When to trim a laurel hedge

[Swissbarry]

Is this a suitable time to trim a laurel hedge, and if not when should I do it?  I'm worried that if I leave it to grow even taller I'll have to prune it severely to remove up to a foot of height, and this would take all the foliage off the top.  Would it then grow back?

[saddie]

Gererally prune in spring. If you want to realy hack do one side each year. They seem to respond very well to cutting.

[Tresco]

As Saddie said, do it in Spring.

You could have done it a few weeks ago, but it's a bit late now. 

Laurels can handle very brutal pruning. Don't be scared, it'll come back at you with something approaching vegeance.[:)]

[Swissbarry]

Thank you for the advice; I appreciate it and will follow it.

[Suze01]

[quote user="Tresco"]

Laurels can handle very brutal pruning. Don't be scared, it'll come back at you with something approaching vegeance.[:)]

[/quote]

When we moved in our laurel hedge was 6+ foot deep and 15+ foot high with just leaves on the 'outsides' and thick trunks inside. Totally neglected.  We cut them back to the ground - 4 inch stumps, no leaves, no branches.  With-in two years they are now a 5 foot high, nice, bushy hedge.

So yes, they can take very brutal pruning.