the usual default on flowering shrubs .... is to enjoy the flowers.. and prune after ...

but i dont know this plant in particular ...

google: rejuvenation pruning of flowering shrubs ... to learn the basic ideas ...

and then change that to 'rejuvenation pruning of cherry laurel' .. to see if there are any differing rules ...

once you read a few links .. come on back with some more specific questions.. should you need further advice ... but if you want real good advice.. you are going to have to get us some pix ...

or i am wrong.. and its all special rules for this plant ...

whatever you do.. no haircuts ... that will not solve your sidewalk issue ...

ken

I have a stand of Cherry Laurels and I love them. They came up from my neighbors tree. Every year I have lots of seedlings. I keep those that chose the right place to grow and pull the rest. I have some that have a single trunk and others that have multiple trunks. Either way they are attractive.
I only prune in very early spring, for fear of killing them. I try and only prune what has to be trimmed back, or branches close to the ground that are not attractive. So far they have done OK with their trimming. If a branch is getting much longer than those around it I'll cut it back making sure to leave a shoot on top to grow out. That way it grows out to a more natural look.

The orginal poster may be referring to Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken', which is an extremely popular and common shrub for the mid atlantic.

They can eventually get quite large.

If this is the case, prune hard before new growth begins in the spring. Prune hard NOW so plants will fill in over the summer. Flowers are interesting, but this plant is grown more for foliage than flowers.

You may have to prune back to 'sticks', but these will eventually sprout out leaves along them. But it will take a whole season for them to fill in.

A photo might help.

Prunus caroliniana, common to the south, is not completely hardy here.

This post was edited by dave_in_nova on Wed, Apr 23, 14 at 8:29

Laurels are broadleaf evergreen shrubs and can be pruned virtually any time of year you want (except I'd avoid winter :-)) They are extremely durable and can take all manner of abuse including rather hard pruning. Many folks will take electric hedge trimmers to them and I've even seen some larger laurel hedges cut back with chain saws. Not the tidiest approach as it chews up the big foliage but efficient. And the plant starts putting out new foliage almost immediately.

Keep in mind pruning too late in the growing season here (especially at the northern edges of its range - zone 6) will promote growth that might not harden off before winter.

I should have been more specific in my original post. Dave_in_nova is correct -- my cherry laurel is 'Otto Luyken'.

I don't think it's too late to prune them right now. Thanks for your help.

MsBrandywinevalley, no, it's not too late. As mentioned above, you can prune Otto Luykens anytime and as hard as you want. Right down to ground level, if you want.
They are usually planted to do duty in a utility role, filler, hedge, etc., and are very common here doing just that. I have planted a few in the landscape to be appreciated for what they are without having to shear them several times during the growing season. Very rarely are they given enough room so they don't have to be pruned.
Even though they are not usually grown for their flowers, they do have some merit. The ideal time to prune them is right after they bloom and again as soon as needed later in the early summer.
The downside for me is that they reseed themselves a bit and I have to pull the seedlings once in awhile.
Left alone, they can cover a wide area. This one is about 20 ft. wide after 35 years.
The tree is a Calocedrus decurrens, aka Incense Cedar. The purple blooming plant is Lunaria.
Mike

I mentioned that I get seedlings from Otto Luykens. Here's one that looks like it has some Zableiana in it compared to the 'straight' Otto Luykens behind it. The bloom times are a bit different even though they are side by side.
Mike

Mike, that's really cool that you're seeing hybrids of these. things. I've never seen even one reproduce from seed here.

sarr .. start your own post...

include pix..

ID your problem...

and then react accordingly..

NO ONE PRUNEs OUT DISEASE ... prior to IDing such ...

and frankly.. rarely if ever.. is pruning the favored remedy..

would love to see what you read ... and what your actual problem is ...

ken