Fast-track your garden privacy with these 9 exceptional growing hedges

Posted on 19/05/2025

Fast-track Your Garden Privacy with These 9 Exceptional Growing Hedges

Looking to enjoy your outdoor space in peace and seclusion? Growing hedges for privacy are a beautiful, eco-friendly solution that can quickly and dramatically enhance your garden's privacy. Natural living fences not only look great, but they also dampen noise, provide shelter for wildlife, and even improve property value. Discover the ideal solution for your backyard sanctuary with these nine fast-growing and exceptional hedges.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Garden Privacy?

When it comes to achieving private outdoor areas, speed is often of the essence. Traditional fences can look harsh or artificial, while privacy hedges develop into lush, organic screens that are both functional and visually appealing. Here are a few reasons to opt for quick-growing hedging plants:

• Rapid Privacy: Shield patios or gardens from prying eyes in just a few seasons.
• Improved Air Quality: Hedges help filter pollutants and provide a fresher backyard environment.
• Increased Biodiversity: Living screens offer food and shelter for birds, insects, and beneficial wildlife.
• Natural Noise Barrier: Dense foliage absorbs sound, reducing street or neighborly noise.
• Eco-Friendly Boundary: Unlike hard fences, hedges are sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Hedges for Exceptional Privacy

Ready to enhance your landscape with a fast and attractive privacy solution? These exceptional hedges are renowned for their growth rates, density, and beauty:

1. Privet (Ligustrum)

Privet hedges are a classic choice for anyone looking for quick privacy hedging. Known for their vigorous growth (up to 3 feet per year), privet forms a dense, semi-evergreen barrier with small oval leaves. It's highly tolerant of trimming, making it ideal for formal topiary or a tailored look. Varieties include English privet, Japanese privet, and California privet.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 ft (90cm) per year
• Best for: Formal and informal hedges
• Soil & Light: Adaptable, full sun to partial shade

2. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Among the fastest-growing conifer hedges, Leyland cypress can achieve impressive heights within a few seasons. It's evergreen, providing year-round cover, and can grow up to 4 feet annually. Its dense, feathery foliage creates an impenetrable privacy wall, ideal for expansive gardens or roadside boundaries.

• Growth Rate: 3-4 ft (90-120cm) per year
• Best for: Tall, wind-blocking screens
• Soil & Light: Well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade

3. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

If year-round evergreen privacy is your priority, western red cedar is a premium pick. It features soft, aromatic foliage and sturdy, upright growth that responds well to pruning. Thuja varieties are valued for their quick growth, thick branches, and classic look, making them one of the best hedges for privacy.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 ft (60-90cm) per year
• Best for: Long-lasting evergreen screens
• Soil & Light: Moist, well-drained soil, sun or partial shade

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Popular in formal landscapes, cherry laurel is an evergreen hedge plant with large, lush, glossy leaves. It establishes rapidly and is one of the fastest hedging plants in Europe, growing 2 feet per year on average. It's highly resilient, thriving even in shady spots.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 ft (60cm) per year
• Best for: Dense, low-maintenance privacy screens
• Soil & Light: Most soils, including clay; sun or heavy shade

5. Bamboo (Phyllostachys & Fargesia)

Looking for a modern, fast-growing hedge with a unique vibe? Bamboo makes an outstanding natural screen. Clumping varieties such as Fargesia are non-invasive and quickly fill in to create a lush, tall privacy barrier. Keep in mind that running species will need root barriers.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2-3 ft (60-90cm) per year
• Best for: Exotic, contemporary privacy screens
• Soil & Light: Moist, fertile soil; partial shade to full sun

6. Pittosporum (Pittosporum tenuifolium)

A favorite for coastal and urban gardens, pittosporum hedges grow rapidly and offer stunning silvery, dark-green, or variegated foliage depending on the variety. They tolerate salt, wind, and pruning extremely well, so they're perfect for seaside locations that need quick privacy.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 ft (30-60cm) per year
• Best for: Low-to-medium height privacy hedges
• Soil & Light: Most soils, sun or semi-shade

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

This spectacular hedge plant boasts fast growth and eye-catching, red-tipped new leaves in spring. Its evergreen foliage matures to glossy green and can be clipped to shape, forming an attractive and colorful privacy barrier. Photinia is particularly prized for aesthetic value as well as speed.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 ft (30-60cm) per year
• Best for: Colorful, ornamental living fences
• Soil & Light: Fertile, well-drained soil; best in full sun

8. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

If you need an attractive, deciduous privacy hedge, hornbeam is hard to beat. It offers lush, pleated green leaves in spring and summer, which turn coppery brown and remain on the branches into winter, providing privacy most of the year. Hornbeam's strong growth is paired with wind, shade, and pollution resistance.

