Knowledgebase

Schip Laurel #748533

Asked May 07, 2021, 9:31 AM EDT

I have a schip laurel hedge of approx 15 plants that are more than ten years old. When is the best times to trim throughout the year? I’d like to reduce the height of the six ft hedge by a foot. What percentage of the overall height of the hedge can I take off at once, or in other words how much of the six ft can I cut off at once? How soon would you say it will fill back in with new growth? What are the recommended methods for promoting low and interior growth? I cut back one stem per plant to the base a couple of years ago and on those branches have gotten healthy new growth but it is slower growing than the top of the plants. Can I cut back a stem per plant about midway down to get new growth on the bottom half of the plants instead of the way I did it all the way to the base? This week I used a little hollytone and light mulching for the first time in the 10 years since Inmoves to this home. How often should I be fertilizing ideally? Is hollytone what you would recommend or do you have a better recommendation? Thx!

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi,
Schip laurels, (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) respond well to pruning. The best time to prune is right after flowering, but you can prune any time up to two months before the first freeze date. Pruning stimulates growth, so pruning after that time would not give the new growth enough time to harden off. We have a general fact sheet on pruning, which you can find by clicking here. 

You can take back the height of hedge all at one time, but keep in mind that this will encourage new growth, so reduce the height to even lower than the desired height.

To promote interior growth, the recommended method is as you described, cutting back almost to the base. You can do this with up to a third of the stems. As you thought the new growth was slow, experiment with cutting back one of the stems halfway and see what happens.

Cherry laurels will benefit from an annual application of fertilizer.
Fertilizing once a year will help keep cherry laurel foliage green and lush. Hollytone, as an evergreen fertilizer, meets the need for a slightly acidic soil, and you can make annual applications, but you might want to alternate between an evergreen fertilizer and a general tree fertilizer to meet all of the plant's needs. A light mulching is also beneficial.

Hope this helps.

Barbara


Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit the HGIC website and our blog, Maryland Grows. Replied May 10, 2021, 11:42 AM EDT
Thank you, Barbara.  What a terrific help with all this useful detailed info.  I really appreciate it. 

On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 11:42 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 10, 2021, 11:52 AM EDT

You're welcome.

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 10, 2021, 2:05 PM EDT

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