Portuguese Laurel - a good tree for evergreen structure

Prunus Lusitanica or Portuguese Laurel is always popular as it provides much needed evergreen structure all year round. This video discusses in detail how to grow and care for this tree.

[@ginamansfield4376]

Love the Portuguese Laurels in your formal garden. I’ve often wondered how you prune & shape them so neatly. Your husband has a good eye! Can’t wait to see your Tree Plan for the newly revealed area. I’m certain it will be as inspirational as ever!

[@asianangie7209]

I love it they are evergreen, have white flowers, berries and can be trimmed in so many ways. You are lucky to have a willing and skillful hubby.

[@MurphysGarden]

I am very lucky, he does them so beautifully Thanks for watching Jenny

[@user-zl2qd3yu2t]

❤

[@bohemiangardensandgourdfar8812]

It's not something I'll ever have the chance to grow but, I am always interested in seeing what other people are doing in their gardens. It seems like a very versatile tree/shrub/hedge. Very pretty. Thanks for sharing, love your gardens.

[@MurphysGarden]

Thank you

[@OurChateauandGardenProject]

I love the sneak peek at your garden planning process! Would love to see more on that some time if you care to share. Thank you for another inspirational video.

[@MurphysGarden]

I will do a video on the planning of this area soon Thank you for your feedback Jenny

[@sunitashastry5270]

Love your tres😊

[@willkndy]

The trees look great in your garden. If I buy a portugeuse laurel hedge can I prune it in the early stages so that it becomes a tree? I'm particularly interested in the multistem variety.

[@MurphysGarden]

Yes, strip out the leaves from the lower branches and remove any branches that you don’t want as it grows and it will make a lovely multi stemmed tree and it’s quite quick growing too.

[@willkndy]

@@MurphysGarden Thanks so much, can't wait to get started now.

[@johnwalsh4899]

Really informative video Jenny, thank you. I'm a complete novice gardener and I planted 2 of these trees 2 years ago. They're doing great but I've been too nervous to prune them as I'm afraid I'll do them damage. Your video has given me more confidence to start pruning but before I do could you give me one last word of advice please? It's the end of March and new growth can be seen at the ends of each branch, can I prune now or should I wait until after flowering? Thanks

[@MurphysGarden]

Hi John I would advise pruning them in late spring or early summer after the threat of frost has past. If you want to enjoy the flowers then wait until it’s finished flowering Good luck Jenny

[@johnwalsh4899]

@@MurphysGarden Thank you.

[@user-yv4bg4ud6x]

May I ask how far apart your trees are planted and the size of the squares? Thank you

[@MurphysGarden]

The squares are 4ft 2inches x 4ft 2 inches (1.27 cm) and the squares are 5ft 2inches (1.56cm) apart

[@dianefields6056]

They are so unlike the prunus family that I know (eg plums etc). Are the leaves also fragrant? Very attractive umbrellas.

[@MurphysGarden]

Yes, you’re right they don’t really look like anything else in the prunus family. I don’t think the leaves smell, to be honest I can’t really small the flowers much but I haven’t got a great sense of smell!

[@shanipi5546]

Those are absolutely gorgeous Jenny. I was lucky to get full grown trees with all branches cut ( I wish I could share you a pic so that you get an idea) and I planted them in large wodden barrels.But they are shapeless.I am not green fingered 😢.is it now possible to turn them into mushroom shapes or any other shapes that you can suggest. Also will wodden barrels be able to hold it.Any idea how to restrict its growth so that the barrel wouldnt break.

[@MurphysGarden]

You can send me a picture on instagram if you want. You can strip the branches out at the bottom, easier to do in youngish trees, and let the top fill out by shaping every year until they fill out into mushroom shapes. To keep plants going in pots, I tend to tip them out about every three years and root prune with a bread knife, simply remove about a third of the roots from the sides and bottom and replace into the pot with new compost and that invigorates the plants. By cutting the top annual that will also restrict the root development too. Hope that helps Jenny

[@shanipi5546]

Can you please share your insta Id. I want to share the pic of roots too ( I have a second tree which I am just planning to plant). It's a huge mass there and I thought it would kill the tree if I chopped some of it.

[@MurphysGarden]

instagram.com/murphysgarden_

[@jomassey4207]

There is something very grounding in having some repetition of the same densely leaved small trees. They look wonderful in your formal garden and are a pleasure due to the balance and simplicity. I'd love something very similar for privacy... but these laurels are just too big. I'm hoping you discuss yews. Maybe they might be the answer? I'm also considering climbing roses like "Nahema" but they can be unruly and I'm at the point of making my garden easier to maintain, as I'm single and my friends are in my homesite.....so I have to make good choices....doesn't mean to say, if i see a beautiful dwarf amethyst blue rhododendron, I will make a place for those rare perenials (as I'm not in the big smoke any longer) that make your heart skip a beat. Can't wait to see your tree plan, of cornus.....another species that really makes an impact. Jo. 😊N.Z

[@MurphysGarden]

Hi Jo I glad you like the laurel, yew may be suitable and it can be cut into any shape. I did a video called ‘I Love Yew’ in which I discuss yew trees and hedges, that may help you decide if yew is right for you Thanks for watching Jenny

[@lynnereed5948]

Would Portuguese Laurel be ok in a large pot. I'm in Scotland and like you I've lost a couple of bay trees to the cold weather. I've got three large pots and want to grow an evergreen lollipop tree. I don't want them to get too big so didn't want to plant them into the ground 🤔 would appreciate your thoughts on it.

[@MurphysGarden]

They would certainly be more hardy and survive a Scottish winter. They are quite vigorous plants for growing in a pot but so long as you keep them cut back hard every year that will restrict their root growth too. If it tries to outgrow the pot every three years tip it out of the pot and root prune by about a third and that way it will stay to the size of the pot. I’ve done that with a holly tree as I didn’t want to have to buy a new and bigger pot and it worked really well. Hope that helps. Jenny

[@lynnereed5948]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply Jenny. Yes that does help me a lot. Think I'll give the Portuguese Laurel a try and see how I get on.

[@chrisdooney5374]

They look fab does it take a lot of years for them to get to the size of your ones?

[@MurphysGarden]

No, we put ours in 10 years ago as small trees (see photo in video)but they looked quite substantial after about 5 years Hope that helps Jemny

[@chrisdooney5374]

@@MurphysGarden Yes thank you I have a wooden summer house in the garden I'm hoping to do a patio area round it and maybe plant one of those in each corner I think they would be really nice

[@karlitobergkamp8082]

Lovely trees and some real care taken during the trimming process 👍🏻 have you guys considered a Cornus controversa variegata in your new area?

[@MurphysGarden]

That is a beautiful tree, I can’t remember why we had ruled it out, I think I thought it didn’t like a windy site but just looked it up and says it doesn’t mind an exposed site. Oh dear, might have to reconsider again!!! Thank you, it is definitely worth considering. Problem is trying to choose!

[@karlitobergkamp8082]

@@MurphysGardenthat’s plants for you. You find one think it’s the right one and then you come across something else! 🤣 my advice would be if you can afford one and can accommodate one it’s a must in any garden 👍🏻