Transform your garden with 9 fast-growing privacy hedges

Posted on 17/06/2025

Transform Your Garden with 9 Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Are you dreaming of a private, peaceful oasis in your own backyard? Fast-growing privacy hedges offer an excellent solution, shielding you from prying eyes, buffering noise, and adding natural beauty to your outdoor space. If you want nearly instant results, these vigorous growers can provide lush, leafy screens in little time. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore nine of the best fast-growing hedges for privacy, complete with care tips, landscaping ideas, and answers to your most common questions.

Why Choose Quick-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

A privacy hedge serves multiple purposes. It creates a soft green wall that separates your space from the neighbors, blocks unsightly views, and helps reduce wind and noise. If you don't want to wait years for your living barrier to establish, then fast-growing hedging plants are essential. These reliable varieties can dramatically change your garden's ambiance within just one or two seasons.

9 Best Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges to Transform Your Garden

Ready to discover the top picks? These nine privacy hedges are renowned for their beauty, vigor, and ability to create privacy in record time. Let's take a closer look:

• 1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)
• 2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')
• 3. Privet (Ligustrum species)
• 4. Bamboo (Clumping varieties)
• 5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
• 6. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
• 7. Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
• 8. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
• 9. Escallonia (Escallonia species)

1. Leyland Cypress - The Ultimate Fast-Growing Evergreen Hedge

If you're searching for unmatched growth speed, look no further than the Leyland Cypress. With the ability to grow up to 3 feet per year, it's among the fastest privacy shrubs. This towering evergreen hedge plant has feathery, deep green foliage and quickly forms a tall, dense screen.

• Height: Up to 60 feet
• Spread: 10-15 feet
• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Best for: Large gardens, windbreaks, tall privacy needs

Pro Tip: Plant Leyland Cypress trees 6 to 10 feet apart for an impenetrable living wall.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae - Disease Resistant and Reliable

Another superstar among quick-growing privacy hedge plants, the 'Green Giant' Arborvitae is prized for its hardiness and elegant, conical shape. It grows fast, is rarely troubled by pests, and holds its vibrant color all year long.

• Height: 30-40 feet
• Spread: 8-12 feet
• Growth rate: 2-3 feet annually
• Best for: Low-maintenance screens, windbreaks, and privacy in both cold and warm climates

Trim annually for a formal look, or let them grow naturally for a relaxed, lush effect.

3. Privet - Classic and Versatile Hedge for Quick Results

Privet hedges have adorned gardens for generations. Their speedy growth and adaptable nature make them a top choice as a quick privacy hedge plant. Privet is semi-evergreen in some climates, meaning it holds onto most leaves in mild winters.

• Height: 8-15 feet
• Spread: 4-8 feet
• Growth rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Best for: Shaped formal hedges, rapid informal screens

Privets tolerate heavy shearing, so you can keep them neat or let them billow for a rustic appearance.

4. Clumping Bamboo - Exotic, Fast Privacy Hedge

Bamboo isn't just for Asian gardens. Select clumping bamboo varieties for a superb, non-invasive living screen that can reach impressive heights quickly. They create a lush, tropical atmosphere and work especially well as a modern privacy hedge.

• Height: 8-25 feet, depending on variety
• Growth rate: Up to 2-3 feet per year
• Best for: Adding height, privacy, and unique visual appeal; small and narrow spots

Important: Always choose clumping bamboo species, not running types, to avoid aggressive spreading!

5. Cherry Laurel - Glossy, Broad-Leaved Beauty

Cherry laurel delivers year-round cover with large, shiny leaves and fragrant white blossoms in spring. Its robust growth and dense habit make it one of the best fast-growing hedges for privacy--especially in shady locations.

• Height: 10-20 feet
• Growth rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Best for: Shaded areas, large formal or informal hedges, screening garages or pool areas

Cherries laurel's berries attract birds, contributing to your garden ecosystem.

6. Photinia - Brilliant Red Foliage for Privacy and Color

Photinia is treasured for its stunning new growth, which emerges bright red before maturing to glossy green. This hedge adds a vibrant accent to gardens and fulfills privacy needs quickly.

• Height: 10-15 feet
• Growth rate: Around 2 feet per year
• Best for: Adding color, seasonal interest, and quick screening

Tip: Prune lightly after each growth flush to encourage more red shoots and keep your hedge bushy.

