Topiary pruning a Portuguese Laurel..

Hi there, brand new to the site.
I'm thinking of pruning a Portugeuse Laurel to create the classic mushroom shape on top with bare trunk. Currently its a ball shape to ground level about 2.5m by 2.5m, can I just saw off the lower branches to the height of trunk I want? Is this not such a good idea for the health of the plant or aesthetically because of all the cuts. Any advice much appreciated before/if I get the saw out : )

 

I would grow the "head" of the mushroom before cutting anything off - more leaves to provide "power" for the new growth that way.

Cutting off all the lower branches may leave the trunk looking rather nobly (compared to a plant that had been trained, from young, as a Standard). They tend not to mind being hacked back, so I don't think it will harm the plant. You could do it over two years, half one year, the rest the next, to reduce the shock.

Not sure I would choose a Laurel (Portuguese or "normal") for Topiary - the big leaves make it more difficult to trim to shape. But if you already have it as a ball perhaps you are already happy with how it behaves.