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9 quick-growing hedges to boost your privacy outdoors
Posted on 23/06/2025
9 Quick-Growing Hedges to Boost Your Privacy Outdoors
In today's fast-paced world, creating a secluded and tranquil outdoor space is more important than ever. Whether you want to block out nosy neighbors, shield your yard from the street, or simply enjoy a lush, green retreat, fast-growing hedges for privacy are the perfect solution. In this comprehensive guide, we'll introduce nine of the best quick-growing hedge species, ideal for transforming your garden into a private sanctuary in no time.
Why Choose Quick-Growing Hedges for Outdoor Privacy?
Quick-growing hedges not only provide privacy, but they also act as excellent windbreaks, reduce noise pollution, and contribute to the biodiversity of your local ecosystem. Investing in fast-growing privacy hedges means you won't have to wait years to reap these benefits--many reach impressive heights within just a few seasons. These living walls are also more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly than traditional fences.
Key Considerations When Selecting Hedges for Privacy
- Growth Rate: Choose species known for adding 1-3 feet or more per year.
- Mature Height & Width: Consider how tall and wide you want your hedge to grow for the desired privacy level.
- Evergreen vs. Deciduous: Evergreen hedges for privacy maintain their leaves year-round, offering constant cover.
- Climate Suitability: Make sure the plant thrives in your hardiness zone.
- Maintenance Level: Decide if you want a low-maintenance hedge or are willing to undertake regular trimming.
Now, let's discover the top 9 quick-growing hedges to enhance your outdoor privacy.
1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)
One of the most popular fast-growing evergreen hedges, Leyland Cypress is renowned for its rapid growth--up to 3 feet per year under optimal conditions! Its dense, feathery green foliage creates a robust, year-round privacy screen.
- Growth Rate: 2-3 feet/year
- Mature Height: 30-50 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 6-10
- Best For: Large properties, tall privacy screens, windbreaks
Care Tips: Plant in full sun to partial shade and keep soil well-drained. Prune annually to maintain shape and control size.
2. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
Privet is an adaptable and fast-growing hedge ideal for formal or informal screens. It produces glossy green leaves and tolerates heavy pruning. Some species, like Ligustrum ovalifolium, can grow up to 3 feet per year!
- Growth Rate: 1-3 feet/year
- Mature Height: 8-15 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 5-8
- Best For: Shaped hedges, midheight screens, urban gardens
Care Tips: Thrives in most soils. Trim twice per year for a neat, dense privacy barrier.
3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')
If you want a towering wall of greenery without the fuss, Green Giant Arborvitae is a favorite among landscapers. This quick-growing hedge creates a lush, uniform backdrop for your yard.
- Growth Rate: 3 feet/year
- Mature Height: 30-40 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Best For: Large-scale privacy screens, wind protection
Care Tips: Plant in rows 5-6 feet apart for a dense hedge. Water regularly in the first few years.
4. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
Loved for its vibrant red new growth, Red-Tipped Photinia makes an eye-catching, fast-growing privacy hedge. It offers dense coverage, plus a splash of color for your outdoor landscape.
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet/year
- Mature Height: 10-15 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 7-9
- Best For: Decorative privacy hedges, sunny exposures
Care Tips: Prune after flushing new growth to maintain color and density. Requires full sun for best color display.
5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry Laurel is a classic choice for dense, glossy privacy screens. Its evergreen foliage and rapid growth make it a favorite for gardens seeking year-round seclusion.
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet/year
- Mature Height: 10-20 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 6-9
- Best For: Shady spots, evergreen privacy
Care Tips: Tolerant of shade and drought. Prune in spring to keep compact and promote dense foliage.
6. Bamboo (Bambusoideae family)
When it comes to privacy hedges that grow fast, bamboo is hard to beat. Certain clumping bamboos can add several feet a year, forming an impenetrable, airy screen ideal for modern gardens.
- Growth Rate: 2-5 feet/year (depending on species)
- Mature Height: 10-30 feet
- Hardiness Zones: Varies by species--many from 6-10
- Best For: Contemporary privacy, sound barriers
Care Tips: Choose clumping varieties to control spread. Bamboo prefers moist, well-drained soil and benefits from mulching.
7. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
For a tidy, elegant look, Boxwood remains an enduring choice for fast-growing hedges. While not as speedy as some, it establishes quickly and clips beautifully into both formal and informal screens.
- Growth Rate: Around 1 foot/year
- Mature Height: 3-6 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Best For: Low to medium hedges, formal gardens
Care Tips: Tolerates shade and pruning well. Requires regular trimming to maintain shape.
8. Escallonia (Escallonia spp.)
With glossy leaves and clusters of pink, red, or white flowers, Escallonia makes an attractive and fast-growing privacy hedge, especially suited for coastal areas and mild climates.
- Growth Rate: 1-2 feet/year
- Mature Height: 5-10 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 8-10
- Best For: Flowering privacy hedges, salt tolerance
Care Tips: Prefers full sun and regular watering. Prune after flowering to keep neat and bushy.
9. Fargesia (Clumping Bamboo)
Clumping bamboos like Fargesia provide rapid growth without invasiveness. They're perfect for privacy screens in narrow spaces, and they thrive in shadier spots compared to other bamboo types.
- Growth Rate: 1-3 feet/year
- Mature Height: 8-16 feet
- Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Best For: Small gardens, partial shade, fast but controlled screening
Care Tips: Water regularly and protect from midday sun in hot climates. Mulch to keep roots cool.
How to Plant and Maintain Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges
To get the most out of your quick-growing hedges for privacy, follow these general planting and maintenance tips:
- Space plants correctly: Allow enough room for mature width, ensuring good air circulation and even growth.
- Enrich your soil: Mix compost or organic matter into the planting trench for best root establishment.
- Water deeply in the first year: Adequate moisture is essential as roots become established.
- Fertilize in spring: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for lush leafy growth.
- Prune regularly: This encourages bushier plants and maintains the privacy screen's shape and density.
Frequently Asked Questions About Quick-Growing Hedges
Which privacy hedge grows the fastest?
The Leyland Cypress and Green Giant Arborvitae are among the quickest, capable of 3 feet or more of growth per year.
Can I plant fast-growing hedges near my house?
Yes, but be sure to check mature height and root spread to avoid foundation damage or blocked light. Choose species like Boxwood or Privet for smaller areas.
What is the easiest quick-growing hedge to maintain?
Cherry Laurel and some bamboo species require little pruning and tolerate a wide range of conditions, making them perfect low-maintenance privacy hedges.
Will fast-growing hedges block noise and wind, too?
Absolutely. Dense, tall hedges such as Leyland Cypress, Bamboo, and Arborvitae provide excellent windbreaks and dampen street noise, enhancing outdoor comfort and privacy.
Conclusion: Transform Your Landscape With Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges
Planting quick-growing hedges is a fantastic way to instantly elevate the privacy, beauty, and value of your outdoor space. By choosing from the list above--whether you prefer the towering drama of evergreens or the seasonal interest of flowering shrubs--you'll enjoy your own secluded retreat in less time than you thought possible.
For best results, select varieties suited to your local climate, soil, and desired maintenance level. With regular care, the right fast-growing privacy hedges will provide you with lush, green seclusion for years to come. Happy planting!
