Portuguese Laurel

HomeBlogPortuguese Laurel

Category: Portuguese Laurel

Types of hedging plants for Ireland

by Adrian Byrne

Hedges are popular among amateur and expert gardeners alike. They protect from the wind and prying eyes, they are green and natural, many types of hedges are cheaper than a wooden or steel privacy screen, and they live a long time with a little care.

But the choice of hedge plants is huge. There are evergreen, deciduous, or wintergreen, conifers and deciduous shrubs, flowering shrubs, and even fruit trees. Some hedges are poisonous, some grow particularly fast. Others provide valuable food for insects and birds.

How to make the right choice

Do you primarily want to be protected from the neighbor’s gaze between spring and fall, or do you also want to be protected in winter? Depending on this, only evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous plants can be considered.

Do you want completely opaque protection or is it enough for you if the view is not completely free? Some plants grow extra dense, others let more light through. A fast-growing hedge will provide privacy quickly – but the plant will continue to grow once it reaches the desired height. You’ll usually need to trim these hedges twice a year.

What are the location and soil like where the hedge will be planted? Some plants prefer the sun, others thrive better in the shade. How much time do you want to spend on maintenance? Some plants need pruning more often and more fertilizing and watering than others.

A few sentences in advance about the cost of different types of hedges:

  • Many stores offer specifically hedges. In addition, the plants will always be cheaper if you buy a larger quantity.
  • Containerized plants are much more expensive than balled or rooted plants. However, you will not have any problems with the growth of the plant.
  • Individual varieties can also vary significantly in price.

Do you have children or pets? Then you might want to choose a non-toxic hedge plant. If you want to do something good for insects and birds, then you should make sure that the native fauna finds food with the plant.

There are many plants that are suitable for a hedge, just pick the one that suits you best and enjoy.

How to plant laurel hedge in Ireland?

by Adrian Byrne

Are you redesigning your garden or do you just want to plant a hedge, and your choice has fallen on a laurel? We can not say only that it is a good choice! A laurel hedge has many good qualities for a beautiful dense hedge. Now the only question is when is the best time to plant a laurel hedge in Ireland? You will be surprised when the best time is.

But first, let us briefly explain the characteristics of a laurel hedge. Because a laurel hedge grows quickly and forms a beautiful dense shrub, it is very suitable as a hedge plant. The laurel loves both sun and shade. At the same time, laurel hedge plants are very hardy and can survive temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. A cherry laurel Novita or Genolia tolerates temperatures down to -25 degrees. At the same time, a laurel hedge is known for its fast growth, depending on the species, a cherry laurel hedge grows up to 1,5 feet per year, and this ensures that you quickly get a nice dense hedge!

The fact that you can plant laurel hedge plants at any time brings some advantages. For example, you have bought a new house but can only plant your garden during winter or late fall. For such situations, you can get ready-made hedges or cherry laurel hedge plants in a container.

In general, you can plant laurel hedge plants with root balls from the end of September to mid-May. This is always a bit dependent on the weather. Cherry laurel hedge plants in a container or as a ready-made hedge can be planted all year round!

Planting laurel hedge during frost

All laurel hedge plants from can be planted any time of the year, but not when it is minus degrees outside and there is frost on the ground. In extremely warm weather we also do not recommend planting hedge plants. This has to do with the fact that in such situations the plant cannot absorb water or nutrients. In all other situations, a high-quality laurel hedge plant is very easy and quickly satisfied with its new home! We always recommend digging the hole where the plant will be placed a little deeper and filling it up a little with nutritious soil so that the new hedge gets nutrients directly.

Popular Product

Browse all product

When to plant Portuguese laurel hedge?

by Adrian Byrne

Are you looking for a stylish hedge? Portuguese laurel comes into its own in both a large cottage garden and a small urban garden. This variety has relatively small, dark green leaves. The foliage grows particularly dense. If left to grow, a hedge can grow up to three feet tall. Therefore, this evergreen plant provides good privacy all year round. Today we explain how and when to plant a Portuguese laurel.

About Portuguese laurel

It is a member of the rose family (rather than the laurel genus, as the name suggests). This variety initially comes, unsurprisingly, from Portugal. But this plant also feels at home in most temperate climates. If not trimmed annually, the plant can grow into a stately tree.