• Growth Rate: Up to 1.5 ft (45cm) per year
• Best for: Medium-height, semi-formal hedges
• Soil & Light: Most soils, including damp sites; sun or shade

9. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

The Portuguese laurel hedge is highly valued for its elegant, glossy, dark green leaves and deep red stems. It's especially tough and will thrive in less-than-ideal conditions, including urban settings. Growing quickly and withstanding hard pruning, it's an ideal hedge for fast, dense privacy.

• Growth Rate: 1.5-2 ft (45-60cm) per year
• Best for: Classy evergreen boundary hedges
• Soil & Light: Tolerant of most soils; sun or partial shade

Tips for Planting and Maintaining Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Once you've chosen your preferred growing hedges for privacy, correct planting and care are key to achieving rapid, healthy growth. Follow these essential tips:

1. Plant at the Right Time:
   *Early spring or autumn* are the best seasons for planting, allowing roots to establish before extreme weather.
2. Space Wisely:
   Never crowd your hedge plants--check recommended spacing to ensure dense but healthy growth.
3. Water Consistently:
   Young hedges need regular, deep watering, especially in dry spells.
4. Feed and Mulch:
   Apply a general-purpose fertilizer in spring and mulch with compost or bark to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
5. Prune Regularly:
   Shape hedges yearly or twice-yearly to encourage bushiness and maintain your desired outline.
6. Monitor for Pests & Diseases:
   Check for common issues like aphids, powdery mildew, or root rot, and act promptly.

How to Choose the Best Privacy Hedge for Your Garden

Every garden is unique, which means the ideal fast-growing hedge will depend on your space, needs, and climate. Consider these factors:

• Climate & Exposure:
  Ensure your chosen hedge plant thrives in your region's temperature, humidity, and light.
• Size Requirements:
  Choose species based on ultimate height and spread, whether you need a tall living wall or a low privacy screen.
• Maintenance Level:
  Some hedges, like privet or laurel, grow energetically and need more pruning; others are slower and lower-maintenance.
• Evergreen vs. Deciduous:
  For year-round seclusion, opt for evergreens. If privacy needs are seasonal or aesthetics are a higher priority, deciduous choices may suffice.
• Wildlife Value:
  Some plants, such as hawthorn or hornbeam, offer better resources for birds and pollinators.

Benefits of Fast-Growing Hedges Over Fencing

While solid fences are a fast fix, fast-growing privacy hedges provide a multitude of long-term advantages:

• Softer, More Attractive Boundaries - Natural hedges blend seamlessly with the garden landscape.
• Environmental Advantages - Living screens sequester carbon, host pollinators, and can help prevent soil erosion.
• Long-Term Cost Savings - Hedges, once established, often cost less to maintain than regular fence repairs or replacements.
• Versatility - Hedges can be tailored to any height and shaped as desired, from tall, formal screens to relaxed cottage edges.

Common FAQs about Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How long does it take for a privacy hedge to form a solid screen?

With fast-growing hedging plants such as leylandii or privet, you can get substantial cover within 2-3 years. Slower varieties may take 4-5 years to fully fill in.

What's the fastest growing hedge plant?

Leyland cypress is widely acknowledged as one of the quickest, growing up to 4 feet per year under ideal conditions.

Are fast-growing hedges invasive?

Some, like running bamboo and certain privets, can become invasive if not properly managed. Opt for non-invasive or clumping species and use root barriers if needed.

What is the best hedge for year-round privacy?

Evergreens such as western red cedar, cherry laurel, or leyland cypress offer screening every season.

Can I mix hedge species for better results?

Yes! Mixing different fast-growing hedge varieties can improve biodiversity, resilience, and aesthetics in your garden.

Conclusion: Fast-Track Your Dream Garden Privacy

With these 9 exceptional fast-growing privacy hedges, you can fast-track your garden privacy naturally and stylishly. Whether you prefer the structure of privet, the imposing height of leylandii, or the contemporary flair of bamboo, there's a living hedge solution to suit every garden and taste.

Remember, the key to success is not only the right plant choice but regular care and sensible planting. In just a couple of seasons, you can transform your outdoor space into a lush, tranquil hideaway. Start planning your privacy paradise today!