lot and start over, the thing loves a beasting and always grows back

 

Thanks guys - that's it then - it gets stumped next April

[Woodworks]

If you layed it you would end up with a lovely dense hedge in no time.

[treesrus]

agree with woodworks, lay it.