Collection: Cherry Laurel Instant Hedges

Why Choose Cherry Laurel Hedging for Your Garden?

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is one of the most popular evergreen hedging plants in the UK. Its broad, glossy leaves and naturally dense growth make it an attractive choice for creating garden privacy and maintaining greenery throughout the year.

Unlike deciduous hedges, Cherry Laurel normally retains its foliage through winter, providing a consistent green backdrop even during the colder months.

Cherry Laurel hedges offer several practical advantages:

• Evergreen privacy: Dense foliage provides screening and garden structure throughout the year.
• Fast growth: Established plants can produce approximately 30 to 60cm of new growth annually in favourable conditions.
• Attractive foliage: Large, glossy green leaves create a lush appearance.
• Adaptable planting: Suitable for many UK garden soils, provided drainage is adequate.
• Shade tolerance: Grows in full sun or partial shade and can tolerate more shaded positions.
• Easy to shape: Responds well to pruning and can be maintained as a formal or informal hedge.

For homeowners seeking an established, fast growing privacy hedge, Cherry Laurel combines attractive foliage with practical screening benefits.

Cherry Laurel Instant Hedge in 1m Hedgebags

Our Cherry Laurel Instant Hedge 150cm (5ft), 1m Hedgebag provides an established section of evergreen hedging ready for planting.

Grown in Oxfordshire, this Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia' hedge features broad, glossy foliage and an established structure designed to provide immediate visual impact.

The 1m hedgebag format is particularly suitable for:

• Screening overlooked gardens and patios
• Creating privacy between neighbouring properties
• Establishing evergreen property boundaries
• Softening the appearance of walls and fences
• Dividing larger gardens into separate areas
• Creating established planting around landscaping projects

Each section provides approximately 1m of established hedging, making it straightforward to plan the number of units required.

Unlike planting individual young shrubs, instant hedging provides a more established appearance from the beginning.

Explore our complete range of Hedgebag Instant Hedges to compare other species and heights.

Cherry Laurel vs Portuguese Laurel: Which Is Better?

Cherry Laurel and Portuguese Laurel are both popular evergreen choices for UK garden boundaries, but they differ in appearance, growth rate and maintenance requirements.

Cherry Laurel

Cherry Laurel has large, broad leaves and vigorous growth. Its dense foliage makes it particularly suitable for substantial privacy screens and larger garden boundaries.

Because it grows relatively quickly, it may require more frequent trimming to maintain a compact shape.

Portuguese Laurel

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) has smaller, narrower leaves, distinctive reddish stems and a naturally upright appearance.

It generally grows more moderately, making it a popular choice for formal hedges and decorative boundaries.

Choose Cherry Laurel if you want a lush, broad leaved evergreen hedge with relatively fast growth and substantial screening potential.

Choose Portuguese Laurel if you prefer a more refined appearance and a hedge that is generally easier to maintain at a controlled height.

Both species can create attractive evergreen boundaries when planted in suitable conditions.

Browse our Portuguese Laurel Hedges to compare the available options.

Where Does Cherry Laurel Grow Best?

Cherry Laurel is adaptable to many UK garden conditions, but choosing a suitable planting position will help the hedge establish successfully.

Sunlight and Shade

Cherry Laurel grows well in full sun or partial shade and can tolerate more shaded areas.

However, growth is often slower in deep shade, and foliage may become less dense. For the strongest privacy screening, a position with reasonable natural light is preferable.

Soil Conditions

Cherry Laurel can grow in clay, chalk, loam and sandy soils, provided the ground drains adequately.

It generally performs best in fertile, moisture retentive but well drained soil.

Avoid persistently waterlogged planting areas, as saturated soil can damage the roots and affect establishment.

Wind and Exposure

Established Cherry Laurel can tolerate moderate wind and exposure, although very cold, drying winds may damage foliage.

Newly planted hedges benefit from adequate watering and protection from particularly harsh conditions while their roots establish.

How to Plant Cherry Laurel Instant Hedging

Our established hedgebag sections make it easier to create a continuous evergreen boundary without calculating the spacing between individual young Cherry Laurel plants.

For successful planting:

1. Prepare the planting area. Remove weeds, grass and debris from the intended hedge line.
2. Dig a suitable trench. Make it wide enough for the root system, ensuring the hedge can be planted at the correct depth.
3. Position each hedge section. Arrange the units along the boundary, keeping them upright and aligned.
4. Backfill carefully. Fill around the roots with soil and firm gently to remove large air pockets.
5. Water thoroughly. Water immediately after planting and continue regularly during the establishment period.
6. Apply mulch if appropriate. A suitable organic mulch can help retain moisture and reduce weed competition, but keep it clear of the stems.

Spring and autumn are generally favourable planting periods because milder temperatures and natural rainfall support root development.

Established instant hedging can also be planted at other times of year when the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, provided adequate watering is available.

For more detailed advice, read our Cherry Laurel Hedging Growing Guide.

How to Care for Cherry Laurel Hedges

Once established, Cherry Laurel is relatively straightforward to maintain, although its vigorous growth means regular pruning may be necessary.

Watering

Newly planted Cherry Laurel hedges require consistent watering while their roots establish.

During warm, dry or windy weather, check the soil regularly and water thoroughly when needed.

Established plants are generally more resilient but may still require additional watering during prolonged dry periods.

Pruning and Shaping

Cherry Laurel responds well to pruning and can be maintained as a formal hedge or allowed to develop a softer, more natural appearance.

One or two trims per year may be sufficient for some gardens, although faster growing hedges can require additional maintenance.

For a neat finish, hand pruning can help avoid cutting through the large leaves, which may leave visible brown edges.

Always check for active bird nests before carrying out hedge maintenance.

Growth Rate

Cherry Laurel typically grows around 30 to 60cm per year once established in suitable conditions, although growth can vary considerably.

Regular pruning helps control height and width while encouraging denser branching.

For more detailed information, see our Guide to Cherry Laurel Growth Rates.

Is Cherry Laurel Suitable for Every Garden?

Cherry Laurel is a practical choice for many gardens, but its vigorous growth and potential mature size should be considered before planting.

It is often better suited to medium and large boundaries than very narrow spaces where frequent pruning would be required.

Cherry Laurel leaves, stems and seeds contain compounds that can be toxic if eaten. This is worth considering where children or pets may come into contact with the hedge, particularly fallen berries or cuttings.

Cherry Laurel can also spread into surrounding habitats through bird dispersed seeds, so responsible maintenance and disposal of garden waste are important.

If wildlife conservation is your main priority, you may prefer to explore our Native Hedging Plants as an alternative.

Why Buy Cherry Laurel Hedges from Impact Hedging?

At Impact Hedging, we specialise in established, UK grown instant hedging designed to help homeowners and landscapers create attractive garden boundaries with less waiting time.

Our Cherry Laurel hedging is grown in Oxfordshire and supplied in convenient 1m hedgebag sections.

When you order from Impact Hedging, you benefit from:

• Established Cherry Laurel hedging ready for planting
• Dense evergreen foliage for immediate visual screening
• Convenient 1m hedgebag sections for straightforward planning
• Free mainland UK delivery on qualifying orders over £350
• A 12 month plant guarantee, subject to its terms
• Advice and support when choosing your instant hedging

Explore our full range of Instant Hedges or contact our team for help choosing the right hedge for your garden.