Find Peace with These 9 Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

Posted on 18/08/2025

Find Peace with These 9 Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

Creating a secluded, tranquil retreat in your own backyard is easier than you think. Fast-growing privacy hedges offer a natural, attractive solution that transforms any outdoor space into a peaceful sanctuary. Discover which hedges grow rapidly, provide year-round screening, and enhance your home's curb appeal, all while supporting the environment.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges?

If you're seeking a natural privacy screen that boosts beauty and serenity in your garden, quick-growing privacy hedges come with numerous benefits:

• Instant Privacy: Unlike fences, hedges often grow higher and fuller for a lush, green backdrop.
• Low Maintenance: Many varieties require only occasional pruning once established.
• Eco-Friendly: Living walls support local wildlife, add oxygen, and help reduce noise pollution.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Evergreen or flowering, hedges contribute structure, texture, and visual interest.
• Versatile Solutions: Suitable for boundaries, screens, windbreaks, and defining garden spaces.

Ready to discover the perfect quick-growing privacy hedge for your yard? Read on to explore the top picks that deliver fast results and timeless tranquility.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges for Instant Seclusion

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

Leyland Cypress is famed for its rapid growth--reaching up to 3 to 5 feet per year--making it a top choice for homeowners eager for immediate privacy. This evergreen beauty forms a dense wall of soft, feathery foliage, and once mature, can easily reach 30 to 50 feet in height.

• Best for: Tall privacy screens, windbreaks
• Growth Rate: Very fast
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Bonus: Stands up to pruning for a neat, formal hedge

Note: Leyland Cypress prefers well-drained soil and benefits from regular watering during its early years.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

Green Giant Arborvitae is highly prized for its vigor and reliable growth of 3 feet per year. Perfect for dense, year-round screening, this low-maintenance conifer resists deer and disease, forming a lush emerald-green hedge.

• Best for: Evergreen privacy hedges, windbreaks
• Growth Rate: Rapid
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Bonus: Rarely bothered by pests or deer

Plant 5-6 feet apart for a seamless privacy wall!

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges are classic for a reason; they respond well to cutting and fill in fast, often gaining 2 to 3 feet per year. Their crisp green leaves form dense boundaries, and certain types display showy white blossoms in summer.

• Best for: Formal, decorative or informal boundary screens
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Sun Requirements: Sun to partial shade
• Bonus: Highly adaptable and can be shaped to any height or width

Keep in mind some privets can be invasive in certain regions. Always check local recommendations.

4. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)

If you desire a fast privacy screen with a unique look, try clumping bamboo (such as Bambusa multiplex). Unlike running bamboo, clumping types remain manageable and grow rapidly--sometimes up to 3+ feet per year.

• Best for: Modern gardens, tropical landscapes, narrow spaces
• Growth Rate: Exceptional
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Bonus: Creates a striking, exotic feel

Choose non-invasive, clumping varieties for best results and easier management.

5. Nellie R. Stevens Holly (Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens')

This hybrid holly combines beautiful, glossy foliage with vibrant red winter berries and a quick growth rate of 2 to 3 feet per year. Dense and evergreen, 'Nellie R. Stevens' holly hedges are excellent for privacy and add year-round color and texture.

• Best for: Evergreen hedges, wildlife-friendly boundaries
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
• Bonus: Birds love the berries in winter

Holly can be pruned to an informal screen or a neat, classical hedge.

6. Skip Laurel (Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')

The Skip Laurel, also called Schip Laurel, creates a dense, glossy-leafed living wall quickly--at a rate of up to 2 feet a year. This evergreen hedge is tolerant of sun or shade and has attractive white flower spikes in spring.

• Best for: Urban gardens, shaded sites
• Growth Rate: Rapid
• Sun Requirements: Sun, partial, or even full shade
• Bonus: Extremely hardy and deer-resistant

Great for wide or narrow privacy screens in city or suburban backyards.

7. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Wax Myrtle grows up to 5 feet per year in optimal conditions and tolerates a range of soils--including poor or sandy locations. Its fragrant, evergreen foliage forms a dense mass for quick privacy solutions in warmer climates.

