Mature evergreen skip cherry laurel hedge

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Skip Laurel (Schip Cherry Laurel)

Q: How fast does Skip Laurel grow into a privacy hedge?

Skip Laurel is valued for its rapid growth rate—often 1–2 feet per year once established—making it one of the best evergreen shrubs for creating a quick, dense privacy hedge. Its upright, glossy foliage forms a lush wall of green that stays vibrant all year, even in areas with cold winters or partial shade. With proper planting and regular watering during the first year, a row of Skip Laurels can reach 10–15 feet in height and 5–7 feet in width within a few seasons. Homeowners who need to screen neighbors or block road noise love how quickly Skip Laurel delivers a low-maintenance evergreen barrier that rivals the coverage of a solid fence.

Q: Can Skip Laurel grow well in partial shade or low-light areas?

Yes—Skip Laurel thrives in full sun to partial shade, which sets it apart from many other evergreen hedging plants. It performs beautifully along woodland edges, shaded property lines, or north-facing borders, holding its deep green color even with only a few hours of direct light. Its shade tolerance makes it an ideal evergreen for creating privacy screens in locations where other shrubs might thin out. Whether planted under tall trees or between buildings, Skip Laurel keeps its foliage dense and glossy, providing a reliable year-round screen where light levels fluctuate.

Q: Does Skip Laurel produce flowers or attract pollinators?

In late spring, Skip Laurel showcases clusters of fragrant white flowers, adding a burst of seasonal interest to its year-round greenery. These blossoms attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, supporting the biodiversity of your garden while enhancing the hedge’s visual appeal. After flowering, the plant produces small black drupes that provide a subtle ornamental touch and seasonal food for birds. This combination of evergreen structure, spring fragrance, and wildlife appeal makes Skip Laurel a multi-season standout in both formal and naturalistic landscapes.

Q: How does Skip Laurel compare to English Laurel and other cherry laurel varieties?

Compared to traditional English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Skip Laurel has a narrower, more upright growth habit—perfect for tighter spaces and more formal hedges. While English Laurel can spread widely and require frequent pruning, Skip Laurel maintains a slimmer 5–7 foot width with less maintenance while still achieving impressive height. This makes Skip Laurel the preferred choice for homeowners who need a fast-growing evergreen screen in small yards or urban landscapes. It combines the classic glossy foliage of cherry laurel with a compact, easy-care form that requires far less clipping than many other laurel types.

Q: Is Skip Laurel deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established?

Yes—deer typically avoid Skip Laurel, making it a dependable evergreen hedge in suburban or rural areas where browsing can devastate other plants. Its aromatic foliage is naturally unappealing to deer, so your hedge will retain its dense, glossy look without fencing or frequent repellent sprays. Once established, Skip Laurel is also remarkably drought-tolerant, requiring only occasional deep watering during extended dry periods. This combination of deer resistance and drought resilience means that Skip Laurel delivers low-maintenance, year-round privacy even in challenging growing conditions.

Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'

Skip Laurel is always the answer when customers ask about a rich, evergreen privacy screen that thrives even in partial shade. It grows fast enough to create a hedge in just a few seasons and stays dense and glossy all year. The fragrant white flowers in spring are a bonus, and its natural deer resistance means you can plant it with confidence. Whether you need to block a view, reduce noise, or simply add structure to your garden, Skip Laurel delivers exceptional beauty and reliability with minimal care.

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Woodies Root Booster Fertilizer

Woodies Select 4-4-4 Organic Fertilizer

Soil Soaker Hose

Corona Aluminum Hedge Shear

Skip Laurel (Schip Cherry Laurel) for Sale Online

A classic evergreen hedge for year-round privacy.
Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’), often called Schip Cherry Laurel, is a top choice for homeowners seeking a fast-growing, dense evergreen screen. Its glossy, dark green leaves and upright growth habit form a lush living wall that remains attractive in every season. Unlike many other hedge plants, Skip Laurel holds its rich color even through winter, ensuring that your property stays beautifully screened all year.

Fast growth with minimal maintenance.
This vigorous evergreen can grow up to 2 feet per year, reaching 10–15 feet tall and 5–7 feet wide at maturity. Plant multiple shrubs 3–5 feet apart to create a solid privacy hedge in just a few seasons. Once established, Skip Laurel is both drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it a low-maintenance solution for busy gardeners who want quick results.

