In article ,
Eddy writes:
| ®óñ© © ²°±°-°² wrote:
| Laurels are bad news. They don't half grow!
|
| Yes, true, laurels do really shoot up, every year and they do need
| trimming back on the sides as well, otherwise, like rhododendrons they
| just keep spreading ever outwards with the outer surface being a fairly
| thin but dense wall of leaves and the inside of the bush being "empty".
| However, they are much easier and more pleasant to trim, in my
| experience, despite the amount of work involved. If you don't mind
| trimming them, top and sides, every year, then the secret is simply to
| never let them get to a height where trimming the top section is
| difficult for you. There lovely luscious shiny green leaves are a
| year-round pleasure.

A much better plant for that purpose in the south and west (even further,
if these warm winters keep up) is bay - Laurus nobilis. All of the
advantages of laurel, grows more slowly, smalled nice, and is useful
in the kitchen (and for celebrating victories and triumphs, of course).


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.