How to prune the bay laurel

Monthly laurel pruning time

The best time to do heavy or strong pruning of the Laurel is during January and February when the tree is dormant, which causes minimal damage to the plant. Minor pruning can be done all year round.

How to prune the branches of bay laurel

The bay laurel needs to be pruned, which includes thinning out branches, leaves, buds, flowers and adventitious buds. When the plant is growing vigorously and growing more dense branches and leaves, some of its branches should be thinned out in time, or the dense leaves should be removed to increase the ventilation and light transmission of the plant, make the flowers grow stronger, and extend the flowering period.

The leaves of the laurel should be pruned regularly to remove the yellow, old, or diseased leaves, so that the plant looks neat and beautiful. The branches growing inward should be pruned, and the overlapping and dense branches and leaves should also be pruned. Generally, the specific pruning steps for the laurel are as follows:

1. Strong type

Thinning should be used to prune weak and dense branches, and to prune diseased and dead branches. When pruning, the main side branches should be clearly trimmed to make the branches even and keep the entire crown neat.

2. Sickly type

When pruning, on the basis of maintaining the prototype of the bay laurel, appropriate short-term pruning and thinning are carried out. The principle is to remove weak residual strength, trim excess branches, and strengthen management to promote the sprouting of new roots and maintain the balance of tree vigor.

3. Old tree type

The so-called old tree type refers to the type that grows at a relatively early age. The bay laurel is usually used for reproduction. The branches begin to move upward and part of them rot, so the exposed lower part is sometimes exposed. In such a tree structure, contraction pruning is carried out every year, the main trunk becomes heavier, and new branches are produced at the base.

Things to note when pruning bay laurel

When pruning the laurel tree, you need to consider the shape of the tree. Random pruning will cause big problems with the shape of the tree. The tools used for each pruning need to be disinfected, otherwise it will affect the healing of the wound. In addition, the incision should not be exposed to water. It is best to maintain it in a well-ventilated place to speed up wound healing.