When to plant it?

It is best to plant a laurel in the spring, March or April. It can also be planted in the fall. Then it is best to do it in September or October. Hedge plants that would be grown in containers can even be planted throughout the year. It is important that it does not freeze at night. Also, we do not recommend planting in extreme drought. If the soil is too dry or frozen, the roots will not be able to absorb enough water and the plant may then dry out.

How to plant it?

If you want to plant a laurel, you should first put the plant in water for at least one hour. Please do not remove the jute bag that protects the root ball. It is made of biological material that will decompose itself over time. Do not put the plant too deep into the ground. Also, make sure that the soil is permeable to water. If the laurel stands in water for too long, the roots of the plant will rot, and ultimately it will wither.

The Portuguese laurel thrives in sunny to semi-shady locations in moderately dry, fresh, and well-drained soils that can be slightly acidic. The shrub is similarly adaptable to the common laurel and will grow in dry substrates. Although it is considered hardy, it needs a site protected from winter sun and cold, dry easterly winds.

Popular Product

Browse all product

Evergreen Portuguese laurel for sale Ireland and why you should get it

by Adrian Byrne

Portuguese laurel actually feels itself at home in most climates. The twigs and branches, with their elegant, smooth, and gray bark, look modern and traditional at the same time. The foliage of the variety is very similar to that of the common laurel. The dark green leaves have a slightly wavy edge with reddish petioles.

In order for the leaves to develop their colors well, the Portuguese laurel should be planted in semi-shady or even sunny spots in the garden. A well-drained and moderately dry soil provides the best conditions for vigorous growth. However, it is important that the location is protected from cold winds and the winter sun – after all, it is a hardy plant.

All in all, if you live in Ireland and want to buy the Portuguese laurel, you do not have to be an experienced gardener, this plant will feel well in such a climate. The plant is pleasantly easy to care for and undemanding.

Buy Portuguese laurel and take advantage of its benefits

Portuguese laurel is popular as a topiary shrub in the garden. It is suitable, for example, as a hedge against prying eyes or for separating the sections of your garden. In order for the plant to keep its shape, it should be pruned every year after flowering. Young plants, on the other hand, are best cut back right from the start. This allows the branches to branch better and the plant to grow even more expansive. If the plant is getting on in years and has been neglected, it should be cut back to the old wood. This will allow to sprout diligently again and form new branches.

If you want to buy the Portuguese laurel, you are dealing with an extremely low-maintenance plant. It is a real highlight, especially in Mediterranean gardens. Whether as a hedge of its own variety, in combination with other hedge plants, or as a soloist in a planter, the Portuguese laurel should not be missing from any garden.

By the way, the plant is not only practical and beautiful to look at, but it also offers many native species of animals a refuge and a sought-after habitat. Garden lovers are thus also making a contribution to more species protection on their own doorstep. Find Portuguese laurel for sale in Ireland now and turn your garden into an even more beautiful place.

Popular Product

Browse all product

Is Portuguese laurel hedge the best choice for you?

by Adrian Byrne

Most hedge plants, that have leaves and even flowers, grow very quickly and therefore require frequent trimming. If you don’t do this, they very quickly take up a lot of space. Even if cutting twice a year is not a problem for you personally, it is not ideal, because cutting more than once a year promotes shot hole disease. This actually makes the “regular” cherry laurel unsuitable for the smaller garden. This is where Portuguese laurel comes in. It does not grow so fast and remains quite compact.

Trimming Portuguese laurel once a year is enough even in a small garden. For most criteria (opaque, robust, easy to grow, compatibility with other trees/plants nearby, soil requirements) that apply to hedge plants, the Portuguese Cherry Laurel wins easily over most of them. Of course, we are leaving out the appearance and taste, this is strictly individual.

Portuguese cherry laurel does not grow so fast in width. But this hedge plant tolerates being planted a little more narrowly quite well. Maybe not as dense as most other (broad-leaved) laurel species, but still sufficiently dense for most people.

Portuguese laurel is one of the easiest hedge plants to grow. It forms roots first, and until this is sufficiently accomplished, it often looks quite gray for a long time. But perhaps that’s what makes it so strong – rooting thoroughly first and then putting the energy into forming shoots.

