--- title: "Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right? | Southern Style Turf & Design" description: "Both are top privacy choices for Lake Norman properties — but they perform differently in shade, clay soil, and space-limited yards. Here's the honest comparison." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right?", "description": "Both are top privacy choices for Lake Norman properties — but they perform differently in shade, clay soil, and space-limited yards. Here's the honest comparison.", "image": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/6994abb85c22653b50e6110e.jpg", "datePublished": "2026-10-19", "dateModified": "2026-10-19", "articleSection": "Landscape Tips", "inLanguage": "en-US", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://southern-style-turf.com/blog/skip-laurel-vs-green-giant-lake-norman" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Josh Solano", "jobTitle": "Owner", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Southern Style Turf & Design" } }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "url": "https://southern-style-turf.com" }, "contentLocation": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Lake Norman, NC", "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://southern-style-turf.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://southern-style-turf.com/blog" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right?", "item": "https://southern-style-turf.com/blog/skip-laurel-vs-green-giant-lake-norman" } ] } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/6994abb85c22653b50e6110e.jpg", "url": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/6994abb85c22653b50e6110e.jpg", "name": "Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right? — Lake Norman, NC", "caption": "Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right? — Lake Norman, NC", "description": "Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right? — Lake Norman, NC", "license": "https://southern-style-turf.com/contact", "acquireLicensePage": "https://southern-style-turf.com/contact", "creditText": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Southern Style Turf & Design" }, "copyrightNotice": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "locationCreated": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Denver, NC", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Denver", "addressRegion": "NC", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } }, "contentLocation": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Denver, NC", "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } } }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/jyVUsE1p2Xtk161hx8YY/media/68f3abfffaf82be1c6d21785.jpeg", "url": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/jyVUsE1p2Xtk161hx8YY/media/68f3abfffaf82be1c6d21785.jpeg", "name": "Why Lake Norman Properties Have Drainage Problems (And How to Fix Them) — Lake Norman, NC", "caption": "Why Lake Norman Properties Have Drainage Problems (And How to Fix Them) — Lake Norman, NC", "description": "Why Lake Norman Properties Have Drainage Problems (And How to Fix Them) — Lake Norman, NC", "license": "https://southern-style-turf.com/contact", "acquireLicensePage": "https://southern-style-turf.com/contact", "creditText": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Southern Style Turf & Design" }, "copyrightNotice": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "locationCreated": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Denver, NC", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Denver", "addressRegion": "NC", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } }, "contentLocation": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Denver, NC", "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } } }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "contentUrl": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/69949c8ed614c91d10f6616f.jpg", "url": "https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/69949c8ed614c91d10f6616f.jpg", "name": "Southern Style Turf & Design Joins the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association — Lake Norman, NC", "caption": "Southern Style Turf & Design Joins the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association — Lake Norman, NC", "description": "Southern Style Turf & Design Joins the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association — Lake Norman, NC", "license": "https://southern-style-turf.com/contact", "acquireLicensePage": "https://southern-style-turf.com/contact", "creditText": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Southern Style Turf & Design" }, "copyrightNotice": "Southern Style Turf & Design", "locationCreated": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Denver, NC", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressLocality": "Denver", "addressRegion": "NC", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } }, "contentLocation": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Denver, NC", "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 35.5271, "longitude": -81.0373 } } } ] } ] --- [ ![Southern Style Turf & Design logo](/__l5e/assets-v1/e9a91494-4e27-4db4-b22b-719fec3bddae/southern-style-logo-mark.png) **Southern Style Turf**& Design · Lake Norman, NC ](/) [Services](/services) [Service area](/service-area/denver-nc) [Blog](/blog) [About](/about) [Contact](/contact) [704-460-2019](tel:7044602019) [Free estimate](/contact) [Services](/services) Service categories [Drainage solutions](/drainage-solutions-lake-norman-nc) [Hardscaping & patios](/hardscaping-lake-norman-nc) [Landscape design](/landscape-design-lake-norman-nc) [Retaining walls](/retaining-wall-contractor-lake-norman-nc) [Grading & excavation](/grading-excavation-lake-norman-nc) [Irrigation systems](/irrigation-systems-lake-norman-nc) Company [Blog](/blog) [About us](/about) [Contact](/contact) [Call 704-460-2019](tel:7044602019) [Get a free estimate](/contact) [Home](/)/ [Blog](/blog)/ Landscape Tips ![Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right? — Lake Norman, NC](https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/6994abb85c22653b50e6110e.jpg) Lake Norman, NC • Denver • Mooresville • Cornelius Landscape Tips # Skip Laurel vs Green Giant Arborvitae in Lake Norman: Which Privacy Hedge Is Right? Both are top privacy choices for Lake Norman properties — but they perform differently in shade, clay soil, and space-limited yards. Here's the