How tall does laurel grow and how fast can you expect results?

How tall does laurel grow?

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) can reach an ultimate height of 5 to 8 metres, with a spread of 4 to 6 metres, if left to grow as a large shrub or small tree. Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is a little more compact, eventually reaching 4 to 6 metres tall. In gardens, laurel is usually kept at 1.5 to 2.5 metres. This provides useful screening without making annual trimming too difficult, and regular cutting encourages leafy growth down towards the base.

The height your laurel hedge will reach depends on the variety, growing conditions and how often you prune. Both cherry and Portuguese laurel tolerate hard pruning, although a severely reduced hedge may take several growing seasons to regain its shape and density. Trimming regularly is easier than correcting a hedge that has grown too large.

Growth per year: cherry vs Portuguese laurel

Laurel is often planted where a boundary needs to fill out within a few growing seasons. Under reasonable conditions, cherry laurel puts on 30 to 60cm of new growth each year. Portuguese laurel is slightly slower, typically growing 20 to 40cm per year. Both are considered fast-growing evergreen hedging plants, but cherry laurel has the edge when you need a dense screen quickly.

Several factors influence the annual growth you actually see. Soil fertility, moisture, light levels and the age of the plant all play a part. Newly planted laurel often grows more slowly in its first year as it puts energy into root establishment, before speeding up in years two and three.

How tall a laurel hedge can get and the sensible height

A laurel hedge maintained at 1.5 to 2.5 metres gives good privacy while remaining reasonably manageable. Much of the trimming can be done with a long-reach hedge trimmer, although taller sections may still need suitable access equipment. Keeping the sides slightly narrower at the top helps light reach the lower leaves. Letting a laurel hedge grow much above 3 metres often leads to thin, leggy growth at the bottom and makes annual pruning a bigger job.

If you need a taller screen for a large garden or to block a two-storey view, cherry laurel is perfectly capable of reaching 3 to 4 metres as a hedge, provided you prune it regularly to keep the shape. Just bear in mind that very tall hedges may fall under the scope of high hedge legislation, so check with your local authority if you plan to let it grow above 2 metres on a boundary.

Which size to buy for privacy in year one

Choosing the right starting size makes a big difference to how quickly your hedge screens. Cherry laurel is available as 40 to 60cm plants in 9cm pots, 60 to 90cm plants in 2 litre pots, and 90 to 120cm plants in 2 litre pots. Portuguese laurel is offered at 40 to 60cm in 9cm pots and 60 to 90cm in 2 litre pots.

For privacy in the first year, start with the 90 to 120cm cherry laurel in 2 litre pots. These plants give useful low-level screening as soon as they are planted, although gaps will remain until the branches spread. The 60 to 90cm plants in 2 litre pots are a smaller starting option, while the 40 to 60cm plants in 9cm pots suit gardeners who can allow more time for the hedge to fill out. Establishment speed depends on spacing, soil, watering and growing conditions.

• 90 to 120cm cherry laurel: immediate waist-to-chest-height screen when planted.
• 60 to 90cm laurel: a useful starting size, with screening developing as the branches spread and meet.
• 40 to 60cm laurel: a smaller starting size that needs more growing seasons to develop a continuous screen.

How to make laurel grow faster

Getting your laurel off to a strong start is mostly about soil preparation and consistent aftercare. Start by loosening compacted ground, removing perennial weeds and watering the plants thoroughly after planting. RHS Rootgrow can be applied directly to the roots at planting time to introduce mycorrhizal fungi, which may help nutrient uptake as the roots establish. It will not compensate for poor drainage or a lack of watering.

Watering is the next priority. New laurel hedges need thorough watering every week during the first growing season, and more often in hot, dry spells. A generous mulch of bark or compost around the base (keeping it clear of the stems) locks in moisture and suppresses weeds. From the second spring onwards, an annual feed with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in March or April will support steady growth. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds late in the season, as soft late growth can be damaged by frost.

• Use mycorrhizal fungi (RHS Rootgrow) at planting time to boost root development.
• Water deeply once a week in the first year, more often in dry weather.
• Apply a 5 to 7cm mulch layer to retain moisture and reduce weed competition.
• Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser each spring.
• Keep the area around the hedge weed-free for the first two years.

Spacing and its effect on fill

Spacing your laurel plants correctly helps the hedge fill out evenly without overcrowding. For a single row hedge, space cherry laurel 60 to 90cm apart; Portuguese laurel can be planted slightly closer at 50 to 75cm. If you want a thicker hedge, plant a staggered double row with the same spacing within each row and 40 to 60cm between the rows.

Closer spacing encourages the plants to knit together more quickly, but it also increases competition for water and nutrients. Wider spacing is more economical for a longer run of hedging and still produces a dense hedge, just a little more slowly. The table below shows how many plants you need for common hedge lengths.