Laurel ‘Novita’ In Rootball

🌿 Laurel Novita (Rootball) – Description, Planting, Care & Biodiversity      Guide

Botanical Name: Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’
Common Name: Laurel Novita
Type: Evergreen shrub (Rootball)
Growth Rate: Fast-growing
Height & Spread: Up to 4m tall × 2.5m wide
Plant Use: Hedging, screening, noise barrier, windbreak
Season of Interest: Year-round foliage, spring flowers, autumn berries

🌱 Plant Description:

Laurel Novita is a hardy, dense evergreen hedge plant, known for its large, glossy dark green leaves and vigorous growth. A superior variety of Cherry Laurel, Novita is particularly disease-resistant and more cold-hardy than the common type, making it ideal for exposed or northern gardens in Ireland.

Supplied in rootball form (field-grown, lifted in autumn to early spring), Novita establishes quickly and offers excellent value for bulk hedging projects.

🌿 Planting Instructions (Rootball):

• Best Time to Plant: Late autumn to early spring (dormant season only for rootballs)

• Position: Full sun to deep shade

• Soil Type: Moist but well-drained; tolerates clay, loam, chalk

• Spacing for Hedges:

  • Single row: 60–80 cm apart

📦 Rootball Tips:

• Do not remove the hessian/burlap wrap — it decomposes naturally in the soil

• Water thoroughly before and after planting

• Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds

🌱 Care Guide:

✂️ Pruning:

• Clip once or twice a year (late spring or late summer) to maintain shape

• Tolerates hard pruning if needed

💧 Watering:

• Water regularly during the first year

• Once established, drought-resistant

🌾 Feeding:

• Apply slow-release fertiliser in early spring

• Mulch annually with compost or leaf mould

❄️ Hardiness:

• Fully hardy in Ireland

• Withstands frost, shade, and wind

🐝 Biodiversity Benefits:

• Flowers: Spikes of white, nectar-rich flowers in late spring attract bees and pollinators

• Berries: Small black berries (toxic to humans) provide food for birds

• Foliage: Dense evergreen leaves offer year-round shelter for birds and insects

• Excellent choice for wildlife corridors and habitat hedging

🌳 Ideal for combining privacy and biodiversity in modern or traditional gardens.

✅ Why Choose Laurel Novita (Rootball)?

• Stronger root system = faster establishment

• Cheaper per plant for large hedges

• Dense, evergreen privacy year-round

• Tolerates deep shade and pollution

• High resistance to frost and diseases (better than standard Cherry Laurel)