Before After Cut an established laurel hedge in late spring (May-June) and again in late summer (August-September) if you want it crisp all year, or settle for one good cut in late summer once the year’s growth is done.
The best months to cut laurel
| Cut | When | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First | Late May - June | After the first growth flush and any late frosts. Resets the shape for summer |
| Second | August - September | After the second flush slows. Holds the shape through winter |
If you only want one cut a year, make it the late-summer cut. A May-only cut leaves summer growth standing all winter and the hedge creeps outward year on year.
On nesting birds: laurel is exactly the dense evergreen birds love. Between roughly March and August, check the hedge before any cut. We do this on every job. See our guide to the best time of year for tree surgery for the full seasonal picture.
How often does a laurel hedge need cutting?
Laurel puts on 30-60cm a year. A maintained hedge needs one to two cuts a year. Skip a couple of years and you get a top-heavy, widening hedge that starts going bare at the bottom.
How hard can you cut laurel back?
Harder than almost any other hedge. Laurel regrows readily from old, bare wood, so an overgrown hedge can usually be renovated rather than removed.
How we approach a renovation:
- Stagger it. Take the top and one face in winter or early spring, leave the other face in leaf, then do the second face the following year.
- Go lower than the final height. Cut 15-30cm below the target, so new growth forms the finished surface.
- Feed and mulch afterwards. A hard-cut hedge is putting out a lot of new growth.
A hedge let go for many years is heavier work than it looks. Laurel stems thicken quickly and what starts as a trimming job becomes saw work with a trailer-load of arisings.
Bring a runaway hedge back into shape
If your laurel has gone top-heavy or grown over a boundary, our hedge cutting service covers everything from an annual trim to a staged renovation, with all arisings taken away.
Hedge trimmer or secateurs?
A hedge trimmer shreds laurel’s big leaves, and every torn leaf browns at the cut edge. On a long boundary hedge nobody minds - the next flush hides it within weeks. On a visible, prominent hedge, cutting back to a leaf joint with hand pruners gives a cleaner result.
When to call us
DIY makes sense for a laurel you can reach from the ground with both feet planted. It stops making sense when the hedge needs ladders over a boundary, when it’s grown into wires or structures, or when a renovation means saw work and a full trailer of arisings. Our hedge cutting service covers everything from an annual maintenance cut to a two-season renovation across Leeds, York and the surrounding villages. Get in touch for a free quote.