The ‘Etna’ Cherry Laurel is a real powerhouse in the garden, known for its incredibly vigorous growth. If you don’t keep a close eye on it with regular pruning, it’ll quickly start crowding out its neighbors. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your Etna Cherry Laurel looking sharp and staying in its lane.
Pruning Your Etna Cherry Laurel Regularly is Key
Because the Etna variety is such a fast grower, it needs a bit more attention than some of its cousins. Left to its own devices, it’ll spread out just as wide as it grows tall. The trick is to decide early on exactly how much space you want it to occupy. Once you’ve set those boundaries, you can prune it to size and maintain that perfect shape. Don’t be afraid to be a little bold with the shears, either—this plant is a survivor and will bounce back even after a heavy, radical pruning.
Here’s what you’ll need for the job:
- A sharp pair of hand pruners
- A good pair of gardening gloves
Spring is the prime time to get out there and prune. You’ll want to decide if you’re going for a deep cut once or twice a year. While you can do a light topiary or shape trim up to three times a year, any heavy lifting (cutting back into the woody stems) usually happens in early spring and again in September if needed. Keep those two windows in mind for your major maintenance.
How to Prune Like a Pro
First things first: make sure your tools are clean and sharp. I always recommend using manual hand pruners or traditional hedge shears rather than electric ones to avoid tearing the large leaves. Start by clearing out any dead wood. Once that’s done, trim the green branches just above a pair of leaves to encourage bushy growth and maintain the shape. During your second pruning of the year, you can safely cut back the new growth by about half.
While Etna Cherry Laurel is pretty tough, it’s not quite as winter-hardy as some other varieties. In a particularly harsh winter, you might notice some frost damage on the tips of the branches. If you see any gray or brown discoloration in the spring, just prune those bits back until you hit healthy, green wood.
