Short answer
Cherry laurel and Portuguese laurel need cutting about twice in the growing season, according to the RHS: typically late spring or early summer and again in late summer. Avoid cutting during the peak bird-nesting weeks, and avoid cutting in hot, dry spells when cut leaves scorch.
Laurel is a fast, evergreen, big-leaved hedge. Its large leaves are the main reason timing and technique matter: a poorly timed or rough cut leaves brown, torn leaf edges.
Month-by-month timing
- Late spring to early summer: first trim once the main flush of growth has appeared, after checking for nests.
- Late summer: second trim to tidy regrowth before autumn.
- Late winter (February to early March): best time for hard pruning, because laurel regrows from old wood and birds are not yet nesting.
Secateurs or hedge trimmer?
Many gardeners find that cutting through large laurel leaves with a hedge trimmer leaves torn, browning edges that look untidy for weeks. Hand pruning with secateurs gives a cleaner result, but is slow on a long hedge. A practical compromise is to use a sharp trimmer for the main shape and secateurs for visible areas, or to choose a trimmer designed for thicker stems. See our laurel hedge trimmer guide and the step-by-step how to cut a laurel hedge guide.
Whatever the species, check the hedge for active nests before you start. It is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest that is in use or being built; see our nesting season guide.