Laurel Hedge Trimming

What This Service Involves

Laurel hedges are everywhere in Western Washington because they grow quickly and screen well, but that same vigor means they easily swallow fences, walkways, and sightlines within a season. We reduce height and width back to a maintainable footprint, then taper the sides so sunlight reaches the base and prevents the bottom from thinning out. On visible faces we favor node cuts to keep leaves whole, and we open the interior to fight the shot-hole fungus that thrives in our humid conditions. Whether it is English, Portuguese, or a mixed laurel row, we tailor the cuts to the growth habit in front of us.

Benefits

Reclaims fences, paths, and sightlines from overgrowth; Keeps the base full with a light-admitting taper; Reduces disease by opening interior airflow; Preserves whole leaves on visible faces; Restores a clean, uniform screening line

Our Process

1) Walk the hedge to gauge growth, encroachment, and health; 2) Reduce height and width to a maintainable footprint; 3) Taper sides so light reaches the lower foliage; 4) Node-prune visible faces and thin the interior; 5) Rake, bag, and haul all clippings from the site

What Affects the Cost

Total hedge length and degree of overgrowth; Height reduction and taper work required; Balance of hand-pruning versus shearing; Debris volume and haul-away distance; Ongoing maintenance frequency

Best Time of Year

Trim in late spring and again mid-summer; skip heavy late-fall cuts so regrowth firms up before PNW frost.