Bay laurel: when and how to prune

Laurus nobilis

Bay laurel: clip a hedge in June and August; prune a free-standing tree or shrub in May–June and August.

Updated on 11 October 2026

Key facts
Pruning months	May–June and August
As a hedge	June and August
As a free-standing shrub	May–June and August
Nesting season (15 March–15 August)	Take care in May–June and August
Flowering	March–April
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Native to Belgium	No, planted

Bay laurel: when to prune it?

As a hedge

As a free-standing shrub

Shape it in May–June and, if needed, once more in August.

What else to prune in those months? May · June · August

Use secateurs rather than hedge trimmers: half-cut leaves turn brown.
It regrows well, even after hard pruning: an overgrown or bare plant can be cut back hard, into the old wood.
Trim a ball or pyramid twice a year to keep it crisp.

Trim a hedge once or twice a year, after the first flush of growth (late June) and, if needed, in late summer. Check first that no birds are nesting.

Pruning in May–June and August can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
A dense hedge gives birds a place to nest and shelter, and hedgehogs take cover underneath. Leave some leaves at the base.
Bay laurel flowers in March–April, when it attracts bees.
Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
Letting the hedge grow wider at the top than at the bottom: the base then goes bare.

Caution: Not fully hardy: in a harsh winter it can be cut back by frost. Keep it out of cold east winds.

This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.