Everything You Need to Know About Skip Laurel Trees

Written by Brenda Woods Updated 11/11/2024

Brenda Woods

Brenda Woods is an accomplished writer and managing editor with more than two decades of publishing experience. She has spent over 10 years covering home services and home improvement projects. Brenda supports her team in evaluating dozens of home service providers, surveying and speaking to hom…

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Skip laurel trees are dense evergreen shrubs that grow in sunny or partial-shade gardens. Also called Schip laurels, Skip laurels are compact, low-maintenance, and easy to manage while providing privacy in any size garden. They flower in the spring and produce dark red berries in the fall. In this article, we’ll tell you how to care for Skip laurel trees and where they thrive.

Skip Laurel Trees at a Glance

• Make excellent privacy screens
• Green year-round
• Fragrant, white blossoms in spring
• Drought-tolerant
• Smaller leaves than other laurels give a neat, compact look
• Fares well in urban conditions
• Deer-resistant

Appearance

Skip laurels are smaller than other laurels, allowing them to create more neat, compact hedges when pruned. They naturally have a vase-like shape. Skip laurels grow to be 10–18 feet tall and 5–7 feet wide, with a moderate growth rate of roughly 24 inches per year. Their dense foliage is glossy green year-round, and fragrant white blossoms bloom in spring. In fall and winter, Skip laurel trees produce red berries that attract songbirds.

Skip Laurel Tree Specifications

Hardiness Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones indicate the various regions where different types of plants thrive. The best growing conditions for Skip laurels are Zones 5–9, which stretches from coast to coast, covering most of the country.

Growing Conditions

Skip laurels are known for being low-maintenance, virtually hassle-free and able to thrive under a variety of conditions.

• Sun and shade: Even the best hedge plants can struggle in the shade—but not Skip laurel trees. This tree type flourishes in both full sunlight, or six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day, and partial shade. You won’t need to sacrifice color or growth if your plant experiences a lot of shade. Another issue with shade is that it can lead to increased susceptibility to disease and pests—Skip laurel trees are both disease- and pest-resistant.
• Soil: Skip laurel trees thrive in a variety of soil conditions. Their only true requirement is that the soil drain well. They do well in sandy soils, clay soils, and alkaline and acidic soils.
• Watering: For the first week after planting, water your Skip laurel every day, then gradually reduce to once a week or every 10 days. A good way to keep your soil moist is by applying a 3–4 inch layer of mulch.
• Fertilizing: You can apply Skip laurel fertilizer in the spring after they have flowered. They require a slow-release fertilizer.
• Pruning: Skip laurel trees do not require pruning, but they respond well to it. If you decide to prune, do it in spring after the tree has flowered or early summer. Keep in mind that pruning will get rid of the berries that songbirds like to eat, and take away their opportunity to nest in your tree.

Our Conclusion

Skip laurel trees are evergreen shrubs that keep their foliage all year long. The Skip laurel hedge height is between 10 and 18 feet, creating a natural privacy screen for your yard. This shrub thrives in full sun, but they will respond well to partial shade in Zones 5–11. Skip laurels are easy to take care of and grow about 24 inches per year. Skip laurels flower every spring, producing fragrant white flowers that attract bees, birds, and butterflies.

FAQ About Skip Laurel Trees

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