Quick Privacy Gains with 9 Fast-Growing Hedge Types
Posted on 23/05/2025
Quick Privacy Gains with 9 Fast-Growing Hedge Types
Are you looking for a quick, natural solution to create privacy in your yard or garden? Fast-growing hedge plants are a fantastic way to establish private, lush barriers that offer both beauty and security. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore nine fast-growing hedge types that will provide you with instant privacy gains. Whether you want to obscure an unsightly view, quiet the noise from a busy street, or simply enjoy a secluded oasis, these robust, rapid-growing privacy hedges are the answer.
Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?
Hedges offer a sustainable, green option for creating privacy screens in your landscape. Fast-growing hedge types ensure you won't have to wait years for results. Instead, you can enjoy quick privacy gains within a single season or two. Let's delve into the advantages of using these plants in your outdoor spaces:
- Natural Beauty: Living hedges add color, texture, and seasonal interest to any yard.
- Sound Barrier: Thick, leafy growth absorbs street noise, creating a peaceful retreat.
- Wildlife Habitat: Many fast-growing privacy hedges attract birds, bees, and beneficial insects.
- Versatility: Choose from flowering, evergreen, or colorful foliage varieties to suit any style.
- Eco-Friendly: Green hedges assist in air purification and erosion control, benefitting the environment.
Top 9 Best Fast-Growing Hedging Plants for Immediate Privacy
1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)
Leyland Cypress is a universally popular hedge choice thanks to its rapid growth rate--up to 3 feet per year! This evergreen conifer creates a dense, bushy barrier that provides year-round privacy. It thrives in a range of soils and tolerates pollution, making it suitable for suburban and urban gardens alike.
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: Up to 60 feet (can be trimmed to desired height)
- Maintenance: Annual trimming keeps it neat and contained
- Hardiness: Zones 6-10
Tip: Plant Leyland Cypress at least 4-6 feet apart for a full, thick screen.
2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)
For a resilient and elegant living fence, Green Giant Arborvitae is among the best fast-growing privacy hedges available. This evergreen beauty is deer-resistant and showcases soft, feathery foliage.
- Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 30-40 feet
- Maintenance: Minimal; prune for shape as desired
- Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Green Giant is ideal for creating privacy fast along property lines, driveways, or as a windbreak.
3. Privet (Ligustrum species)
Privet hedges have long been valued for their dense growth and adaptability. They respond very well to trimming and quickly recover from hard pruning. In spring, they often bear fragrant white blossoms.
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 10-15 feet
- Maintenance: Regular shaping required for formal hedges
- Hardiness: Zones 5-8 (varies by species)
Popular varieties include European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium).
4. Bamboo (Clumping types)
Love the exotic look of bamboo? Clumping bamboos offer one of the fastest ways to achieve privacy in limited spaces. Unlike running bamboo, clumping types stay where planted and won't invade your yard.
- Growth Rate: 2-5 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 10-20 feet or more
- Maintenance: Thin out canes and remove old growth as needed
- Hardiness: Varies; many species for temperate and tropical climates
Bamboo is perfect for modern and Asian-inspired gardens seeking quick privacy gains.
5. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin')
Red-tipped Photinia is a striking hedge option featuring bold red new growth and glossy green mature leaves. Fast growth and a vibrant look make it popular in both traditional and contemporary gardens.
- Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 10-15 feet
- Maintenance: Trim after spring flush to maintain bushiness and color
- Hardiness: Zones 7-9
This fast-growing hedge type is ideal for colorful privacy screens.
6. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
If you're after a classic, evergreen hedge, Cherry Laurel delivers quick results. It features large, glossy leaves and tolerates shade better than many fast-growing hedge plants.
- Growth Rate: About 2 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 20 feet (easily trimmed)
- Maintenance: Shaping in spring and summer
- Hardiness: Zones 6-9
Tip: Avoid planting near livestock--the leaves and seeds can be toxic if consumed.