7. Red Twig Dogwood - Winter Interest and Fast Cover

Not every privacy hedge bush is evergreen! Red twig dogwood provides year-round beauty with bright green foliage in summer and fiery red stems in winter, standing out even in the bleakest months.

• Height: 6-10 feet
• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Best for: Cold climates, multi-season color, moist or wet soils

Pair with evergreens for a dynamic, layered screen.

8. Boxwood - Classic Beauty, Fast-Growing Varieties

Traditionally known for slow growth, many new boxwood cultivars now grow quickly enough for privacy needs. Their dense, small leaves provide a refined, formal appearance that suits most garden styles.

• Height: 5-8 feet (taller with select varieties)
• Growth rate: Up to 1 foot per year
• Best for: Formal, clipped hedges, small gardens, entryways

Regular trimming keeps boxwood tight and tailored.

9. Escallonia - Fast-Growing Flowering Privacy Hedge

Escallonia boasts glossy evergreen leaves and blooms with clusters of pink, red, or white flowers. It's fast-growing and salt-tolerant, ideal for coastal gardens seeking both privacy and beauty.

• Height: 6-10 feet
• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Best for: Flowering hedges, seaside gardens, pollinator-friendly borders

Plant in full sun for the best blooming and densest foliage.

How to Plant and Care for Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

To get the most from your quick privacy hedges, planting and care are key. Here's a step-by-step guide for lush, healthy growth:

1. Choose the right fast-growing hedge plants for your climate, soil, and sun exposure.
2. Prepare the site: Remove weeds, loosen soil, and mix in organic matter.
3. Space hedges properly based on their mature width--crowding can lead to disease and poor growth.
4. Water deeply, especially during the first year, to help roots establish quickly.
5. Apply mulch to retain moisture and keep weeds down.
6. Prune regularly to shape and encourage dense growth.
7. Fertilize lightly in early spring for a boost, following species-specific recommendations.

A healthy start will ensure your privacy hedge grows fast and thick, guaranteeing beautiful screening for years to come.

Creative Landscaping Ideas with Fast Privacy Hedges

Don't just think of hedges as straight, clipped green walls! Fast-growing privacy hedges can be beautiful landscape features. Try these inspiring ideas:

• Curved hedging rows that follow your property line or garden contours for a natural, flowing screen.
• Layered planting--combine tall hedges with flowers or ornamental grasses for color, texture, and wildlife habitat.
• Mixed hedges: Blend several fast growers like privet, dogwood, and viburnum for year-round interest.
• Entryway plantings--frame your gate or front yard with symmetrical fast-growing hedges for instant curb appeal.

The possibilities are endless, and with quick results, you'll see your landscape evolve in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast will my privacy hedge grow?

Growth rates depend on species, care, and conditions. Most fast privacy shrubs listed here can add 1 to 3 feet per year under optimal conditions.

How far apart should I plant hedges for privacy?

Spacing depends on mature plant width. Typically, privet, laurel, photinia, and boxwood are spaced 2-4 feet apart, while large evergreens like Leyland cypress are set 6-10 feet apart.

What's the best hedge for a small garden?

Try boxwood, privet, or escallonia for compact spaces; they can be kept trimmed and won't overtake your yard.

Can I grow a privacy hedge in containers?

Yes! Many fast-growing hedge plants, like boxwood and photinia, adapt well to large containers--perfect for patios or balconies.

When is the best time to plant privacy hedges?

The ideal time is early spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and rainfall is plentiful. This allows fast root establishment before extreme heat or frost.

Conclusion: Enjoy the Benefits of Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges in Your Garden

By choosing quick-growing privacy hedge shrubs such as Leyland cypress, giant arborvitae, privet, bamboo, and others, you'll enjoy beauty and seclusion without a long wait. Whether you want a formal evergreen screen or a colorful, informal border, there's a fast privacy hedge for every garden style and size.

Transform your outdoor space this season! Invest in speedy-growing privacy hedges for instant, sustainable, and stunning living walls that boost your home's value and your enjoyment every day.

Ready to get started? Visit your local nursery or garden center, and plant your way to a more private, peaceful, and beautiful garden today!