If you forget to trim one year, it doesn’t matter, because Portuguese laurel can be cut any time, not just at a specific time of year. By the way, this is true for all laurels, but for the common laurel species, it is perhaps a little more true than for the Portuguese laurel. The cherry laurel can even be cut back to the trunk after years of not being pruned.

Do you know diseases on laurel plants and the way to protect your plants

Some find the flowers of the Portuguese laurel are too fragrant. But most people think the showy white blossoms smell very good. Insects definitely like them. They do not bloom until May, a little later than the ordinary cherry laurel. If you find these flowers gorgeous and beautiful the Portuguese laurel is definitely for you.

What are the most common portuguese laurel diseases?

Popular Product

Browse all product

What are the most common Portuguese laurel diseases?

by Adrian Byrne

Portuguese laurel creates a great hedge with its relatively small, dark green leaf and very high density. The evergreen Portuguese laurel has leaves that have a length of about 2 inches and beautiful white flowers, that provide a classic look to the garden.

However, just like any other plant, Portuguese laurel can have a disease, especially if you buy one from a dishonest seller.

Unfortunately, laurel hedge from bad breeding is more susceptible to diseases. Therefore, it is important to buy a Portuguese laurel that has been grown by someone for whom quality is very important. Ideally, find a store that grows all hedge plants themselves with a lot of expertise, love, and an eye for healthy plants. After you have bought high-quality plants, it is important to provide the hedge with the best conditions: the soil is permeable to water, the plant is not exposed to the wind, and watered regularly.

How to recognize diseases in a Portuguese laurel hedge?

There are two types of diseases that are commonly found in Portuguese laurel hedges:

  • First, powdery mildew – this disease not only shows itself by the flour-like coating on the leaves, but the young leaves also grow curved, sometimes only on one side.

  • Second, shot hole disease – the recognizable disease pattern is small, red-black spots on the leaves. If your laurel has this one, leaves actually look as if they had been shot at with a shotgun. The affected surface dries out completely from the center until it finally falls off.

In rare cases, laurel may be infested with spider mites, scale, and mealybugs, which you can recognize by the blotchy leaves and fine webs. There are some products that help to get rid of these infestations, but be very careful when buying one and make sure that it will not harm the plant itself.

No matter what type of disease it is, the infested foliage should always be completely removed to prevent the disease from spreading even further. It is best to dispose of the clipped leaves right away without first depositing them on the ground.

Popular Product

Browse all product

Cherry laurel and portuguese laurel in Ireland

by Adrian Byrne

Are you planning on getting yourself a cherry laurel hedge? As someone who had hedges all my life, I can honestly say that is it a great option. I had common laurel, Portuguese laurel and now I have a cherry laurel. Depending on the variety and how you care about them, they grow pretty tall and you can create a good privacy hedge.

This time I choose cherry laurel because it has dense foliage, and it is also great protection from wind, sun, noise, and air pollution. It is also evergreen, hardy, and robust. Most importantly, it looks pretty good as a hedge.

I read that cherry laurel is not particularly demanding when it comes to its location. However, I found out it is not so. It needs well-drained, dry, sandy soil. In the best case, it should also be rich in nutrients. I had to do a lot of work before planting, including intensive fertilizing. I would recommend analyzing your soil beforehand, maybe a different laurel variety will be more suitable for you.

My friend run into another problem with a hedge. Soil near his house was so compacted (even thou he prepared a place for a plant beforehand) that his hedge died in a year or so. If you do not want it to happen to you too, loosen compacted soil before planting.

Some say that cherry laurel can be planted all year round. However, I must warn you, that this is not the case. It is essential to avoid days when it is freezing or extremely sunny. The best time for planting is autumn, preferably in September or October. This is because then it does not grow and can concentrate on rooting. Alternatively, the cherry laurel can be planted in the spring. Buying the plant is another thing. I bought potted common laurel on LaurelHedging last year and thought about making a part of the hedge from it, but it turns out it is a great indoor plant, who knew… My wife simply loves it, even uses leaves for cooking.