Versatile and shade-tolerant.
Skip Laurel thrives in full sun to partial shade, so it performs well along shaded property lines, wooded edges, or side yards that receive only a few hours of direct light. It adapts to a variety of soils as long as drainage is good, and its dense, upright habit makes it ideal for noise reduction, wind screening, and defining property boundaries in both suburban and urban settings.

Elegant flowers and year-round appeal.
In late spring, Skip Laurel produces clusters of fragrant white flowers, adding seasonal interest and drawing pollinators. Its naturally compact growth requires only light pruning to maintain a formal hedge or to shape individual plants. Whether used as a tall privacy hedge, a backdrop for perennial beds, or a refined evergreen screen, Skip Laurel delivers classic beauty with remarkably little effort.

Growzone: 6-9

Skip Laurel (Schip Cherry Laurel) Hardiness Zones 6-9

Hardiness Zone:	6-9
Mature Height:	10 to 15 Feet
Mature Width:	5 to 7 Feet
Classification:	Broad leaved evergreen shrub
Sunlight:	Full sun to part shade
Habit:	Densely branched, upright
Foliage:	Dark green
Flower Color:	White fragrant flowers that produce red berries
Pruning Season:	Prune in spring after flowering if needed to maintain shape
Soil Condition:	Any well drained soil
Water Requirements:	Water well until established
Uses:	Extremely attractive when used in the mixed border, against foundations, or as a privacy hedge.

How to Care for Skip Laurel (Schip Cherry Laurel)

Before you buy a Skip Cherry Laurel, make sure to read about the recommended care instructions to keep this plant healthy and thriving.

How do you plant a Skip Laurel hedge?

To plant a Skip Laurel hedge for year-round privacy, choose a site with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Dig each hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper, spacing plants 3–5 feet apart on center so their natural 5–7 foot mature width will overlap and create a seamless evergreen screen. Place each shrub so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil, backfill halfway, water to settle, then finish filling and water again. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base of each Skip Laurel, keeping mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot. Planting in early spring or fall when temperatures are mild allows roots to establish before summer heat or winter cold. These steps help your Skip Laurel hedge root quickly and grow into the dense, glossy privacy barrier that makes it so popular.

How often should you water Skip Laurel after planting?

During the first growing season, give each Skip Laurel a deep soak once or twice a week, making sure water reaches the entire root zone. Consistent moisture encourages strong root development and supports the variety’s fast growth rate—up to two feet per year. In periods of hot weather or drought, check soil moisture a few inches below the surface and water whenever it feels dry. Once established, Skip Laurel becomes moderately drought-tolerant, needing only occasional watering during extended dry spells. Maintaining a 2–3 inch layer of mulch will help conserve soil moisture and protect roots from temperature swings, ensuring your hedge remains lush, vibrant, and densely green year-round.

When and how should you fertilize Skip Laurel?

Feed Skip Laurel in early spring, just before the first flush of new growth, with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreen shrubs. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the drip line—about a foot or two out from the trunk—and water thoroughly to help nutrients reach the roots. This spring feeding supports vigorous growth, glossy foliage, and abundant late-spring flowers. If your soil is sandy or nutrient-poor, a light second feeding in midsummer can help maintain growth, but avoid fertilizing after midsummer so new shoots can harden before cold weather. Regular soil testing every few years will ensure that your Skip Laurel hedge maintains the rich green leaves and rapid growth it’s known for.

How and when should you prune Skip Laurel for a dense hedge?

Skip Laurel naturally forms a compact, upright hedge, but light pruning keeps it looking neat and encourages thicker growth. The best time to prune is right after the white spring flowers fade—late spring or early summer. Use clean, sharp shears to lightly trim the outer growth or hand-prune to shape individual branches. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing limbs to improve airflow and maintain the plant’s health. For formal hedges, you can also give a light touch-up in late summer, but avoid heavy cuts into old wood because Skip Laurel does not regenerate from bare stems. With regular light pruning, your hedge will remain a dense, glossy evergreen screen that provides year-round privacy and beauty with very little maintenance.