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Ask a Gardening QuestionGardening Questions & Answers: Plant ProblemsCherry Laurel too close to house?

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Cherry Laurel too close to house?

#1 · 1st September 2024, 9:42 am

Hi all,

I recently planted a row of Cherry Laurels as a privacy screen. The closest one to the house is 1.5 feet away. Will this cause damage or problems to the house eventually? The house 22 years old.

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#2 · 2nd September 2024, 10:04 am

Hi @1404

Thanks for your comment on Cherry laurel hedging (Prunus laurocerasus). This is a popular hedge choice as it is super fast-growing and evergreen making an excellent screen or hedge. However, without careful maintenance and pruning, they can overtake a garden and become unwieldy.

To answer your first question, I wouldn't say that they will cause too many problems IF THEY ARE KEPT IN CHECK. The reason for the caps lock is that these 'plants' will turn into trees if left without pruning and in that case reach anywhere up to 10m in height. However, with regular pruning, it can be kept much smaller and is often maintained as a hedge or screen at a more manageable height of 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.6 meters).

If left to grow huge the rootstock will also spread to accommodate this, so keeping them smaller prevents the roots from causing damage to your house. It's not that the roots themselves cause damage but the fact that large trees and shrubs dry out the ground which causes subsidence, so reduce their need for water and you should be fine.

Looking at your cherry laurel they do need a hard prune to help them bush out at the bottom, if not they will be gappy so best to resolve this now whilst they are young. I'd cut off 1/3 back to the main trunk i.e. top them out, then they bush and will continue to still grow upwards.