Select from 9 fast-growing hedges to improve your garden's privacy

Posted on 23/08/2025

Select from 9 Fast-Growing Hedges to Improve Your Garden's Privacy

Are you searching for effective ways to enhance your garden's privacy? Fast-growing hedges offer a living, beautiful barrier that can shield your outdoor space from neighbors, reduce noise, and provide a natural, green backdrop. In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you select from 9 fast-growing privacy hedges that bring quick results and year-round beauty. Whether you're looking for evergreen options, flowering varieties, or robust windbreaks, you'll find the ideal hedge plant to suit your needs.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Garden privacy hedges aren't just about seclusion--they're also about style and sustainability. Unlike fencing, hedges create habitats for wildlife, purify the air, and beautify your landscape. The right fast-growing hedge can reach its full height in just a few seasons, minimizing waiting time and maximizing enjoyment. In addition, they offer year-round screening, and many varieties remain attractive even during winter.

Benefits of Fast-Growing Hedging Plants

• Quick results: Enjoy privacy and greenery within a couple of years.
• Noise reduction: Dense foliage helps block unwanted sounds.
• Wildlife-friendly: Provides shelter and food for birds and beneficial insects.
• Increased property value: Lush, green borders boost curb appeal.
• Environmental impact: Hedges improve air quality and support biodiversity.

How to Select the Right Fast-Growing Hedge for Your Garden

Choosing the perfect fast-growing privacy hedge begins with understanding your garden conditions and personal preferences. Here's what to consider:

• Space available - Decide how tall and wide you want your hedge to be.
• Sunlight and soil - Ensure your chosen plant is suitable for your location.
• Evergreen or deciduous - Do you want year-round privacy or seasonal interest?
• Maintenance level - Some hedges need regular trimming, while others are low-maintenance.
• Appearance - Consider the texture, leaf color, and potential for flowers or berries.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Hedges to Boost Garden Privacy

Below, we list the nine most popular fast-growing hedges that can significantly improve privacy and aesthetic appeal in your outdoor space. Each comes with unique advantages--browse the options to find the best match for your garden.

1. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges are renowned for their rapid growth and dense structure, making them a classic choice for living privacy screens. They adapt to a range of soils, tolerate partial shade to full sun, and grow up to 60cm (2 feet) per year.

• Evergreen or semi-evergreen depending on climate
• Regular pruning creates a formal look
• Fragrant white flowers in summer attract pollinators
• Fastest-growing variety: Ligustrum ovalifolium (Golden Privet)

Ideal for: Urban gardens and boundary lines

2. Leylandii (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Often hailed as the king of fast-growing evergreen hedges, Leylandii can grow up to 1 meter (over 3 feet) per year! Its lush, coniferous foliage delivers immediate privacy but requires regular trimming to keep in check.

• Adaptable to various soil types
• Excellent windbreak and sound barrier
• Reaches impressive heights quickly
• Needs annual maintenance to avoid overgrowth

Ideal for: Large boundaries and exposed areas

3. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry Laurel brings glossy, bold leaves and rapid height gain--up to 60cm per year. This fast-growing privacy hedge is evergreen, offering dense year-round cover and a formal appearance.

• Tolerates shade and pollution
• Produces fragrant white flower spikes in spring
• Very robust and resilient
• Low-maintenance once established

Ideal for: Shadier gardens and busy roadside boundaries

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

Famous for its vibrant red spring growth, Photinia 'Red Robin' doubles as an ornamental feature and privacy hedge. Growing up to 30cm (1 foot) per year, it brings year-round foliage and colorful new leaves.

• Attractive red-tinted new shoots
• Evergreen and bushy
• Can be left informal or shaped for a formal look
• Responds well to trimming

Ideal for: Modern gardens seeking privacy with color

5. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

With lush, feathery foliage and a stately appearance, Western Red Cedar hedges quickly become thick, tall screens. Expect an annual growth of 45-60cm, making them a smart option for rapid privacy.

