Hello everyone, I have a case of Laurel hedges about 30 ft in length that have been growing under a row of Western Red cedars. The laurel is about 5'-6' high and leaning over to one side desperate for light and air. Now the cedars have been cut down and these laurels look stressed out. Very sparse branching and foliage and eaten away at leaves. Is there any way to train them to grow straight and revive their health or should I chop them up? Thanks for your help Alina
Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus is assume) grows well round Vancouver. With the Cedars gone I expect the plants will respond to more light, water & nutrients by sprouting new shoots form the old wood. You should be able to gradually prune off the undesired branches & get the plants going the way you want over a couple of years. Prunus laurocerasus is an aggresive invasive species round here & one way it spreads is by fruit eaten by birds. If you keep it clipped so the fruit does not develop, you will not be adding to the problem. If you want to see what they can do to woodlands, check out where they are growing in Spirit Park. They also get quite big. You may wish to consider replacing them with something else in the long run.
