Perfectly Spacing Your Laurel Hedge: A Comprehensive Guide
Creating a beautiful, lush laurel hedge is a great way to add privacy and functionality to your garden or outdoor space, and these types of hedges are a popular option for gardens of all sizes. While laurel hedges are relatively easy to maintain, there is a certain level of precision required to achieve the perfect hedge look.
Laurel hedge spacing may seem like a minor detail, but it is actually one of the most important factors in creating a successful laurel hedge and maintaining your greenery for a long time. Too much spacing and the hedge won’t provide enough privacy or form a cohesive barrier. Too little spacing and your hedge will look overcrowded and unkempt and won’t grow to its full potential.
So, how do you know what the correct spacing should be for laurel hedging plants? We took a closer look at all you need to know!
Benefits of Laurel Hedges
Laurel is a popular hedging choice because it is evergreen, dense, and relatively quick to establish in suitable conditions.
Key benefits include:
- Privacy: Dense, evergreen foliage creates a year-round screen. Cherry laurel can be grown as a hedge from around 1m to 4m or more.
- Noise reduction: Laurel’s dense foliage and large, flat leaves can help muffle some sound, including traffic and noise from neighbouring gardens.
- Wildlife-friendly: Evergreen cover can provide shelter and nesting places for birds.
- Fast growing: Common laurel can grow around 30–60cm a year in suitable conditions, so a hedge can fill out relatively quickly.
Recommended Laurel Hedge Spacing
For most single-row laurel hedges, plant each laurel 60–90cm apart. The best spacing depends on the size of the plants you are starting with, how quickly you want the hedge to fill out, and the final height you want to maintain.
As a simple rule:
- 60cm apart gives a quicker, denser hedge and is a good choice for most domestic privacy screens.
- 75cm apart is a good middle-ground where you want a full hedge but need fewer plants.
- 90cm apart can work for larger plants or taller hedges, although the hedge will usually take longer to close up.
Avoid planting laurels too close together. Crowded plants compete for water and nutrients, and poor airflow can make the hedge harder to keep healthy. Equally, planting too far apart can leave gaps for longer than expected, especially if you are using smaller plants.
Spacing by Pot Size and Final Hedge Height
Use this table as a practical starting point for a single-row laurel hedge. These recommendations are based on typical nursery-grown laurel plants and the final hedge height you want to achieve.
Scroll through the table below to find out more about spacing by pot size.
|
Pot size |
Typical starting height |
Hedge up to 1.5m |
Hedge 1.5–2.5m |
Hedge 2.5m+ |
|
2L pot |
30–40cm |
45–60cm |
60–75cm |
75–90cm |
|
3L pot |
40–60cm |
45–60cm |
60–75cm |
75–90cm |
|
7.5L pot |
60–80cm |
60cm |
60–75cm |
75–90cm |
|
Root-balled |
100–125cm+ |
60cm |
75cm |
90cm |
The final hedge height matters more than the starting plant size. Smaller plants do not always need to be planted closer together. If the hedge will eventually be kept tall, the plants still need enough root space to establish properly and support long-term growth.
How many plants will you need?
Use the table below as a practical guide for a single-row hedge.
|
Hedge length |
60cm spacing |
75cm spacing |
90cm spacing |
|
5m |
8-9 plants |
6-7 plants |
5-6 plants |
|
10m |
16-17 plants |
13-14plants |
11-12 plants |
|
20m |
33-34 plants |
26-27 plants |
22-23 plants |
Before ordering, measure the full planting line carefully. Allow for corners, gates, fences, walls, existing shrubs, and any areas where the hedge needs to stop or change direction.
If privacy is your main goal, choose the closer end of the spacing range. If you are planting larger laurels or creating a taller hedge, wider spacing may be the better long-term option.
Why Spacing Matters
Correct spacing is one of the most important parts of planting a successful laurel hedge. It affects how quickly the hedge fills out, how healthy the plants remain, and how easy the hedge is to maintain in future.
If the plants are too far apart, the hedge can take longer to become dense and may leave visible gaps. If the plants are too close together, they can compete for moisture, nutrients, light, and root space. This can lead to weaker growth and a hedge that is harder to manage.
Good spacing gives each plant enough room to establish while still allowing the hedge to knit together into a full evergreen screen.
Factors That Impact Hedge Spacing
There are several external factors that can impact the ideal hedge spacing for your laurel plant, including:
Climate
The climate in your area can have a big effect on how much space you need to leave between laurel shrubs. In areas with more extreme temperatures, you may need to leave slightly more space so that the plants have enough room to get the air and sunlight they need. Although it is worth noting that laurels are relatively shade tolerant in any event.
Your Desired Final Hedge
You also need to consider the end result you are hoping to achieve. If you want your hedge to be dense and full, you will need to leave less space between the plants, allowing them to grow closer together and create a thicker effect.
