Laurel reduction

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Fat Controller, May 19, 2019.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Another one that has gone rampant without my attention for a couple of years, is this laurel, which I am intending on knocking back into shape (heavily).

    Please forgive the mess around it, this is all a work in progress. To the left is what I believe to be an azalia which is badly crowded by this laurel, and the evergreens to its left - ultimately, I would like to move it, but that is a whole other thread... anyway, I have put two lines on the photo below for suggested trim levels. I am wondering if going right down to the red one will allow for new growth and hopefully sort the shape a bit, or is it too harsh?

    20190519_142912.jpg
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    You can cut laurel back pretty hard, it usually springs:smile: back.
     
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    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      Champion, thanks @pete - red line suits me then.

      Don't suppose you know how difficult it would be to move an azalia?
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Think I'd wait till autumn for the azaelia, but not ever moved one myself.
       
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      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

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        Sorry I can't help you with the Azalea but I would imagine it should be moved when it finishes flowering. That looks like a nice Ceanothus peeping over the fence. :)
         
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        • Sian in Belgium

          Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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          I have certainly chopped down a laurel to about the red line you indicated. Within a couple of years, it was looking lush and vibrant again. However, looking at the density of the laurel, there may be birds nesting in it. So it is best to either check thoroughly, or wait until September, when they have finished nesting?
           
        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          It is - first year I have seen it popping over too, so it must have put on a lot of growth last year. It won't have been touched in a while, as our neighbours moved out last summer, and then it was vacant for a short while before becoming a short term let, and now it seems that we have our new neighbours in.

          I gave it a right good looking at today (head right inside, moving branches about) - no nests at all.
           
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          • Sian in Belgium

            Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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            Glad that you are ahead of me on that!:phew:
             
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            • Perki

              Perki Total Gardener

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              Laurels take hard pruning well they don't do much for a while then there off again.

              Azaleas are quite easy to move in terms of digging it up pending on size, like Rhodis they all have mostly a fibrous root system , problems can arise if moved now the roots can easily dry out with being fibrous causing the flower buds for next year dropping off, same happens when its been dry for long spells most of the roots are near the surface and they dry out. I would recommended moving October - November.
               
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              • Sandy Ground

                Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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                I'd be a very happy chappy if my laurels got that high...they've hardly grown since they were put in place. @Fat Controller fancy a swap? :)
                 
              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                If I cut it about six inches above ground level, would that suit you? :heehee:

                I don't mind the laurel as such, but it is a bit of a thug and it causes everything in the border next to it to lean forward to try to get to the sunlight
                 
              • Sandy Ground

                Sandy Ground Total Gardener

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                No, no. I'd like mine to be as tall as yours are now, but just a little less in diameter. Can you ship them "as is"? :heehee:
                 
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                • Fat Controller

                  Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                  You bring the shovel, I'll supply the tea and sandwiches and then we can work out shipping once it is out of the ground.....
                   
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                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                    Down to the red line should be fine. The problem is that once cut the resulting waste looks two or three times the amount when on the ground. I'm assuming you will have some help with it as it will be very heavy and a tough job. If not I'll delegate some GC members to come and help you. :lunapic 130165696578242 5:

                    I've found that, if possible, you cut it at the level you show and drop it in one piece - if it's safe to do so. Then it's much easier to cut into manageable pieces or put out of the way for a while until you can get rid of it.

                    As they others say, I would leave the Azalea until the Autumn simply because it has a better chance to survive if the ground is wet. The laurel roots may cause a slight problem but it depends on how long the laurel has been there.
                     
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                    • Fat Controller

                      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                      I will have help @shiney - thankfully, I am very lucky in that respect, and although I do still have a tendency to try and get 'tore in', I also have helpers who are willing to tell me off and then do the hard work.

                      We have a shredder which reduces the amount of stuff we are dealing with quite dramatically - when we did the camelias at the front on Saturday, our entire wee patch was full with a huge heap of branches etc which ended up as four bags of shreddings that went into the composters. There is an evergreen right next to the composters that has had it, so it will be coming down too, making room for another (short term) compost heap over the stump. Anything too thick to shred from both the laurel and the evergreen will be set aside to dry, and can then be used to feed our pot bellied chimnea that I like to sit warming my feet under when the nights get cooler.....
                       
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