• Fragrant, soft foliage
• Thrives in most soil conditions and climates
• Very long-lived and low-maintenance
• Resists most pests and diseases

Ideal for: Large gardens and those seeking a classic conifer hedge

6. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

For an exotic touch, consider clumping or running bamboos, which shoot up remarkably fast and can provide an attractive privacy barrier. Some species, such as Phyllostachys bissetii or P. aurea, are especially popular for hedging.

• Grows up to 90cm (3 feet) per year under ideal conditions
• Modern, vertical look perfect for city gardens
• Choose clumping varieties to avoid spread
• Thrives in both sun and partial shade

Ideal for: Small gardens and contemporary spaces

7. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

This elegant fast-growing hedge offers dark-green, glossy leaves and a sophisticated appearance. Growing up to 45cm annually, Portuguese Laurel is more compact than Cherry Laurel but equally robust.

• Dense, screening habit
• Red stems add visual interest
• Drought-tolerant and easy-to-shape
• Produces aromatic white flower clusters in summer

Ideal for: Both formal gardens and modern designs

8. Griselinia littoralis

Native to New Zealand, Griselinia is an evergreen hedge prized for its apple-green, glossy leaves and fast, bushy growth--up to 45cm per year. It tolerates salty winds and coastal climates particularly well.

• Outstanding for coastal gardens
• Withstands wind and pollution
• Requires very little maintenance
• Beautifully softens fences and walls

Ideal for: Coastal areas and urban backyards

9. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

If you prefer a deciduous but dense privacy hedge, Hornbeam is an outstanding choice. It can grow up to 45cm a year, retains its dead leaves through winter (offering extra screening), and develops a formal, architectural look.

• Hardy and tolerates wet soils
• Clipped hedges maintain neat, formal lines
• Provides year-round screening due to retained foliage
• Supports great biodiversity

Ideal for: Formal gardens and mixed country boundaries

Expert Tips for Planting and Maintaining Fast-Growing Hedges

To make the most of your new fast-growing privacy hedges, follow these gardener-approved tips:

1. Soil Preparation: Before planting, enrich the soil with organic compost and ensure good drainage.
2. Proper Spacing: Plant hedges according to the recommended distance (usually 30-60cm apart) to avoid overcrowding and competition for resources.
3. Regular Watering: First year after planting is critical. Water deeply and consistently, especially in dry periods.
4. Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
5. Early Pruning: Trim young plants to encourage bushy growth and prevent legginess.
6. Annual Maintenance: Even fast-growing hedges benefit from a yearly trim to maintain shape and restrict height.
7. Pest and Disease Checks: Monitor for common issues, especially in laurel and conifer hedges.

FAQs: All About Quick-Growing Hedges and Garden Privacy

1. How fast do privacy hedges grow?

Growth rates vary by species, but most fast-growing hedges range from 30cm to 1 meter per year. For quicker privacy, choose vigorous options like Leylandii or Bamboo.

2. When is the best time to plant hedges?

The ideal time is late autumn to early spring when the soil is moist and plants are dormant. Avoid frosty or waterlogged conditions.

3. Which hedge is best for year-round privacy?

Evergreen varieties such as Privet, Leylandii, and Laurels are the top choices for all-season privacy hedges.

4. Can I grow hedges in containers?

Yes, dwarf varieties and Bamboo do well in pots, but regular watering and feeding are essential.

5. Are fast-growing hedges invasive?

Some, like Bamboo and Privet, can spread aggressively if unchecked. Choose clump-forming Bamboo and trim hedges frequently to control size.

Conclusion: Choose the Best Hedge for Fast, Effective Privacy

Upgrading your garden with a fast-growing hedge for privacy is an investment in beauty, security, and nature. Whether you prefer the classic charm of Privet, the towering shelter of Leylandii, or the vibrant color of Photinia, there's a hedge to suit every taste and space. By selecting the right plant for your needs and caring for it well, you'll enjoy a private, peaceful, and sustainable garden sanctuary for years to come.

Start planning your privacy hedge now--the sooner you plant, the sooner you'll reap the rewards of green tranquility and natural screening!