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How Far Apart Should You Plant Laurel Hedges? (Spacing Guide)

How Far Apart Should You Plant Laurel Hedges? (Spacing Guide)

Correct spacing is one of the most important factors when planting a laurel hedge. Planting too close together can cause overcrowding, while planting too far apart can leave gaps that take years to fill.

In this guide, we explain the best spacing for Cherry Laurel and Portuguese Laurel hedges, along with tips to ensure your hedge grows dense, healthy, and even.

Recommended Laurel Hedge Spacing

For most garden hedges, laurel plants should be spaced 30-60cm apart.

Recommended Laurel Hedge Spacing For most garden hedges, laurel plants should be spaced between 30cm and 60cm apart. Hedge Type Recommended Spacing Small plants (30–60cm) 30–40cm apart Medium plants (60–100cm) 40–50cm apart Large plants (100cm+) 50–60cm apart Closer spacing will create a denser hedge more quickly, while wider spacing allows each plant more room to grow naturally.

Closer spacing will create a denser hedge more quickly, while wider spacing allows each plant more room to grow naturally.

Spacing for Cherry Laurel Hedges

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a fast-growing hedge that fills gaps quickly.

Typical spacing:

  • 40–60cm apart, depending on plant size

  • Ideal for privacy hedges and boundary screening

Because Cherry Laurel grows vigorously, it will knit together relatively quickly, even when spaced slightly wider apart.

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Spacing for Portuguese Laurel Hedges

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) grows slightly slower but produces a more refined, compact hedge.

Typical spacing:

  • 30–45cm apart

  • Closer spacing helps create a neater, more formal hedge

Portuguese Laurel is often used where appearance and structure are important, such as along driveways or garden borders.

Spacing for Portuguese Laurel Hedges Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) grows slightly slower but produces a more refined, compact hedge. Typical spacing: 30–45cm apart Closer spacing helps create a neater, more formal hedge Portuguese Laurel is often used where appearance and structure are important, such as along driveways or garden borders.

Single Row vs Double Row Laurel Hedging

Most laurel hedges are planted in a single row, which is sufficient for creating dense screening.

However, for large sites or commercial projects, landscapers may choose a double staggered row to create an extra-thick hedge.

This approach is sometimes used for:

  • Noise reduction

  • Windbreaks

  • Commercial landscaping

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Spacing Tips for the Best Results

To help your hedge establish well:

✔ Dig a continuous trench rather than individual holes
✔ Improve soil with compost or organic matter
✔ Water well after planting
✔ Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Correct spacing combined with good soil preparation helps your hedge fill out evenly.

How Long Will a Laurel Hedge Take to Fill In?

Growth rates depend on conditions, but typically:

  • Cherry Laurel: 40–60cm growth per year

  • Portuguese Laurel: 30–50cm growth per year

With proper spacing, most laurel hedges form a dense screen within 2–3 years.

Instant Hedging Option

If you’re looking for an immediate result rather than waiting for plants to grow together, instant hedging can be a great solution.

Instant hedges are supplied as mature, pre-grown panels that create a dense, uniform screen as soon as they are installed. This makes them particularly popular with landscape gardeners and commercial projects where privacy and visual impact are required straight away.

While traditional laurel hedges take a few seasons to knit together, instant hedging delivers a fully formed hedge from day one with minimal waiting.

Need Help Choosing Laurel Plants?

At Hedging UK, we supply a wide range of laurel hedging plants, including:

  • Cherry Laurel

  • Portuguese Laurel

  • Rootball Laurel hedging

  • Pot-grown Laurel hedges

👉 Explore our Laurel Hedging range
👉 Or contact us for advice on plant sizes, spacing, and planting