If you’re looking for a classic, effective way to create a private garden retreat, planting skip laurel against a fence is a brilliant solution. This combination is perfectly positioned for privacy, offering a lush, evergreen screen that works hard all year round.
Skip laurel, a fast-growing cultivar of cherry laurel, is a favorite among gardeners for good reason. It’s tough, adaptable, and provides dense foliage from the ground up. When planted along a fence line, it uses the existing structure for support and creates a seamless, living wall. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from planning to planting to long-term care.
Skip Laurel Against a Fence
This specific planting strategy is more than just putting shrubs near wood or vinyl. It’s about creating a symbiotic relationship between the plant and the structure. The fence acts as a backbone, while the laurels fill in with vibrant life. The result is a barrier that is both functional and beautiful, blocking sightlines, reducing noise, and providing a green backdrop for your garden.
Why Skip Laurel is the Ideal Privacy Plant
Before we get into the how, let’s look at the why. Skip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) has a set of traits that make it a top contender.
- Fast Growth: You can expect 1 to 2 feet of growth per year under good conditions. This means your privacy screen fills in relatively quickly.
- Year-Round Coverage: As a broadleaf evergreen, it keeps its glossy, dark green leaves through winter. Your privacy doesn’t disappear when the temperature drops.
- Dense Habit: It branches readily and grows thickly, leaving few gaps for prying eyes to peer through.
- Adaptability: It tolerates a range of soils, including clay, and handles both sun and shade well. It’s also more cold-hardy than many other cherry laurels.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, it requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning and watering during droughts.
Planning Your Laurel Fence Screen
A little planning prevents big problems later. Taking time here will ensure your screen looks great and thrives for decades.
Assessing Your Site
First, take a good look at your fence line. What is the fence made of? This is important for planting distance. You also need to check the sunlight. Skip laurel performs best in partial shade to full sun, but it can manage in fuller shade, though growth may be slower.
Check the soil condition. Is it well-draining, or does water tend to pool there? Laurel roots dislike soggy feet. A simple percolation test can help you figure this out.
Determining the Right Spacing
Spacing is the most common mistake. Planting too close seems like a good idea for instant privacy, but it leads to overcrowding, disease, and extra pruning.
- For a Tight, Solid Screen: Plant Skip laurels 4 to 5 feet apart, measured from the center of one trunk to the next.
- For a More Natural, Spaced Look: Plant 6 to 8 feet apart. They will still fill in but retain more individual shape.
Always plant with the mature width in mind, which is 6 to 8 feet for Skip laurel. Give them room to grow to their natural size without constant hacking.
Choosing Healthy Plants
Your screen’s success starts at the garden center. Look for bushy plants with vibrant green leaves. Avoid any with yellowing foliage, spots on the leaves, or roots circling tightly in the pot. A healthy root system is key.
The Step-by-Step Planting Guide
Now for the fun part. The best times to plant are early fall or early spring, when the weather is cool and rain is more frequent.
- Mark Your Locations: Use stakes or spray paint to mark each planting spot along the fence, using your chosen spacing.
- Dig the Holes: Dig a hole that is 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. Planting too deep is a major cause of plant failure.
- Check Distance from Fence: Position the hole so the trunk will be about 2 to 3 feet away from the fence. This allows for air circulation, room for growth, and access for fence maintenance.
- Prepare the Root Ball: Gently remove the plant from its container. If the roots are densely matted, score the sides with a knife or tease them apart slightly to encourage outward growth.
- Place and Position: Set the plant in the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with or slightly above the surrounding soil grade.
- Backfill with Soil: Use the native soil you dug out, perhaps amended with a little compost. Fill in around the roots, tamping gently to remove large air pockets.
- Water Deeply: Create a small soil berm around the planting hole to form a water basin. Soak the area thoroughly until water penetrates deep into the root zone.
- Mulch Generously: Apply a 2 to 3 inch layer of organic mulch, like shredded bark, around the plant. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Caring for Your Established Screen
Consistent care in the first few years ensures a strong, healthy screen that will last.
Watering Schedule
This is the most critical task for new plants. Your skip laurels need consistent moisture to establish their roots.
- First Year: Water deeply 2-3 times per week if there’s no rain. The goal is to encourage roots to grow deep into the soil, not stay at the surface.
- Second Year: Water deeply once a week during dry periods.
- Established Plants: They are quite drought-tolerant but will benefit from a deep soaking during extended dry spells, especially in summer.
