Getting your plant spacing right is one of the most important steps in garden design. If you plan it out well, your plants won’t have to fight for territory, and you’ll end up with that lush, full greenery we all love. This is especially true when you’re planting a hedge. Here’s the lowdown on what you need to keep in mind.
Planning Your Cherry Laurel Hedge
When it comes to planting a hedge, it’s all about finding that “Goldilocks” zone. If you plant them too close together, your cherry laurels will end up competing for nutrients. But if you space them too far apart, you’ll just have a row of individual shrubs with awkward gaps instead of a solid privacy screen. Since cherry laurel is a fast grower with dense foliage, a little smart planning goes a long way toward getting that thick hedge quickly.
Here are the spacing rules of thumb:
- For wide-growing varieties, aim for a distance of 20 to 40 inches (50 to 100 cm) between plants.
- For slender varieties (like ‘Genolia’), plan on planting about three shrubs per yard.
- If you’re starting with tall specimens (around 5 feet high), space them about 3 feet apart.
Tips for Planting Your Cherry Laurel
If you’re starting with smaller nursery plants, it might be tempting to pack them in, but you really need to give them room to breathe. Cherry laurels grow pretty fast once they get settled. Even if it looks a bit sparse at first, those gaps will fill in before you know it to create a dense hedge. If you crowd them now, you’ll likely have to transplant them later, or you’ll notice their growth starting to stall.
The wide root systems need plenty of space to soak up the nutrients required to keep those evergreen leaves looking vibrant all year round. Even though these plants are famously low-maintenance, getting these basics right is key. Otherwise, your cherry laurel might lose that beautiful, glossy foliage that makes it such a favorite for gardeners.
