Aut of control Laurel bush

I have 3 to 4 very large Laurel shrubs that have grown to be giants, can I cut them back to 2-3 m high which would leave them totaly bare. would they grow back? The house is under renovation and no one will use the garden for at least a year.

Philippe

They'll grow back but on the whole I've found they respond better to being cut back to base rather than higher up. I got a lot of die back after I cut back high up but some lovely green shoots from the base. Ones I cut right back looked better sooner

Thank you I will start sharpenning the chain saw

Yes I agree, cut them right back, they'll shoot again from the base. 

And quicker than you would think too.

My daughter did have very out of control Laural bushes that became trees ,they are not good as a garden hedge at all,we have cut them right back and yes they do grow back but you have be ruthless as they set roots up everywhere if not controlled.also our neighbours had them as hedges and they grew out over the pavement,they cut them  back  and now they are as bad as ever.

 That's in the nature of living plants - they have roots and they grow.  If you want something that doesn't grow you need a fence, not a hedge 

that's true,that's why people needed to think before they plant or the next person who inherits the garden has a big problem.

Yes, I agree. How often have you read in gardening books that all gardens need a tree and you can take it out if it gets too big!  Poor advice. Most people can't take out a tree that's got too big, they have to employ a tree surgeon. 

Yes I hard pruned my enormous cherry laurel back to very low down about 1- 2yrs ago. Now it's already a nice, sensible, sized shrub again that I shant let get as big again!

Daughter is in the proccess of buying her first house with quite a mature garden. Luckily she will seek my advice, for what it's worth, about any shrubs/plants she inherits. I have the phone number of a good reliable tree surgeon that I've used regularly over the yrs & he actually lives closer to where her house is situated than to mine! J.

nutcutlet,

If you plant a tree, put £5 in a jar every year and you will have a good fund by the time it comes to paying a tree surgeon.