On the other hand, if you want a more spaced-out hedge, or if privacy is not as important, you can leave more room for each plant.
The Ultimate Height of your Hedge
It is important to consider the ultimate height of your hedge and the height at which you intend to maintain it.
If you are aiming for a taller hedge of around 2–3m, you will need to space your plants further apart, regardless of their initial height. This gives them enough space to develop properly as they grow.
However, if you only intend to keep your hedge at around 1–2m, you can plant them slightly closer together, as the plants will not need to support as much height and their roots will not need to compete as heavily for nutrients in the soil.
Do not assume that smaller starter plants always need to be planted closer together. The right spacing depends mainly on how tall you ultimately want the hedge to become.
The Number of Plants You Have
This may seem obvious, but the number of plants you have available can also affect your hedge spacing.
If you have fewer plants, you may need to place them closer together to create the same dense effect. However, this can mean compromising on the overall hedge length or the long-term health of the plants.
Practical Tips for Planting Laurels
As well as taking time to consider proper spacing, there are also some practical tips that you can follow to ensure your laurel hedge thrives:
Prepare the Soil First
A great hedge starts with great soil, so make sure to prepare the soil before planting. Add plenty of organic matter, such as compost or aged manure, and dig it in well with a garden fork to create a nice tilth for your laurel plants.
Depending on the type of soil in your garden, you may need to add extra nutrients, such as a general-purpose fertiliser, to ensure your laurel plants get the sustenance they need. Applying fertiliser and mulch to your laurel hedge can help to promote healthy growth and encourage vigorous blooming. Fertilise your laurels in early spring, before the new buds start to swell - use a slow-release fertilizer specifically formulated for shrubs, as this will provide all the nutrients they need over an extended period. Fertilizing in the spring is particularly important as this is the time of year when they are going to put on the most new growth.
A thick layer of mulch can also help to keep your plants healthy, as this will help to retain moisture and protect the roots from extreme temperatures. Make sure to use organic mulch, such as wood chips or straw - this will break down over time and release additional nutrients into the soil.
Water Regularly
Proper watering is crucial to establishing a newly planted hedge - you need to strike a balance between giving them enough water, but not too much. The trick here is to water deeply but infrequently - this ensures the roots have access to enough water without the plants being saturated.
It is worth noting that laurels do not like being planted in heavy clay or waterlogged soil and they can struggle to establish in these conditions so consider ways to aid the drainage if this will potentially be an issue for you.
Prune Regularly
Regular pruning and trimming is also essential to maintaining healthy laurel hedges - you can use shears to trim off any dead growth and keep your hedge shape in check. This will encourage new, healthier growth and help your hedge look its best all year round. Trimming the top while the hedge is established will also help to ensure an even density when your mature hedge grows. If your laurel hedge becomes overgrown, do not be scared to give it a hard cut back. Laurels will rejuvenate from a hard cutting or pruning and will come back good as new!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How far apart should you plant laurel plants?
A: Generally speaking, you should leave between 2 and 3 feet between each plant for an even, healthy hedge, however most people opt for a 2ft (60cm) spacing. This allows for enough space for the plants to receive adequate airflow and sunlight, while still giving you the dense and full effect that you are after.
Q: What type of mulch is best when planting laurels?
A: Make sure to use organic mulch, such as wood chips or manure - this will break down over time and release additional nutrients into the soil.
Q: How long does it take for a laurel hedge to grow?
A: The speed at which laurel plants grow will vary depending on a few factors, including the variety of plants you choose and the climate in which it is grown. Generally, common laurel grows the fastest, at around 30-60cm per year, and this is followed by Portuguese laurel, which has an average growth rate of 20-40cm per year.
Q: When is the best time of year to plant laurel hedging?
Container-grown plants, which are grown in pots, can be planted at any time throughout the year - remember that plants that are planted during the growing season (March to October) require more watering compared to those planted in late autumn, winter, or early spring.
Rootballed laurel plants can be planted between November and March, during the dormant season when it is safe for them to be dug from their growing fields.
Final Advice
For most garden hedges, 60cm spacing is the safest choice if you want a dense screen quickly. Choose 75cm spacing if you want a balance between plant numbers and coverage, and use 90cm spacing mainly for larger plants or taller hedges where long-term root space is more important.
Measure your hedge line carefully before ordering, prepare the soil well, and water consistently during the first season. Getting these basics right will give your laurel hedge the best chance of growing into a healthy, full evergreen screen.
Share Your Laurel Story
Laurel hedging is one of the most popular options when it comes to creating a beautiful evergreen hedge, and we would love to hear about your experiences. If you have planted a laurel hedge recently or have been maintaining one for some time, please share your story with us in the comments section below. Alternatively, feel free to get in touch and ask us any questions about how to care for your hedge - our experts are on hand to ensure that you grow the perfect hedge for your space!
Don’t forget to check out our range of guides on the best ways to care for your new hedge, including: