Enhance Your Outdoor Space with These 9 Fast-growing Privacy Hedges

Posted on 19/05/2025

Enhance Your Outdoor Space with These 9 Fast-growing Privacy Hedges

Creating a private, lush, and inviting outdoor space is a desire for many homeowners and gardening enthusiasts. One of the most effective and aesthetically pleasing ways to accomplish this is by planting fast-growing privacy hedges. These living barriers not only provide solitude but also add greenery, improve air quality, and can even enhance your property's value. If you're considering upgrading your landscape, this comprehensive guide will introduce you to nine of the fastest-growing privacy hedges that can transform your yard into a serene retreat.

Why Choose Fast-growing Privacy Hedges?

Privacy hedges serve as natural walls, shielding your outdoor area from prying eyes, noise, and wind. Opting for fast-growing hedges for privacy guarantees a quicker payoff, helping you enjoy the benefits of seclusion and greenery without waiting for years. In addition, many of these species are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and can be tailored to various landscaping styles, whether you prefer formal topiary or a more relaxed, woodland look.

• Speed: Fast-growers often provide privacy within 1-3 years.
• Aesthetics: Many have attractive foliage, flowers, or berries.
• Wildlife: Hedges can attract birds, beneficial insects, and pollinators.
• Environmental Benefits: Improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.

Top 9 Fastest-growing Privacy Hedges to Transform Your Garden

Below, discover our curated list of the best fast-growing hedges for privacy. Each option includes growth rates, ideal conditions, and unique features to help you choose the perfect living privacy screen for your garden or backyard.

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Leyland Cypress is a champion among fast-growing privacy hedges. This evergreen conifer is renowned for its vigorous growth, often shooting up 3 to 5 feet per year under optimal conditions. Its dense, green foliage creates an effective, year-round screen--perfect for large properties seeking quick coverage.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Height: Up to 60 feet if untrimmed; usually kept at 20-30 feet
• Best For: Large landscapes needing rapid privacy
• Maintenance: Requires regular pruning to maintain size and prevent disease

Tip: Plant Leyland Cypress about 6-10 feet apart for a fast, thick hedge.

2. Thuja 'Green Giant' Arborvitae

The 'Green Giant' Arborvitae is a hybrid conifer loved by landscapers for its elegant appearance and impressive fast growth--about 3-5 feet annually. Extremely hardy and resistant to most pests and diseases, this evergreen creates a dense hedge that will protect your outdoor space from noise and prying eyes.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Height: 30-40 feet tall, 10-12 feet wide
• Best For: Tall green screens or windbreaks
• Maintenance: Low; occasional pruning for shape

Fun Fact: The 'Green Giant' is deer-resistant, making it a smart choice for rural areas!

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet has long been a favorite for privacy hedges thanks to its lush, dense growth and classic look. Depending on the variety (Japanese, Chinese, European), privet can be either evergreen or semi-evergreen and will quickly establish a beautiful living wall within 2-3 years.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 8-15 feet tall (easy to trim lower)
• Best For: Formal hedges, urban gardens
• Maintenance: Regular trimming encourages thick, bushy growth

Tip: Privet can tolerate heavy pruning, making it ideal for sculpted or geometric hedges.

4. Japanese Laurel (Aucuba japonica)

For shady spots in your garden, consider the Japanese Laurel. This glossy-leafed evergreen can grow up to 2 feet per year and is tolerant of pollution and urban environments. Its attractive variegated leaves and bright red berries add visual interest while providing privacy.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Height: 6-10 feet tall
• Best For: Partial to deep shade, small gardens
• Maintenance: Low; occasional pruning keeps it tidy

Additional Benefit: Great choice for low-maintenance urban hedges.

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry Laurel is a robust, broadleaf evergreen that makes for both a stunning and fast-growing privacy hedge. With large, shiny leaves and sweet-scented white flowers in spring, it grows rapidly--about 2-3 feet per year--forming a dense, impenetrable screen.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: Typically 10-20 feet tall
• Best For: Large or medium gardens with sun to partial shade
• Maintenance: Prune after flowering for neatness and health

Warning: All parts of Cherry Laurel are toxic if ingested--best avoided in gardens with curious pets or small children.

6. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

If you want an ultra-fast-growing privacy barrier with a modern or tropical look, bamboo is your top choice. Certain clumping varieties, like Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea), can shoot up several feet each growing season, providing instant coverage and unique style.

• Growth Rate: Up to 4 feet per year in ideal conditions
• Height: 10-25 feet (varies by species)
• Best For: Contemporary landscapes, zen gardens
• Maintenance: Use clumping varieties or install root barriers to control spreading

Tip: Bamboo privacy screens sway gracefully in the wind and create soothing rustling sounds.