honest comparison. By Josh Solano, Southern Style Turf & Design • October 19, 2026 • 5 min read [Call 704-460-2019](tel:7044602019) [Get free estimate](/contact) Licensed & Insured NC 80+ Five-Star Reviews Free Estimates BBB A-Rated Both are top privacy choices for Lake Norman properties — but they perform differently in shade, clay soil, and space-limited yards. Here's the honest comparison. ## The Two Most Planted Privacy Screens in Lake Norman Green Giant arborvitae and skip laurel are the two most frequently installed privacy screening plants in the Lake Norman area, and for good reason — both are fast-growing, evergreen, and broadly adapted to the Piedmont climate. But they have genuinely different strengths and weaknesses that affect which one is right for a specific property. ## Green Giant Arborvitae Growth rate: 3–5 feet per year in good conditions — one of the fastest-growing screening trees available in this climate. Mature size: 40–60 feet tall, 12–20 feet wide. Form: Strongly pyramidal, dense, dark green year-round. Sun requirement: Full sun to light shade — struggles in heavy shade and will thin out on the shaded side. Soil: Tolerates Lake Norman's clay soils reasonably well with proper planting and establishment watering, but not in wet, waterlogged locations. Spacing for screen: 6–8 feet apart for a solid screen over time; 5 feet for faster closure. Cons: Gets large — mature Green Giants are trees, not shrubs. Not a good choice for narrow spaces or properties with overhead utilities in the planting area. ## Skip Laurel Growth rate: 1–2 feet per year — slower than Green Giant but still one of the faster-growing broadleaf options. Mature size: 10–18 feet tall, 5–7 feet wide — significantly more compact than Green Giant. Form: Multi-stem, upright, broadleaf evergreen with glossy leaves and white flower clusters in spring. Sun requirement: Tolerates shade better than Green Giant — a good choice for properties where the screening area is partially shaded. Soil: Adapts well to clay soils and handles moderate moisture better than Green Giant. Spacing for screen: 4–5 feet apart for a solid screen. Cons: Slower than Green Giant; can develop twig blight in poorly drained soils. ## Which to Choose Green Giant if the planting area is in full sun, you have adequate space for a large tree, and speed is the priority. Skip laurel if the area is partially shaded, space is limited, or you want a hedge that stays at a manageable size without annual trimming. Many Lake Norman properties use both — Green Giants along the back of the property where space allows, skip laurels along side boundaries where the planting area is narrower or partially shaded. Free site visit throughout Lake Norman — we'll assess your conditions and recommend what actually works. ### Want this looked at on your property? We give free, no-pressure on-site estimates across Denver, Mooresville, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Troutman. [Call 704-460-2019](tel:7044602019)[Schedule online](/contact) ### In this article - [The Two Most Planted Privacy Screens in Lake Norman](#s1) - [Green Giant Arborvitae](#s2) - [Skip Laurel](#s3) - [Which to Choose](#s4) ### Related services [Drainage Solutions →](/drainage-solutions-lake-norman-nc)[Retaining Walls →](/retaining-wall-contractor-lake-norman-nc)[Hardscaping →](/hardscaping-lake-norman-nc) Keep reading ## More Lake Norman Guides ![Why Lake Norman Properties Have Drainage Problems (And How to Fix Them) — Lake Norman, NC](https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/jyVUsE1p2Xtk161hx8YY/media/68f3abfffaf82be1c6d21785.jpeg) Drainage Solutions ### [Why Lake Norman Properties Have Drainage Problems (And How to Fix Them)](/blog/drainage-problems-lake-norman-nc) October 20, 2025 5 min read ![Southern Style Turf & Design Joins the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association — Lake Norman, NC](https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://assets.cdn.filesafe.space/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/69949c8ed614c91d10f6616f.jpg) Company News ### [Southern Style Turf & Design Joins the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association](/blog/southern-style-turf-ncnla-member) September 3, 2026 3 min read ![French Drain vs Catch Basin: Which One Does Your Lake Norman Yard Need? — Lake Norman, NC](https://images.leadconnectorhq.com/image/f_webp/q_80/r_1200/u_https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/t1XFXyDIHqnvQO2MlWxT/media/6994abb85c22653b50e6110e.jpg) French Drain Installation ### [French Drain vs Catch Basin: Which One Does Your Lake Norman Yard Need?](/blog/french-drain-vs-catch-basin-lake-norman) October 27, 2025 4 min read [See all articles →](/blog) ## Still not sure what your yard needs? Tell us what's happening on your property and we'll tell you what will actually fix it. Free on-site estimate, no trip fee. [Call 704-460-2019](tel:7044602019) [Schedule online](/contact) Southern Style Turf & Design Professional landscaping, hardscaping, drainage, retaining walls, grading, and irrigation throughout Lake Norman, NC. Locally owned. Licensed and insured. [704-460-2019](tel:7044602019) [Southernstyleturf@gmail.com](mailto:Southernstyleturf@gmail.com) Denver, NC 28037 Services [Drainage solutions](/drainage-solutions-lake-norman-nc) [Retaining walls](/retaining-wall-contractor-lake-norman-nc) [Hardscaping & patios](/hardscaping-lake-norman-nc) [Landscape design](/landscape-design-lake-norman-nc) [Grading & excavation](/grading-excavation-lake-norman-nc) [Irrigation systems](/irrigation-systems-lake-norman-nc) Service areas [Denver, NC](/service-area/denver-nc) [Mooresville, NC](/service-area/mooresville-nc) [Cornelius, NC](/service-area/cornelius-nc) [Davidson, NC](/service-area/davidson-nc) [Huntersville, NC](/service-area/huntersville-nc) [Troutman, NC](/service-area/troutman-nc) Company [About us](/about) [All services](/services) [Contact](/contact) [NCNLA Member](https://ncnla.com/member/SouthernstyleturfDesign) [Privacy policy](/privacy-policy) [SMS terms](/sms-terms) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/Southern-style-turf-design/100090777557339/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/southernstyleturf_/) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@Southernstyleturf) © 2025 Southern Style Turf & Design · Denver, NC · All rights reserved [Privacy policy](/privacy-policy) [SMS terms](/sms-terms) [Cookie policy](/cookie-policy) [Call Now](tel:7044602019) [Free Estimate](/contact)