If you’re looking to grow your laurel collection, you’ve got a few great options to choose from! Whether you already have a beautiful specimen growing in your garden or a pot, or you’re starting from scratch with store-bought seeds, there’s a method that will work for you.
Here’s a breakdown of the different ways to propagate laurel:
- Growing from seeds
- Using the layering technique
- Propagating via offshoots
- Growing from cuttings
Patience is key with laurel propagation
I’ll be honest with you: unlike some plants that seem to grow overnight, laurel requires a bit of a “slow and steady” mindset. Not every cutting will take root, and not every seed is guaranteed to sprout. Even once you have a successful little seedling, it can take a few years before it transforms into a lush, stately hedge. But trust me, once you see that growth take off, the payoff is incredibly rewarding!
How to grow laurel from seeds
You can either buy seeds or harvest them yourself from an existing plant by picking the berries. Once summer winds down, fill a tray with some high-quality seed-starting mix and plant your seeds. Keep the tray in a cooler spot and make sure to water regularly so the soil stays moist. You can expect to see some action by springtime! Once the seedlings look sturdy enough to handle, go ahead and transplant your young laurels into their own pots or directly into your garden beds.
Using the “layering” method
Layering is a fantastic, reliable way to get a new plant. Look for a flexible branch that’s already growing close to the ground. Use a clean knife to make a small, shallow nick on the underside of the branch. Bend that section down so the cut makes contact with the soil, and pin it in place using a small garden anchor (you can even DIY one from a forked twig). Make sure the tip of the branch is still peeking out above the ground. In about two months, roots should start forming at that underground cut. Once the root system is strong, you can snip the new plant away from its “mother” and move it to a pot or a prime spot in your yard.
Propagating with offshoots and cuttings
If you have a laurel growing outdoors, you’ll notice it naturally produces offshoots from time to time. These are essentially “ready-made” baby plants! You can carefully separate these from the main plant or use cuttings to start fresh. To take a cutting, snip off a healthy shoot directly from a branch. Place it in a glass of water and wait for those little white roots to appear. Once the roots are a few inches long, your new laurel is ready to be tucked into a starter pot with some fresh soil.
