Create a Green Privacy Barrier with These 9 Fast-Growing Hedges

Posted on 14/08/2025

Create a Green Privacy Barrier with These 9 Fast-Growing Hedges

Looking to transform your yard into a private oasis? Privacy hedges are the perfect solution for homeowners wanting natural seclusion, noise reduction, and a picturesque landscape. But who wants to wait years for their green screen to fully establish? The answer: fast-growing privacy hedges that deliver rapid results--masking views, blocking unwanted noise, and beautifying garden boundaries.

Why Choose a Living Privacy Barrier?

A green privacy barrier offers numerous advantages over traditional fencing. Not only do hedges provide a natural look and add value to your property, but they also contribute to the environment, offering wildlife habitat and improving air quality. Evergreen hedging plants, flowering shrubs, and mixed borders can create year-round interest and instant curb appeal.

• Eco-friendly solution that absorbs pollution and supports biodiversity.
• Reduces noise and acts as a windbreak.
• Grows denser with time, becoming an impenetrable barrier.
• Flexible designs for both formal and informal gardens.
• Cost-effective compared to walls or fences.

Choosing the Right Fast-Growing Hedge for Privacy

When creating a living fence or natural privacy screen, consider these factors for the best results:

• Growth rate: Some species can grow up to 3 feet a year!
• Maintenance needs: Look for varieties that suit your preferred upkeep level.
• Climate and soil: Choose plants that thrive in your region.
• Space requirements: Some hedges stay compact while others sprawl vigorously.
• Evergreen or deciduous: Evergreens provide year-round coverage, while deciduous options may offer seasonal interest.

Ready to add vibrant, fast privacy to your landscape? Dive into these top nine fast-growing hedge plants renowned for their quick establishment and dense foliage.

The 9 Best Fast-Growing Hedges for Instant Privacy

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

• Growth rate: 3-4 feet per year
• Height: Up to 60 feet if left untrimmed
• Features: Evergreen foliage, tall and dense, drought tolerant

Leyland Cypress is frequently chosen for its rapid vertical growth and ability to quickly form a solid, evergreen privacy barrier. With regular trimming, Leyland Cypress can be easily maintained at your desired height and thickness, making it ideal for large yards or boundary screens. Just ensure it's spaced properly for good air circulation to avoid disease.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant')

• Growth rate: 3 feet per year
• Height: Up to 40 feet, or kept shorter with pruning
• Features: Rich green color, pest resistant, low maintenance

Fast becoming the go-to evergreen hedge, the Green Giant Arborvitae is prized for its conical shape, dense foliage, and reliable growth. It resists deer, stands up to most pests, and stays lush through the seasons. It thrives in both sun and partial shade, making it a versatile choice for natural privacy screens in diverse climates.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet, easily shaped
• Features: Deciduous or semi-evergreen, tolerates heavy pruning

A classic for formal living fences, privet hedges are beloved for their quick growth and ability to be pruned into tidy shapes. Flowers attract pollinators, while dense branches provide excellent coverage from spring through fall. Ideal for landscapes needing a fast, customizable green hedge.

4. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

• Growth rate: Up to 12 inches per year (slower than others, but faster cultivars available)
• Height: 3-8 feet, perfect for low-maintenance hedges
• Features: Small evergreen leaves, compact form, easily clipped

For smaller spaces or elegant green boundaries, boxwood is unmatched. While not the fastest, newer varieties like 'Green Mountain' and 'Winter Gem' provide quicker establishment with all the classic appeal. Boxwoods offer a refined, formal hedge that responds well to shaping and provides year-round privacy.

5. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-20 feet
• Features: Fragrant, glossy foliage; salt and drought tolerant

A favorite in coastal regions, wax myrtle forms a vigorous living privacy fence with aromatic, dense leaves that remain attractive year-round. Tolerant of a range of soils, including sandy or salty locations, this robust hedge is perfect for gardens facing tough growing conditions. Birds also love the blue berries it produces in late summer.