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

The Photinia 'Red Robin' is known for its vibrant, bright red new foliage and rapid growth. This evergreen hedge can add dramatic color and privacy to your landscape, growing up to 2 feet per year.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 8-15 feet tall
• Best For: Colorful, decorative privacy screens
• Maintenance: Regular trimming encourages lush red growth

Fun Fact: The striking red shoots mature to glossy green, offering visual interest throughout the seasons.

8. Viburnum (Viburnum tinus)

Looking for a flowering, fast-growing privacy hedge? Viburnum tinus stands out for its attractive evergreen foliage, clusters of white to pink flowers in winter and spring, and blue-black berries loved by birds. It performs reliably in both sun and partial shade.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 6-12 feet tall
• Best For: Versatile, all-season hedges
• Maintenance: Occasional pruning after flowering

Tip: Plant a group for a thick privacy barrier with bonus wildlife habitat.

9. American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

Famed for their elegant, pyramidal shape, American Arborvitae offer a tidy, reliable privacy hedge for various climates. Fast-growing cultivars, like 'Smaragd' and 'Emerald Green', provide dense, green screening at a rate of up to 2 feet per year.

• Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Height: 10-20 feet tall
• Best For: Small gardens, narrow spaces
• Maintenance: Minimal if left to natural shape; shear for a crisp look

Fun Fact: These arborvitae are incredibly cold-hardy, making them suitable for northern landscapes.

How to Successfully Grow and Maintain Fast-growing Privacy Hedges

Achieving a robust living fence requires more than just picking the right fast-growing privacy plants. Here are essential steps for successful establishment and growth:

Site Preparation

• Soil Testing: Ensure your soil pH is compatible with your chosen hedge species.
• Amendments: Mix in organic matter or compost to enhance root development.
• Weed Control: Remove existing grass and weeds to give your hedges a strong start.

Proper Planting Techniques

• Spacing: Plant according to mature width for best privacy and air circulation.
• Hole Size: Dig a wide, shallow hole to spread roots easily.
• Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around plants for moisture retention and temperature regulation.

Watering and Feeding

• New Hedges: Provide regular water during the first two years, especially in dry spells.
• Established Hedges: Most hedges withstand brief drought once mature, but benefit from deep, infrequent watering.
• Fertilization: Use a slow-release balanced fertilizer in early spring for optimal growth.

Pruning for Health and Appearance

• Initial Trimming: Trim lightly after planting to encourage bushiness.
• Annual Pruning: Most fast-growing hedges for privacy need pruning at least once a year, best in late winter or spring.
• Hygiene: Clean pruning tools to prevent disease spread between plants.

Disease and Pest Management

• Monitor: Look out for signs of browning, wilting, or pest infestations.
• Prevention: Choose hardy, disease-resistant species for trouble-free hedging.
• Treatment: Apply eco-friendly pesticides or fungicides only as needed; prune away affected branches promptly.

Design Ideas: Stylish Ways to Use Fast-growing Privacy Hedges

With so many fast-growing privacy hedges to choose from, the design options are limited only by your creativity. Here are a few ways to incorporate them into your landscape:

• Mixed Border: Combine different hedge species for a diversified, layered effect that supports more biodiversity.
• Living Fence: Replace traditional fences entirely with a thick hedge for a more natural, eco-friendly boundary.
• Garden "Rooms": Use hedges as green dividers to create outdoor rooms for dining, play, or relaxation.
• Accent Planting: Train colorful or flowering varieties as focal points amid evergreens.
• Noise Buffer: Plant fast-growing hedges near busy roads to reduce unwanted sound.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-growing Hedges for Privacy

Which privacy hedge grows the fastest?

The Leyland Cypress and Green Giant Arborvitae are among the fastest, capable of adding 3-5 feet of height annually under ideal conditions.

What is the cheapest fast-growing privacy hedge?

Privet is typically inexpensive, easy to source, and provides fast results, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious homeowners.

Are there low-maintenance options among fast-growing privacy hedges?

Yes! Arborvitae, Japanese Laurel, and some Viburnum varieties require minimal care once established.

Do all fast-growing hedges stay green year-round?

Most listed here are evergreen and provide year-round privacy, but some, like certain types of privet, may lose leaves in colder zones.

How close should I plant my hedges for a solid screen?

Space plants according to their mature width--typically 2-6 feet apart--to ensure a dense and healthy growth without crowding.

Conclusion: Transform Your Outdoor Space with Fast-growing Privacy Hedges

Whether you desire a tranquil backyard, a windbreak for your property, or a green alternative to traditional fencing, fast-growing privacy hedges are the solution. By choosing the right species for your climate and space, and following basic care guidelines, you can quickly enjoy a lush, living boundary that offers beauty, habitat, and lasting privacy.

Embrace nature's own fence, and enhance your outdoor space with these 9 fast-growing privacy hedge varieties--your garden oasis awaits!