7. Fargesia Bamboo (Clumping)
Fargesia is a cold-hardy, clumping bamboo that doesn't become invasive--perfect for quick privacy gains in cooler climates. Its elegant, arching canes add movement and grace to your landscape.
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 8-16 feet
- Maintenance: Virtually maintenance-free after establishment
- Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Bamboo hedges are celebrated for their unique aesthetic and sound-dampening properties.
8. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
Ideal for coastal and southern gardens, Wax Myrtle offers fragrant foliage and rapid coverage. It tolerates poor soils and salt spray, thriving where other fast-growing hedges struggle.
- Growth Rate: 2-5 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 10-20 feet
- Maintenance: Prune annually for density
- Hardiness: Zones 7-11
This native privacy hedge is low-maintenance and drought-tolerant.
9. English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia')
English Laurel is one of the most popular privacy hedge plants in temperate zones. Its thick, leathery leaves quickly fill out to form an impenetrable living wall.
- Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
- Ultimate Height: 12-20 feet
- Maintenance: Regular trimming to prevent legginess
- Hardiness: Zones 6-9
English laurel is prized for its shade tolerance and robust growth habits.
Choosing the Best Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge for Your Garden
With so many quick-growing hedge types available, how do you decide the best fit for your landscape?
Key Selection Criteria:
- Climate Compatibility: Ensure your chosen hedge matches your USDA hardiness zone.
- Sunlight Requirements: Some hedges prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade.
- Soil Conditions: Consider drainage, pH, and fertility.
- Mature Size: Choose a hedge size that suits your privacy needs without overcrowding.
- Maintenance Level: Some hedges demand annual pruning; others are virtually carefree.
- Aesthetic Preferences: Select from evergreen, flowering, or colorful foliage for desired visual impact.
Planting and Caring for Fast-Growing Hedges
Site Preparation
- Clear and amend the soil before planting to ensure quick establishment.
- Space plants correctly according to species guidelines for healthy growth and rapid coverage.
- Water thoroughly after planting and during dry spells, especially in the first season.
Maintenance Tips for Quick Privacy Gains:
- Regular Pruning: Trim new growth to encourage bushiness and prevent legginess.
- Fertilizing: Feed in spring with a balanced, slow-release formula to support rapid growth.
- Mulching: Retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Monitor for Pests and Diseases: Healthy hedges are less likely to become infested.
Immediate Privacy Solutions: Hedges vs. Fences
While traditional fencing offers instant screening, it lacks the aesthetic and environmental benefits of fast-growing hedges for privacy.
| Fences | Hedges |
|---|---|
| Instant privacy, but may require permits and ongoing repairs | Slower to establish, but add value and beauty over time |
| Often unappealing, especially over time | Blend into the landscape, offer color and texture |
| Zero environmental benefit | Promote biodiversity, clean the air, reduce noise |
| Generally more expensive to install | More affordable long term, especially with fast-growing options |
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I expect privacy after planting fast-growing hedges?
Most of these quick privacy hedges start providing partial screening in one year, with full results typically noticeable after 2-3 years.
How can I ensure the healthiest, fastest growth?
Choose healthy, disease-free plants, site them in suitable conditions, and care for them regularly--watering and pruning are key to quick privacy gains.
Are any hedges evergreen, for year-round privacy?
Yes! The Leyland cypress, Green Giant arborvitae, cherry laurel, and English laurel all provide dense, evergreen coverage.
Can I mix different hedge plants for diversity?
Absolutely! Mixing hedge types can provide staggered bloom times, increased wildlife value, and a more interesting appearance.
Final Thoughts: Achieving Quick Privacy Gains with Fast-Growing Hedges
No matter your landscape's needs, there is a fast-growing privacy hedge ready to transform your yard into a tranquil, secluded retreat. These nine hedge types can rapidly deliver natural screening, reduce noise, and add beauty to your space. Select the right fast-growing hedge for your area, plant with care, and enjoy the privacy you desire in just a few short seasons.
Don't wait years to carve out your own sanctuary--choose from these fast-growing hedge plant options and enjoy quick privacy gains with lush, living walls.
