Do you want to grow a dense, lush privacy hedge in your front or backyard? If yes, skip laurel shrubs can be your ideal choice! Skip laurel is a privacy hedge that can turn your garden into a lush green wonderland. It has clusters of fragrant white flowers, glossy green pointed leaves, and blackish-purple berries.
In spring, it produces white flowers, and in winter and fall, it produces a red berry that turns black when ripe. Its bushy appearance and dark green leaves can enhance the beauty of your garden. It retains its green color throughout the year and thrives in any soil type.
It makes a great privacy screen and keeps unwanted animals out of your yard. Due to its dense growth, it blocks out unwanted views and provides privacy from your neighbors. If you’re thinking of growing them in your yard, you must be wondering how to plant them in the right way.
Skip laurel, also known as Prunus laurocerasus, is an attractive broadleaf evergreen shrub popular for hedges, screens, and ornamental plantings With its glossy green foliage, spring blooms, and ability to thrive in varying conditions, skip laurel adds beauty and privacy to landscapes. However, proper fertilization is crucial to keep skip laurels looking their best The right plant food provides the essential nutrients these shrubs need for vigorous growth and lush, vibrant foliage.
In this article, we’ll explore skip laurel’s fertilizer requirements and recommend the optimal fertilizers to use for robust health and beauty. We’ll also cover when to feed, fertilizer application techniques, and how to avoid fertilizer burn Follow these tips to give your skip laurels the nutrient boost they need to prosper
Why Fertilizing Matters for Skip Laurels
While relatively low maintenance, fertilizing skip laurels is still beneficial, especially when establishing new plantings. Fertilizer provides the essential nutrients to fuel vigorous growth. It promotes root system development, increased branching, and lush green leaves.
On nutrient deficient soils, fertilizer can correct problems leading to yellowed foliage, stunted growth, or plant decline. It supplies key macronutrients skip laurels require:
- Nitrogen (N) – for healthy green growth
- Phosphorus (P) – for root, flower, and fruit development
- Potassium (K) – for disease resistance and hardiness
Ensuring access to these nutrients will keep skip laurels looking their best.
When to Fertilize Skip Laurels
Properly timing fertilizer applications ensures nutrients are available when skip laurels need them most:
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Spring – Feed in early spring just before new growth emerges to support healthy leaf development and flower production.
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Summer – Fertilize lightly during summer to maintain vigor.
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Fall – Feed in late fall, after growth has slowed, to prepare for dormancy.
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New plantings – Fertilize regularly following package directions to promote establishment.
Signs It’s Time to Fertilize
Monitor skip laurels through the season for any of these clues indicating fertilizer is needed:
- Paler leaves
- Minimal new growth
- Leaf drop
- Tip dieback
- Increased pest/disease susceptibility
Healthy laurels have vibrant, dark green leaves. If foliage seems faded or yellowish, it likely needs fertilizer.
How to Choose the Best Fertilizer
When buying fertilizer for skip laurels, look for:
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Balanced NPK ratio – Skip laurels do best with relatively equal nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels.
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Slow-release formula – Slow-release fertilizers provide a steady nutrient supply over time.
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Organic or synthetic – Both work well, so choose your preference.
Always follow product labels for proper application rates to avoid over-fertilizing. More fertilizer does not mean better results.
5 Best Fertilizers for Skip Laurels
Here are some excellent options specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of laurels and other broadleaf evergreens:
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Espoma Plant-tone – Organic formula with bone meal, alfalfa meal, kelp, and other premium ingredients. Feeds up to 2 months.
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Jobe’s Organics Shrub & Evergreen Fertilizer – Specially blended organic granules made from fish bone meal, feather meal, and chilean nitrate. Provides balanced nutrition.
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Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed – Easy shaker applicator makes feeding laurel hedges quick. Gradually provides nitrogen up to 3 months.
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Dr. Earth Evergreen Fertilizer – Organic fertilizer with probiotics and essential nutrients tailored for acid-loving shrubs like laurels.
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Grow More Hawaiian Bud and Bloom – Dry fertilizer derived from fish with an optimal 2-1-2 NPK ratio for evergreens. Won’t burn roots.
Liquid Fertilizer Options
Granular fertilizers provide base nutrition, while liquid foods give periodic boosts. Liquid options mix into watering cans for immediate nutrient access.
Every 2-3 weeks in spring/summer, supplement granulars by feeding skip laurels:
- Compost tea
- Fish emulsion
- Seaweed extract
- Epsom salts (provides magnesium)
- Liquid kelp
Use liquids sparingly between granular feeding for best results.
How to Apply Fertilizer to Skip Laurels
Proper application ensures skip laurels fully benefit from the nutrients:
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Read labels – Follow product instructions for amount and timing.
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Distribute evenly – Spread granules uniformly beneath the entire canopy.
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Water in well – Thoroughly water after applying to dissolve granules and move nutrients into soil.
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Reapply as directed – Don’t just fertilize once. Make repeat applications through the growing season.
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Avoid over-fertilization – Only use the recommended amount. Too much can damage roots.
With the proper fertilizer and techniques, your skip laurels will flourish.
Improving Soil Health
While fertilizer provides nutrients, the underlying soil still needs to be healthy for plants to thrive. Improve conditions for skip laurels by:
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Adding 1-2 inches of compost annually to increase organic matter.
