Pictures of Laurel Hedges

Here are some pictures of Laurel hedges to give you an idea of
what a Laurel hedge will look like if trimmed once or twice a year.

Why plant a Laurel Hedge?

Laurel – a good looking hedge

As you can see from these pictures of Laurel hedges, Laurel
is a fantastic-looking hedge. It has large, green leaves look good all year
round.

Laurel is evergreen

Laurel hedges are evergreen. This means they keep their
leaves all year round so providing a living screen that cannot be seen through
even in the winter.

Fast-growing

Laurel is a fast-growing hedging plant so forms a dense
hedge quickly providing privacy and security. The only evergreen hedging plants
that grow quicker than Laurel are Leylandii and Thuja plicata (Western Red
Cedar) but our larger sizes of Laurel 1.8m (6ft) or taller will usually create
a relatively instant screen if they are planted 60cm (2ft) apart.

Large hedge or Small Hedge

As seen you can see in the pictures, Laurel can create a
small or large hedge depending on what you need for your garden. Just keep it
trimmed to the required height by trimming once or twice year.

Can be cut back hard if it becomes overgrown

If you trim your hedge every year, it will not become
overgrown but if you don’t and it grows larger than you want or if you buy a
house with an over-grown Laurel hedge, you can cut it back hard and it will
re-shoot. In fact, we have known people create prune them right back to 30-60cm
(1-2ft) to get them to shoot with fresh leaves – although this may be a bit
extreme.

Laurel is hardy and wind tolerant

Laurel is a tough, hardy plant that will take temperatures
of -25°C
and will take strong winds. In extremely exposed sites, it may need some wind
protection while it is establishing.

Grows in most soils

Laurel will grow in most soils as long as they do not become
water-logged over the winter for periods of time. They will grow in clay, loam
and sandy soils as long as they are not on shallow chalk.

Grows in sun or shade

A laurel hedge is one of the most shade tolerant hedges you
can plant. They are often seen growing in woodlands under tree canopies to
prevent brambles. It will also be happy in full sun.

Fragrant flowers & berries in autumn

Laurel plants have fragrant white flowers that grow on long
“racemes” or tails in spring. These are followed by red berries that ripen to
black. The berries are not edible by humans but can be eaten by birds.

Laurel hedges are good for wildlife

Laurel hedges provide shelter for insects and small mammals and
nesting sites for birds. The flowers provide nectar for bees, butterflies and
other flying insects and their berries provide food for the birds.

Creates a sound barrier

A dense laurel hedge will reduce sound from nearby roads or
neighbours.

Filters out air pollution

The leaves of Laurel will filter out some of the air pollution and particulates from cars, vans and lorries if you live near to a busy road.

Alternatives to Laurel hedges

Evergreen alternatives to Laurel include Portuguese Laurel, Griselinia, Leylandii or Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar).

Where can I buy Laurel for hedging?

We hope you agree that the images of the Laurel hedges above show that it is a good option when choosing a hedge for your garden or outdoor area. If you think Laurel is the right option for your garden, click here to see the different sizes available to buy.