How to Grow a Laurel Privacy Hedge

Fences are nice addition to almost any yard, but they will need some upkeep, like painting and installing it so the wind won’t blow it over. A living fence of laurel is better because it adds year-round color coolness to the landscape. It provides a home and food for birds and other wildlife. You don’t need to paint it and the wind won’t blow them over. Because it is an evergreen, you won’t have to worry about raking leaves in the fall.

Laurel can grow to heights of 20 feet, with a spread of 20 feet. Even though laurel is an evergreen they aren’t as slow as the usual evergreen tree. The first year it is planted, the growth may be slow on top, but it won’t be on the root section. This is where the laurel puts all its energy into that first year. The second year and each year after that, the laurel will grow about 3 feet. In the spring, your laurel hedge will flower, followed by berries in the fall. Planting laurel for a hedge takes work, but the results, once they are in the ground, will be well worth the effort.

Till the Soil

Another nice thing about growing laurel is that they can grow in an area that has full sun, partial shade, or full shade. Till up the soil, removing sticks, rocks and hard dirt clods. Amend the soil with 3 inches of well-rotted compost, mixing it in thoroughly. Level the soil with a rake.

Dig the Holes

With a spade or shovel, dig the holes. The depth of the holes should be twice as wide as the root ball, but keep the depth the same as the root ball. You can dig all the holes at once and then plant, or dig and plant one laurel at a time. Space each hole 2 to 3 feet apart for a thick hedge or 4 to 6 feet apart for a less dense hedge.

Fill each hole with water and allow it to drain away naturally before planting your laurel. This ensures that there is moisture deep in the ground.

Plant the Laurel

Lay the container on its side. Grasp the laurel close to the root ball. Gently pull the laurel out of the container.

Insert the root ball in the center of the planning hole. Check to make sure that the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Fill in around the roots with amended soil. When the hole is half filled, firm the soil down to remove air pockets. Finish filling in the planting hole, tamping the soil in place with your hands or feet.

After Care

Water the laurel trees after you plant each one. Turn the water on to a slow flow do it goes into the soil, and not running over the soil. Through the first two years, water with a soaker hose to keep the soil moist. After that, only water the laurel if your area is going through drought conditions.

Source:

“American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants”; Christopher Brickell; 2004


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