By Gerardine
moray,
United Kingdom 
I have a huge laurel bush in my back garden and I want to have a go at cutting it myself.is now alright to do this.im thinking of taking the bottom lot of leaves off so you see the trunk and shaping it like a Christmas tree.
9 Sep, 2019
Answers
What is the difference.im sure it’s laurel.ill post a photo.its been cut before with hedge trimmer and was ok.
9 Sep, 2019
yes you can do it now as any nesting birds will have fledged. However is it actually laurel or one of the false laurels like Acuba?
The leaves are better removed whole with secateurs, rather than cut with a hedge trimmer as the cut edges go brown and look unsightly. the branches need to be taken off flush with the trunk to reduce disease and damage.
9 Sep, 2019