Feeding and Fertilizing
Skip laurels aren’t heavy feeders. In most cases, an annual application of a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer in early spring is plenty. If your soil is poor, a second light feeding in early summer can help. Always follow the product label instructions.
Pruning for Privacy and Health
Pruning maintains shape, encourages density, and keeps your screen looking neat. The best time to prune is late winter or early spring, just before new growth starts. You can also do light trimming in early summer.
- For Height: To encourage branching and a fuller form, prune the leading shoots by cutting back to a side branch or leaf node.
- For Width: Trim back side branches that may start to encroach on paths or lean heavily on the fence.
- Thinning: Occasionally remove a few older branches from the base to improve air circulation and light penetration in the center of the plant.
Always use clean, sharp tools to make clean cuts. Avoid shearing it into a tight box shape, as this can damage the outer leaves and prevent light from reaching the interior.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Even the toughest plants can face issues. Here’s how to handle common skip laurel challenges.
Yellowing Leaves
This can have several causes. Over-watering or poor drainage is common, leading to root rot. Under-watering in hot weather can also cause it. Sometimes, a nutrient deficiency, particularly iron, is to blame. Assess your watering habits first, then consider a soil test.
Leaf Spot and Shot Hole Fungus
This fungal disease appears as brown or purple spots on leaves, which may eventually fall out, creating a “shot hole” appearance. Improve air circulation by pruning, avoid overhead watering, and rake up fallen leaves. In severe cases, a fungicide may be needed.
Winter Burn
In very cold, windy climates, leaves may turn brown at the edges. This is often due to frozen soil preventing the plant from taking up water while wind pulls moisture from the leaves. An anti-desiccant spray applied in late fall can help, as can planting in a slightly sheltered location.
Pests
Skip laurel is relatively pest-resistant. You might occasionally see scale insects or borers. Horticultural oil applied in late winter (dormant oil) can help control scale. Keeping plants healthy is the best defense against borers.
Design Ideas and Companion Planting
Your laurel screen doesn’t have to be a monolith. You can integrate it beautifully into your overall garden design.
Layering for Depth
Plant shorter shrubs or perennials in front of the laurel screen. This creates depth and visual interest. Consider plants with different textures or seasonal color, like hydrangeas, hostas, or ornamental grasses.
Mixing with Other Evergreens
For a more varied texture, intersperse other evergreen shrubs like holly, camellia, or osmanthus among the skip laurels. This can break up the uniformity and add seasonal interest with berries or flowers.
Adding Climbing Elements
Since you have a fence, consider adding a climbing plant at the base of a laurel or between them. A clematis or climbing rose can weave through for a cottage garden effect, adding a pop of color.
Long-Term Considerations and Benefits
Thinking ahead helps you appreciate the investment you’re making. A well-planned skip laurel screen offers lasting value.
Beyond privacy, it creates a microclimate in your garden, sheltering more tender plants from wind. It becomes a habitat for birds, who may nest in its thick branches. It also acts as a sound buffer, absorbing noise from neighbors or a nearby street.
Remember that these are long-lived plants. With proper care, your screen will be a defining feature of your garden for 20 years or more. It’s a living asset that increases your property’s beauty and enjoyment.
FAQ Section
How fast do skip laurels grow?
They are considered fast-growing, typically adding 1 to 2 feet of height per year under ideal conditions.
Can skip laurel be planted in full shade?
It tolerates shade but grows best and most densely in partial shade to full sun. In deep shade, growth will be slower and the plant may become leggy.
How far from the fence should I plant skip laurel?
Aim for 2 to 3 feet from the fence line. This provides space for growth, air circulation, and future fence maintenance.
Is skip laurel poisonous?
Yes, all parts of cherry laurel plants, including skip laurel, contain compounds that can be toxic if ingested by humans or pets. It’s something to be aware of, especially if you have curious pets or small children.
What’s the difference between skip laurel and cherry laurel?
Skip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is a specific, cold-hardy cultivar of cherry laurel. It tends to have a more upright, narrow habit and is often chosen for screening.
When is the best time to prune my laurel hedge?
Late winter or early spring is ideal, just before new growth emerges. You can also do light shaping in early summer after the first flush of growth.
Creating a living privacy screen with skip laurel against a fence is a rewarding project. It provides a timeless, green solution that enhances your outdoor space. By choosing the right plants, giving them the space they need, and providing basic care, you’ll enjoy a beautiful, private sanctuary for many years to come. The key is patience—allowing the plants to establish and grow into their role—and you’ll be rewarded with a perfect, natural barrier.