Fast-Track Privacy with 9 Quick-Growing Hedges

Posted on 16/06/2025

Fast-Track Privacy with 9 Quick-Growing Hedges

Are you looking for ways to transform your outdoor space into a secluded oasis quickly and effectively? Investing in fast-growing privacy hedges is one of the best and most natural solutions. Let's explore how to achieve privacy quickly and efficiently by selecting the best quick-growing hedge plants for screening your property.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Privacy hedges offer much more than just screening from neighbors or the street. They can add beauty, help define property boundaries, reduce noise, and shield your yard from wind and dust. But why prioritize quick-growing hedges for privacy?

• Instant impact: Fast-growing plants quickly create a living wall, giving you privacy in less time compared to slow-growing alternatives.
• Cost-effective: A hedge costs less over the long run than building fences or walls.
• Wildlife value: Many hedges provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
• Year-round greenery: Evergreen varieties ensure privacy in all seasons and are perfect for creating lush backdrops for gardens.

What to Consider When Planting Privacy Hedges

Before diving into the list of the fastest-growing hedges for privacy, it's essential to consider a few key factors:

• Growth rate: Choose species known for their quick annual growth, typically 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) or more per year.
• Mature height and width: Make sure the hedge will fit your available space while providing the required screening.
• Sunlight requirements: Some plants thrive in full sun, while others tolerate shade.
• Climate hardiness: Ensure the variety is suitable for your climate zone (USDA hardiness or equivalent).
• Maintenance: Consider how much pruning, watering, or fertilizing the hedge will require.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy

Here's our well-curated list of nine quick-growing hedge plants renowned for their ability to produce effective living barriers in record time:

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

One of the fastest-growing evergreen hedges for privacy, the Leyland Cypress is capable of growing up to 3 feet per year. With its dense foliage and upright growth habit, this conifer forms an impenetrable screen and can reach heights of 50 feet or more if left unchecked.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 40-60 feet
• Best For: Large properties, tall privacy screens
• Maintenance: Requires regular pruning to keep size in check

2. Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata)

A favorite for privacy hedging solutions, Green Giant Arborvitae offers rapid growth (up to 3 feet a year), thick foliage, and strong disease resistance. Its attractive, feathery leaves make it an appealing addition to any landscape.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 30-40 feet
• Best For: Privacy screens, windbreaks
• Maintenance: Prune annually for desired shape and height

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet is a classic choice, renowned for its super-fast hedge growth, adaptability, and tolerance for heavy pruning. Perfect for formal or informal hedges, privet grows rapidly even in challenging conditions.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 8-15 feet
• Best For: Medium-height hedges, shaping into topiary
• Maintenance: Responds well to regular trimming

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

If you need a dense, evergreen hedge for shade or sun, cherry laurel is a top performer. This robust shrub grows quickly, with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers in spring, providing both speed and style for privacy hedges.

• Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-20 feet
• Best For: Year-round privacy, noise reduction
• Maintenance: Needs annual trimming to maintain shape

5. Bamboo (Clumping or Running Types)

Looking for near-instant coverage? Bamboo is among the fastest living fences available. While running bamboo spreads aggressively, clumping bamboo forms neat, non-invasive screens. Always choose a species suited to your climate.

• Growth Rate: Up to 5 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-30 feet (varies by species)
• Best For: Modern gardens, Asian-inspired designs
• Maintenance: Control spread with barriers (for running types); cut back old canes as needed

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

Renowned for its vibrant red new foliage and robust growth rate, Photinia Red Robin is an eye-catching evergreen hedge. It's both attractive and practical for fast-growing privacy screening.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 10-12 feet
• Best For: Colorful privacy barriers, moderate climates
• Maintenance: Prune in spring and midsummer to encourage new red growth

7. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

Portuguese Laurel grows quickly and boasts glossy leaves, fragrant flowers, and ornamental berries. It's ideal for dense, elegant hedging that also tolerates pruning very well.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 12-18 feet
• Best For: Formal hedges, classic landscape designs
• Maintenance: Trim lightly twice a year for best results

8. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

A deciduous option, hornbeam forms a lush but sturdy hedge. Its dense branches provide privacy even in winter (especially if leaves are left uncollected). It's one of the quickest-growing deciduous hedges.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature Height: 15-30 feet
• Best For: Hedge mazes, naturalistic gardens
• Maintenance: Prune after flowering; tolerates hard pruning

9. Oleaster/Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus ebbingei)

For coastal areas or sites with tough conditions, Elaeagnus is a champion. Not only is it a quick-growing hedge plant, but it's highly resilient to salt, wind, and drought--plus, it offers sweetly-scented flowers and silver foliage.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Mature Height: 8-15 feet
• Best For: Seaside gardens, poor soils
• Maintenance: Minimal; prune to desired shape

Bonus: Common Boxwood for Elegant, Slower Hedges

Not as rapid as other options, but worth a mention, common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) forms a classic, formal hedge that's excellent for ornamental purposes, though it grows much slower (6 inches/year). Pairing boxwood with a fast-growing backdrop hedge can provide instant coverage with long-term sophistication.

Planting and Care Tips for Fast-Track Privacy Hedges

To accelerate privacy hedge establishment, proper planting and care are crucial:

• Site preparation: Remove weeds and add organic material to improve soil structure.
• Spacing: Plant at the correct intervals (usually 2-3 feet apart) for quicker coverage.
• Watering: Regular watering is essential for the first 1-2 years, especially during drought.
• Mulching: Maintain consistent soil moisture and suppress weeds with mulch.
• Feeding: Apply slow-release fertilizer each spring to encourage vigorous growth.
• Pruning: Light, regular trimming improves bushiness and hedge thickness.

Common Problems and Solutions

• Pests and Diseases: Monitor for aphids, scale, and fungal diseases. Use organic treatments or consult a local expert.
• Gaps in Hedge: Prune side branches to encourage coverage at the base of the hedge.
• Uneven Growth: Make sure light, water, and nutrients are evenly distributed along the row.

Quick-Growing Hedges: Privacy and Beauty, Fast

Choosing quick-growing hedge plants for privacy is a smart, sustainable way to transform your outdoor environment. Whether you're aiming for the stately wall-like screen of Leyland Cypress, the vibrant hues of Photinia, or the sleek modern appeal of bamboo, there's a rapidly growing hedge to fit your unique space and style.

• Act now: Invest in fast-growing privacy hedges to enjoy a beautiful, secluded yard for years to come.
• Consider the options: Review your climate, space, and landscape design needs to make the right selection.
• Follow best practices: With the proper care, your hedge will thrive and provide effective screening at lightning speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do quick-growing privacy hedges take to establish?

Most fast-track privacy hedges reach functional screening height within 2-3 years when planted as 2-3 foot tall young plants.

Which quick-growing hedge plant provides year-round coverage?

Evergreen varieties like Leyland Cypress, Thuja Green Giant, Cherry Laurel, and Photinia are the best choices for 12-month privacy and windbreaks.

Do fast-growing hedges need a lot of maintenance?

Rapid growth means hedges must be pruned regularly to keep their shape and density. Annual or twice-yearly trims are typical for most fast-track screening plants.

Are there fast-growing hedges for small gardens?

Yes! Smaller hedges can be made with dwarf varieties or by keeping larger species pruned to size, such as Portuguese Laurel or Photinia 'Red Robin'.

Conclusion: Achieve Privacy in Record Time

Fast-growing hedges for privacy are the ideal, eco-friendly solution to transform your yard into a peaceful retreat. With the right choice, care, and a touch of patience, you'll enjoy lush living walls that not only screen your property but enhance its beauty, biodiversity, and value. Ready to fast-track your privacy? Plant one (or more) of these quick-growing privacy hedges and make your neighbors green with envy!