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Testing and adjusting pH to maintain the ideal slightly acidic range of 5.5-6.5.
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Aerating soil to improve drainage and oxygen circulation to roots.
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Controlling weeds and replenishing mulch to conserve moisture and build organic matter as it decomposes.
Fostering healthy, nutrient-rich soil allows added fertilizer to work most effectively.
Signs of Fertilizer Deficiency
Without adequate nutrients, skip laurels may show:
- Nitrogen – Stunted growth, smaller leaves, yellowing of older foliage
- Phosphorus – Purplish leaf discoloration, weak branching
- Potassium – Leaf scorch, yellowing, tip/margin burn
- Iron – Interveinal yellowing on newest leaves
If imbalances are suspected, have the soil tested to analyze macro and micronutrient levels. Choose an appropriate fertilizer to correct any deficiencies found.
Avoiding Fertilizer Burn on Skip Laurels
Too much fertilizer can burn skip laurel’s foliage and roots. To prevent this:
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Carefully follow label directions for product amount and timing. More is NOT better.
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Apply fertilizer evenly beneath the canopy, not heavily in one spot.
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Water thoroughly after feeding to prevent salt buildup where granules are concentrated.
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Allow the recommended time between applications, usually at least 6-8 weeks for granular fertilizers.
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Reduce frequency for mature, established laurels needing less food.
With proper fertilizer amounts thoroughly watered in, you can nourish the soil without damaging skip laurel’s roots or foliage.
Best Practices for Feeding Skip Laurels
Follow these tips for success when fertilizing skip laurels:
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Fertilize at planting, early spring, and after pruning, but avoid late summer/fall applications.
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Watch for deficiency signs like faded leaves or minimal new growth as clues to fertilize.
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Select a balanced organic or synthetic fertilizer formulated for evergreens.
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Apply at the product’s recommended rate. More is not better.
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Spread granules evenly beneath the entire canopy.
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Always water thoroughly after fertilizing to prevent burning.
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Improve soil health with compost, pH adjustments, aeration, and mulch.
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Use periodic liquid fertilizer for an extra nutrient boost.
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Monitor for signs of over-fertilization like leaf burn and adjust amounts accordingly.
Properly feeding your skip laurels with the right fertilizer keeps these handsome hedges healthy and beautiful all year long. With proper nutrition and care, you can help your laurels thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of fertilizer is best for skip laurels?
A balanced fertilizer with equal nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 works well. It promotes healthy growth and development.
When should I fertilize skip laurels?
Feed established plants in early spring as growth resumes and again after any necessary spring pruning. Also fertilize at planting time.
Can I use organic fertilizer on skip laurels?
Yes, organic options like manure, compost, and fish emulsion are great for skip laurels. They provide slow, steady nutrient release. Follow directions to avoid burning the plants.
Do I need to fertilize newly planted skip laurels?
No, wait until new plants are established, usually after the first growing season. Fertilizing too soon can do more harm than good. Prioritize watering and mulching initially.
How do I avoid fertilizer burn on my laurels?
Carefully follow product labels for amount and timing. Evenly distribute granules under shrubs. Water thoroughly after applying to prevent salt buildup on roots.
Give Your Laurels a Nutrient Lift
If your skip laurels are underperforming, assessing their fertilizer needs is a great place to start. Properly feeding them the right nutrients at the proper times will keep these beautiful hedging plants healthy and thriving for years to come. With a nutrient boost and attentive care, your laurels will prosper and enhance your landscape with their deep green beauty.
How to Plant Skip Laurel
Planting skip laurel is an easy process. Dig a hole three times the root ball’s size and the same depth as the container. Before planting the shrub, loosen the soil and improve fertility and drainage by incorporating organic material.
After this, you need to place the shrub in the planting hole’s center and soil amended with compost to backfill the space. Remove any air pockets by pressing the ground firmly. Water and mulch regularly around the base of the plant to suppress weed growth and maintain the proper level of moisture.
After planting the skip laurel, water it regularly for the first week. Ensure that the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Inspect the shrub for signs of stress, like yellowing leaves and wilting. You don’t need to prune skip laurels regularly. Prune them lightly after they have finished flowering in the early spring. Don’t add fertilizer if the plant is healthy.
How Far Apart Should You Plant Skip Laurel?
Skip laurel is often used as a foundation planting or a hedge. It is a fast-growing shrub that thrives well in all types of conditions. It can reach up to 10 feet in width and height. When planting skip laurel, space the plants at least 3 to 5 feet apart. This spacing is required for the shrub to grow together while still allowing enough space for each plant to develop fully.
The spacing will also depend on whether you want the shrub to form a dense hedge or you want to plant it individually. If you want to plant the shrub as an individual specimen, there should be more spacing between each plant. This will enable the shrub to grow to its original size and shape. If you want to have an open view of the skip laurels, allow them to stand alone.
Form a row of 10 feet apart. You must plant the skip laurels 2 to 3 feet apart. The shrub easily reaches 10 to 18 feet if you don’t trim it, but if you trim it, the shrub will grow up to 2 feet a year. When planting a windbreak, screen, or hedge, place the young trees at least 15 feet apart.