Speaking of which. Cherry laurel has berries. Do not let the children and pets eat them! While they look good, they are also extremely poisonous.

Trimming is another thing I would recommend doing regularly, otherwise, your hedge might not grow in height as much as you want and will just become a bush.

All in all, I recommend you get a laurel hedge. Even though it requires occasional care, it is definitely worth it!

Popular Product

Browse all product

Laurel hedging: common laurel, portuguese laurel, cherry laurel

by Adrian Byrne

Want to plant a new hedge in your garden? Then you should definitely consider laurel. There are several varieties, so choose the one that best fits the design of your garden. A laurel hedge is not only particularly beautiful to look at, but it also offers many other advantages.

First, all varieties of laurel are evergreen. In addition, most of them are hardy. Do you want to enjoy a beautiful hedge all year round? Then a cherry laurel hedge is just the thing. The great advantage of an evergreen hedge is the privacy it provides from the prying eyes of neighbors and passersby, even in winter.

Second, many laurel varieties, such as common laurel, have large, thick leaves. This has many benefits. After planting, you will have an opaque hedge relatively quickly. In addition, the large leaves reduce noise from traffic by quite a bit. Is there a highway near your house? Then it is a good idea to get a slightly taller laurel hedge as a garden border. Of course, it will never eliminate all the road noise, but it will dampen it significantly.

Third, laurel is known for its fast growth. Have you chosen a cherry laurel hedge? Then you will have a full, opaque hedge quite quickly. Varieties that grow very quickly include Rotundifolia and Novita, these hedge plants all grow about 15 to 25 inches a year. The Portuguese laurel grows a bit slower, gaining 10 to 20 inches per year.

The Portuguese laurel is also a variety that grows into a very slender plant. This makes the hedge suitable for smaller gardens. However, it should be cut once a year to keep its beautiful, well-groomed shape. 

And fourth, laurel is very easy to trim. For many garden owners, it is a big advantage. Do you want a narrow hedge with an elegant look? In this case, you should cut the plant twice a year. Of course, this does not apply to all types, as some grow slower than others. It’s best to trim your hedge in the spring before the new branches come up. Do you want your hedge to be beautiful and well-kept looking even in winter? Then trim the hedge again in the fall.

No matter what laurel you choose, they all have one thing in common: their elegance and glossy foliage add great ornamental value to your garden all year round.

Popular Product

Browse all product

Potted Laurel Plants – Common Laurel & Portuguese Laurel

by Adrian Byrne

Laurel can be planted not only as a hedge in the garden, it is also well suited for growing in a pot. Potted laurel plants are well suited for winter months when it is not advisable to actually plant them outside.

If you have the laurel in a pot, you can place it in a variety of places. Not only in the garden, where the beautiful leaves always look good, but also in a sunny place on your balcony or terrace. The plant can create a wonderful atmosphere wherever your place of rest is. And if you want to pick the leaves of the laurel and use them for spices, go ahead.

Growing a common laurel in a pot is more difficult, but ensures that the plant can be easily transported and later replanted outside. Many ready-made hedges come in a container, pot, or plant bag. If the laurel is then planted in the home garden, you don’t have to deal with dead plants and falling leaves. However, growing in pots takes more time and money, and therefore the plants are more expensive. 

In recent years, the Portuguese laurel has become very popular. More and more people are becoming enchanted by its luxurious appearance and charming bloom. But no matter what type of laurel you choose, it is very easy to replant from the pot. If you do it in well-drained soil, it can become a real eye-catcher in your garden.

Some varieties, like the above-mentioned Portuguese laurel, might need a little more attention after planting. If you add some humus-rich garden soil to the planting hole, you increase the chance that the laurel will grow well. Of course, this is also the case if the soil in your garden is rich in humus anyway.

Always keep the soil moist enough but make sure that waterlogging cannot form. But the top layer of soil should never be too dry. If necessary, use an organic garden fertilizer in the first year. Once the laurel is well grown, you can simply let it be. However, especially in the first year, it is important to take good care of it on a regular basis.

The advantage of potted laurel plants is that you do not have to plant them immediately, you can even wait a few weeks. They are also available all year round. However, you should place the plants in a protected place and make sure they get enough water.

Popular Product

Browse all product
Add to cart