• Best for: Wildlife gardens, erosion control, coastal areas
• Growth Rate: Very fast
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Bonus: Supports birds, bees, and butterflies

Native to the Southern United States and extremely drought-tolerant.

8. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri 'Red Tip')

Famed for its vibrant red new growth, Photinia creates a colorful privacy screen growing up to 2 feet annually. Dense, broadleaf foliage provides year-round screening, especially striking in the spring flush.

• Best for: Decorative privacy screens, mixed hedges
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Sun Requirements: Full sun for brightest color
• Bonus: Contrasts beautifully with evergreens or grasses

Photinia does best in mild climates and should be pruned regularly to maintain fullness.

9. Viburnum (Viburnum tinus and other varieties)

Viburnum hedges are incredibly versatile, featuring a variety of species suitable for different climates and conditions. Many viburnums grow up to 2-3 feet each year, provide luscious blooms, and display lovely berries for wildlife.

• Best for: Flowering hedges, partial shade gardens
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Bonus: Fragrant spring flowers, year-round interest

Good for both formal hedges and naturalistic screens.

How to Successfully Plant and Grow Privacy Hedges Fast

Choosing the right quick-growing privacy hedge is only half the journey. For lush, healthy growth, follow these expert planting and care tips:

• Pick the Perfect Spot: Match your chosen hedge to your site's sunlight, soil, and drainage.
• Prepare the Soil: Enrich with compost or organic matter and ensure good drainage. Avoid waterlogged areas.
• Proper Spacing: Space the shrubs or trees according to the mature width--usually 3-6 feet apart. This ensures overlapping foliage for a complete privacy screen.
• Water Well: New hedges need consistent moisture, especially during their establishment period (first 1-2 years).
• Mulch Generously: A layer of mulch suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and slowly feeds your hedge as it breaks down.
• Regular Feeding: Feed fast-growing hedges in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer to promote robust new growth.
• Prune Promptly: Light, regular trimming helps hedges fill out quickly and evenly. For formal hedging, trim twice yearly; for informal, once should suffice.

With careful planting and a little ongoing care, you'll enjoy a wall of green that's both beautiful and functional within just a few seasons.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How can I make my privacy hedge grow faster?

Start with healthy, vigorous plants from a reputable nursery. Improve soil before planting, water consistently, and apply slow-release fertilizer each spring. Immediate light pruning after planting also encourages bushier growth.

How much maintenance do quick-growing hedges require?

Most fast-growing hedges need minimal care once established. Keep young hedges weed-free, mulch annually, fertilize in spring, and prune as needed for shape and fullness.

Do I need to worry about invasiveness?

Some species, such as privet or running bamboo, can become invasive in certain regions. Always check with your local extension service or a nursery expert before planting. Choose clumping bamboo and modern hybrid privets to minimize risk.

Are privacy hedges a good alternative to fences?

Absolutely! Quick-growing privacy hedges offer natural beauty, environmental benefits, and long-term durability. Many homeowners mix hedges with other barriers for the best of both worlds.

Privacy Hedge Selection Guide: What to Consider

When deciding on the best quick-growing hedge for privacy, weigh the following:

• Climate: Choose plants suited to your region's hardiness zone and rainfall patterns.
• Sun Condition: Some hedges demand full sun, while others thrive in partial or full shade.
• Desired Height: Consider how high and wide you want your mature privacy hedge.
• Deciduous or Evergreen: Evergreen hedges provide year-round coverage, while deciduous options may be preferred for seasonal interest.
• Maintenance Levels: Trim formal hedges more often; informal screens require little attention.
• Wildlife Value: Hedges like holly, wax myrtle, and viburnum nourish and shelter birds, bees, and butterflies.

Final Thoughts: Embrace Tranquility with Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

Transform your garden, patio, or yard into a private sanctuary with the natural beauty of fast-growing privacy hedges. Whether you desire a classic green wall, seasonal color through flowers and berries, or an inventive bamboo grove, there's a solution for every style and landscape. With the right choice and a little care, your living fence will not only block unwanted views but provide shade, wildlife habitat, and enduring peace for years to come.

Ready to bring harmony and privacy to your outdoor space? Start planting one of these quick-growing privacy hedges today and watch your oasis flourish!