Privacy made easy with 9 of the fastest-growing hedges

Posted on 14/08/2025

Privacy Made Easy with 9 of the Fastest-Growing Hedges

Looking to create a secluded retreat within your property? Natural privacy screens are the answer! Fast-growing hedges not only shield your home from curious neighbors and street noise, but also add beauty, boost property value, and support local biodiversity. In this comprehensive guide, discover how privacy made easy with 9 of the fastest-growing hedges can transform your outdoor spaces into peaceful hideaways. Learn which hedge plants grow fastest, how to plant and care for them, and why a green screen beats wooden fences in more ways than one.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Before diving into our top picks, let's address the core question: Why opt for fast-growing hedges as a privacy solution? Here are some compelling reasons:

• Natural Aesthetics: Lush, leafy screens are visually pleasing and can blend harmoniously with any landscape style.
• Quick Results: When privacy is urgent, fast-growing options cover gaps much sooner than many traditional hedges.
• Wildlife Habitat: These hedges double as habitats for birds, butterflies, and helpful pollinators.
• Year-Round Screening: Evergreen species provide shelter and seclusion in every season.
• Noise and Dust Reduction: Dense foliage can act as a barrier against wind, noise, and dust from busy streets.
• Increase Property Value: Well-maintained green boundaries are an attractive feature for potential buyers.

With the right privacy hedge, you'll have a natural fence that grows only more effective with each passing year.

What Makes a Good Privacy Hedge?

Not all hedges are created equal. The best privacy hedges share these essential qualities:

• Fast growth rate - So you're not waiting years for full coverage.
• Dense foliage - To ensure a true visual barrier.
• Evergreen habit - For all-season privacy (unless you prefer a winter view).
• Low maintenance - Because privacy should be easy, not a chore.
• Tolerance to trimming - Allows you to shape and control the screen as needed.
• Disease and pest resistance - To ensure your living fence thrives with minimal fuss.

Now, let's explore nine of the fastest-growing privacy hedges for gardens of all sizes and climates.

9 Fastest-Growing Hedges for Effortless Privacy

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Leyland cypress is the superstar of privacy screens for a reason. With an astounding growth rate of up to 3 feet per year, this evergreen hedge quickly forms a solid green wall. Its feathery, blue-green foliage stays lush year-round, providing uninterrupted privacy even in winter. These trees tolerate various soils and respond well to trimming, allowing you to maintain a tidy, uniform appearance. Plant Leyland cypress about 3 feet apart for the densest screen.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature height: 40-60 feet (easily pruned to hedge height)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Best for: Large properties, fast privacy needs, windbreaks

2. Thuja 'Green Giant' (Thuja standishii x plicata)

If you crave a low-maintenance privacy hedge that shoots up with minimal effort, Thuja 'Green Giant' is unbeatable. This robust arborvitae hybrid is disease and deer-resistant and clocks in at 3 feet of growth per year under ideal conditions. It forms a dense, conical barrier that's soft to the touch, making it safer for children and pets than prickly options.

• Growth rate: 3 feet per year
• Mature height: 30-50 feet (can be maintained at 10-15 feet)
• Light: Full sun
• Best for: Year-round privacy, disease-prone areas, living fences

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges have long been a classic choice for gardens thanks to their rapid growth, thick foliage, and adaptability. Japanese and Amur privets are especially fast-growing, sometimes reaching 2-3 feet of new growth annually. Privets tolerate heavy pruning, thrive even in problem soils, and produce lovely fragrant white flowers in spring. Some species are semi-evergreen, dropping leaves only during harsh winters.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature height: 8-15 feet (easily pruned)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Best for: Formal clipped hedges, flexible sizes, urban gardens

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

The thick, glossy leaves of cherry laurel provide a year-round privacy screen. This fast-growing evergreen hedge tolerates a range of conditions, including urban pollution and shade. Cherry laurel can add up to 2 feet in height annually and features fragrant white flower spikes in spring, followed by black berries enjoyed by birds.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature height: 15-20 feet
• Light: Sun or shade
• Best for: Shaded areas, wildlife-friendly hedges, tall boundaries

5. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp. & Fargesia spp.)

Bamboo privacy screens are taking modern gardens by storm. Clumping bamboo species like Fargesia provide a fast-growing, exotic, and non-invasive solution. Some varieties can reach mature height in just two or three seasons, with annual growth of 2-4 feet under good conditions. Their slender canes and fluttering leaves create a serene, sound-dampening effect.