6. Red Tip Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet
• Features: Striking red new growth, glossy leaves, evergreen

Famed for its vibrant red leaf tips in spring, Red Tip Photinia offers both bold color and excellent coverage. Grow this colorful privacy hedge for a lively, decorative garden barrier that can be kept neat with occasional pruning. It thrives best in full sun and well-draining soil.

7. Bamboo (Clumping varieties such as Bambusa multiplex)

• Growth rate: 3-5 feet per year (some up to a foot a day during peak season!)
• Height: 10-40 feet depending on species
• Features: Exotic look, evergreen, excellent for screening

For the ultimate in ultra-fast privacy hedges, clumping bamboo reigns supreme. It forms dense, upright clumps that don't spread invasively, creating a tall, year-round green barrier in record time. Ideal for modern landscapes or Asian-inspired gardens, bamboo also sways beautifully in the breeze, providing both privacy and peace.

8. Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 8-12 feet
• Features: Glossy evergreen leaves, tolerant of shade, dense growth

Need a fast-growing hedge for shade? Skip Laurel is your best bet. This evergreen superstar thrives where many hedges struggle, forming an impenetrable green wall even beneath trees or beside buildings. With fragrant spring blooms and deep green leaves, it's a sophisticated, dependable privacy solution.

9. Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 8-10 feet
• Features: Early yellow flowers, arching branches, deciduous

Known for its glorious early-spring yellow blossoms, forsythia forms energetic, informal hedges that make your garden pop. While bare in winter, their dense summer foliage offers fantastic privacy. They adapt well to various soils and pruning needs--ideal for relaxed, seasonal privacy screens.

How to Plant and Maintain a Fast-Growing Hedge

Step-by-Step Guide for a Thriving Green Barrier

1. Choose the right site: Ensure your selected hedge species thrives in your local climate and available sunlight.
2. Spacing is key: Follow recommended spacing (usually 2-4 feet apart) to encourage healthy, dense growth.
3. Soil preparation: Enrich the soil with compost or organic matter before planting for strong root development.
4. Watering: Keep plants moist while establishing; many fast-growing varieties become drought-tolerant over time.
5. Mulching: Add organic mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
6. Pruning: Lightly trim hedges in the first year to encourage bushy growth. Afterwards, prune to maintain shape and size.
7. Fertilizing: Apply slow-release fertilizer each spring to support vigorous growth.

Common Questions About Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy

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

Many popular choices reach full hedge height within 3-5 years of planting, with the fastest often making a substantial visual barrier in just two growing seasons.

Which hedge offers year-round privacy?

Evergreen species like Leyland Cypress, Green Giant Arborvitae, Skip Laurel, and clumping bamboo provide unbroken coverage in any season.

Are these hedges safe for pets and children?

Most are safe, but always check for toxicity (for example, laurel leaves contain compounds harmful if ingested). Always plant out of reach of small children and pets, and educate your family about garden plants.

Can I mix hedge types?

Absolutely! A mixed privacy hedge (alternating different fast-growing species) adds visual interest, attracts more wildlife, and can stagger flowering times for year-round color.

Extra Tips for the Perfect Natural Privacy Screen

• Plan for mature size: Always check your hedge's maximum height and width to prevent overcrowding or extra pruning.
• Choose disease-resistant cultivars: This helps avoid common problems and reduces maintenance worries.
• Regularly monitor and water young hedges: Fast growers benefit from consistent care in the first 1-2 years.
• Keep the base wide: Trim slightly narrower at the top compared to the base; this helps sunlight reach lower foliage for a thicker hedge.

Conclusion: Transform Your Landscape with a Green Privacy Barrier

With a fast-growing hedge, you can reclaim your outdoor space, shield your yard from nosy neighbors, reduce road noise, and create a beautiful living wall full of natural charm. Whether you love the classic look of arborvitae, the bold colors of photinia, or the modern, lush allure of bamboo, there's a quick-growing privacy hedge to suit your needs and style.

Don't wait years for privacy--start your green barrier today with one or more of these nine top-performing hedges. Not only will you boost the value and beauty of your property, but you'll also enjoy a tranquil, secluded oasis for many years to come.

Are you ready to grow your own vibrant privacy barrier? Select your favorite hedge, follow the planting tips above, and watch as your garden transforms into a private green paradise--fast!