Skip laurels (also called Schip laurels) are one of those landscaping plants that work harder than they look. For garages and outbuildings where structure and low maintenance are key, these dense, evergreen shrubs are a smart choice. They’re not flashy, but they’re dependable—kind of like a good set of wrenches. Here’s how they fit into the layout when you’re planning the space around a garage.
The Basics: What Makes a Skip Laurel Work?
Skip laurels are a variety of Prunus laurocerasus, and they grow upright and narrow—usually topping out around 8–10 feet tall with a spread of about 4–6 feet. That makes them ideal for planting along the sides or corners of a garage where space is limited but privacy or screening is desired.
They grow fast, they stay green all year, and they tolerate a range of soil types. These shrubs will hang in through cold snaps and summer heat without complaint. Once established (this is important), they’re drought-resistant too.
Around the Garage: Where to Plant
1. Foundation Screening
Skip laurels can mask a concrete slab or exposed utility boxes with thick foliage. Planted 3–4 feet away from the foundation, they’ll fill in and provide a clean, green wall that softens the base of your garage without creating drainage problems or root issues.
2. Privacy Barrier
If your garage backs up to a neighbor’s property or a busy alley, skip laurels are a solid buffer. A staggered row creates a living privacy screen that doesn’t require fencing permits or annual maintenance. This is how I wanted to use them.
3. Corner Framing
Use two on either front corner of the garage to “anchor” the building into the landscape. It gives the structure a more finished, intentional look—especially if the rest of the yard is open or sparse.
4. Wind Break or Debris Filter
They’re dense enough to reduce wind around garage doors, which helps if you’re working on a project with the door open. And they catch leaves, dust, and lawn clippings before they blow inside.
Maintenance: Low Fuss, High Reward
Skip laurels don’t need constant trimming, but they do respond well to shaping if you want a manicured look. Prune once a year in early summer after the small white blooms fade, and they’ll stay neat. They aren’t prone to disease, and deer usually leave them alone—which matters if your garage backs up to woods or an open field.
Mulch underneath to keep weeds down and help hold moisture, especially the first year. After that, a little compost in spring is all they ask for.
Why They Worked for Me
There used to be a nice patch of woods behind my property but that was removed to build a huge indoor self storage facility. The Skip Laurels will work nicely as a barrier between the two properties. As mentioned above they shouldn’t require much maintenance and look green all of the time.
Planting
We were instructed to dig a hole deep enough to bury the plant to the root ball. The hole is supposed to be about twice the width of the root ball to allow the roots to spread into fresh soil. Once the laurel is in the ground it can be straightened and back filled. Water thoroughly and water every few days if there is no rain.
Uh Oh, Drought
The summer of 2024 in the northeast was really really dry and we tried to keep the laurels watered but it was clear by spring time that the drought likely took its toll on two of the four laurels. The 4th one looks a bit beat up but should pull through. Skip Laurels aren’t cheap in this size and luckily the garden center we purchased them from had a warranty so they replaced the two at a discounted price.
The garden center we purchased these from indicated that we should wrap the laurels in burlap for the winter for the 1st year or two to protect them from the potential harsh winter we can see. This advice came after the damage was done so this winter we will definitely do this.
Final Thoughts
Skip laurels won’t impress the neighbors like a Japanese maple or a stack of oversized boulders might, but they pull their weight. They’re practical, clean, and tough—perfect for the kind of garage that sees real use. Whether you’re hiding siding seams, blocking wind, or just giving the place a more finished feel, skip laurels are the kind of landscaping choice that works quietly in the background so you can focus on what’s going on inside the garage.
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