• Growth rate: 2-4 feet per year
• Mature height: 8-20 feet (depending on species)
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Best for: Contemporary gardens, screening patios, Asian-inspired landscapes

6. Photinia 'Red Robin' (Photinia x fraseri)

If you want privacy with a splash of vibrant color, Photinia 'Red Robin' is ideal. This hedge grows up to 2 feet a year and is famed for its brilliant red new foliage, which transitions to glossy green. Semi-evergreen in mild climates, it showcases creamy-white flowers in spring and is easily shaped into both formal and informal hedges.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature height: 10-15 feet
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Best for: Colorful hedges, urban and suburban privacy

7. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

Portuguese laurel is renowned for its deep-green, compact leaves and dense growth habit. Growing around 1-2 feet per year, it forms a neat, formal hedge that's perfect for front gardens or as a backdrop for flowering borders. Its tolerance of dry soils and coastal winds makes it a robust choice for many regions.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature height: 10-12 feet
• Light: Sun or shade
• Best for: Low-maintenance, formal settings, coastal locations

8. Escallonia (Escallonia spp.)

Escallonia species are fast-growing evergreen hedges that bring more than privacy--they add a burst of color, too! With a typical growth rate of 1-2 feet per year, glossy leaves, and clusters of pink, red, or white flowers from summer into fall, these hedges attract pollinators and provide a bushy barrier even in coastal and windy spots.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature height: 5-10 feet (varies by species)
• Light: Full sun to light shade
• Best for: Flowering privacy hedges, coastal gardens, wildlife-friendly screens

9. Viburnum tinus

Viburnum tinus is a reliable, all-year round privacy provider. With a moderate but steady growth rate of up to 1.5 feet per year, it forms a handsome, dense hedge. Its dark green leaves, fragrant pinkish-white winter flowers, and blue berries provide food for pollinators and birds, making it a top pick for eco-conscious gardeners.

• Growth rate: 1-1.5 feet per year
• Mature height: 8-12 feet
• Light: Sun or shade
• Best for: Winter interest, wildlife gardens, urban privacy screens

How to Get the Best from Your Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge

1. Choose the Right Hedge for Your Climate and Soil

Always match your plant selection to your region's climate, soil type, and garden size. What thrives in a coastal region may struggle in dry, inland areas. Many fast-growing hedges adapt to a variety of conditions, but for the healthiest hedge, choose one best suited to your local environment.

2. Prepare the Ground Thoroughly

Before planting, improve soil drainage and fertility with compost or well-rotted manure. Remove weeds and dig a trench at least twice the width of the root balls. Healthy, nutrient-rich soil encourages vigorous, even growth--so your living privacy screen will establish more quickly.

3. Spacing Makes the Difference

Close spacing at planting time is key to a dense barrier sooner. Be sure to consult guidelines for each species' mature width. Overcrowding can lead to disease, but wide gaps will take years to close.

4. Regular Pruning for Maximum Density

Pruning encourages bushy growth from the base of each plant, so don't be afraid to give young hedges an annual trim. Once established, regular shaping will ensure your privacy hedge stays thick, healthy, and tidy.

5. Mulching and Watering

Keep newly planted hedges well-watered until established. A mulch of bark or compost helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and feeds your growing hedge throughout the season.

Evergreen or Deciduous? Choose Your Perfect Privacy Fit

Most homeowners choose evergreen hedges for privacy because they provide screening all year. However, if winter privacy isn't required, or you love seasonal changes, some fast-growing deciduous hedges like hornbeam, beech, and hawthorn can also serve as quick, beautiful natural fences.

• Evergreens: Year-round privacy and shelter
• Deciduous: Beautiful seasonal interest and often less formal appearance

Advantages of Fast-Growing Hedges Over Fences and Walls

Why pick a living hedge over a wooden fence or stone wall?

• Eco-friendliness: Hedges support wildlife and oxygenate the air.
• Cost-effectiveness: Initial outlay can be similar, but long-term maintenance is often cheaper.
• Visual softness: Green screens are calming to the eye and absorb noise.
• Increase biodiversity: Many hedge species attract pollinators and birds.
• Resilience: Properly cared-for hedges can last decades, outliving many fence materials.

Ultimately, privacy made easy with fast-growing hedges is a sustainable, attractive, and value-adding option for every homeowner.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How soon will I see results after planting?

Many of the recommended hedges begin to form a visible privacy screen in their second growing season, with a dense barrier within 2-5 years depending on starting size, spacing, and growing conditions.

How often should privacy hedges be trimmed?

Young hedges benefit from formative pruning at least once per year. Many species require just a single annual trim once established, but fast-growers may need a light summer shaping as well.

Are all fast-growing hedges evergreen?

No--some, like hornbeam and beech, are fast-growing but deciduous. For uninterrupted privacy, choose evergreen varieties like Leyland cypress, Thuja, and cherry laurel.

Can privacy hedges grow in containers?

Certain fast-growing hedges like bamboo, box, Portuguese laurel, and photinia can be grown in large planters, ideal for patios or renters needing a mobile green screen.

Conclusion: Make Privacy Easy with a Green Hedge!

Fast-growing privacy hedges offer a beautiful, eco-friendly, and efficient answer to your screening needs. Whether you have a spacious lawn or a tiny terrace, there's a quick-growing hedge perfect for your space. From Leyland cypress and Thuja 'Green Giant' to photinia, bamboo, and laurel, these plants can shield your home in just a few years--bringing tranquility, wildlife, and value along with privacy.

Your garden can become a sanctuary with just a little planning and the right plant selection. Transform your outdoor space--and your peace of mind--by embracing the power of privacy, made easy with the fastest-growing hedges available!

• Ready to start? Visit your local nursery or garden center and ask about the best hedge choices for your region.
• Share your journey to a more private and beautiful garden with your friends--and enjoy the sanctuary you deserve!

Privacy made easy with 9 of the fastest-growing hedges--your new green wall is just a planting day away.