Transform Your Space: 9 Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

Posted on 28/05/2025

Transform Your Space: 9 Quick-Growing Privacy Hedges

Are you looking to transform your outdoor space into a private sanctuary? Perhaps noisy neighbors or busy streets are spoiling your tranquil moments. The solution is simple and eco-friendly: quick-growing privacy hedges. These natural green screens provide privacy, boost curb appeal, and even reduce noise and pollution. If you're eager to find the perfect hedge for your yard, discover the nine best fast-growing privacy hedges below. With this guide, you can reclaim your peaceful retreat in no time!

Why Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges?

Quick-growing hedges for privacy are a fantastic choice compared to fencing or walls. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also offer several important benefits:

• Speedy Privacy: Enjoy seclusion faster than with most standard greenery.
• Noise Reduction: Dense foliage helps block out unwanted sounds.
• Wildlife Habitat: Hedges provide shelter and food for birds and beneficial insects.
• Improved Air Quality: Plants absorb pollutants, filtering your air naturally.
• Value Boost: Attractive, established hedges can enhance your property's worth.
• Year-Round Interest: Evergreen fast-growing privacy screens offer beauty in every season.

Ready to learn which species will transform your garden or yard into a private oasis? Let's explore the top nine options!

The Top 9 Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Leyland Cypress is a classic fast-growing evergreen privacy hedge, famous for its rapid establishment and year-round coverage. With a growth rate of 3-5 feet per year, it quickly forms a dense screen, making it one of the most popular choices for privacy hedges.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet annually
• Best For: Large borders, windbreaks, tall privacy hedges
• Care: Easy; tolerates a range of soils and moderate drought

Tip: Prune annually to maintain shape and prevent overgrowth.

2. Privet (Ligustrum species)

Privet hedges have been celebrated for centuries for their lush, green appearance and versatile growth. As a fastest growing privacy plant, privet can shoot up 2-3 feet per year and is easily shaped with shears for formal borders or natural privacy screens.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Best For: Formal hedges, classic garden borders
• Care: Tolerates partial shade; prefers well-drained soil

Privet is semi-evergreen in colder regions; in milder climates, it's nearly always leafy.

3. Arborvitae (Thuja species)

Thuja Green Giant and Emerald Green are two top picks for a fast-growing privacy hedge. They are known for their lush evergreen foliage, resistance to pests, and ability to thrive almost anywhere. Thuja can grow 3-4 feet each year under ideal conditions.

• Growth Rate: 3-4 feet annually
• Best For: Year-round screens, windbreaks, garden boundaries
• Care: Low maintenance; prefers full sun to light shade

Note: Space them well to prevent overcrowding and ensure healthy growth.

4. Bamboo (Non-invasive varieties)

Bamboo offers a uniquely elegant option for a fastest privacy screen. With some clumping (non-invasive) species growing 2-3 feet per year, bamboo creates a tropical vibe and provides dense coverage in record time. Avoid running bamboo, which can become invasive; instead, opt for species like Bambusa multiplex or Fargesia.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year (some even faster!)
• Best For: Modern outdoor spaces, zen gardens, noise barriers
• Care: Provide ample water; contain roots with underground barriers

Bamboo hedges not only add privacy but also sway beautifully in the breeze.

5. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Wax Myrtle is a quick-growing privacy shrub ideal for warmer climates. It's a semi-evergreen that can reach 10-15 feet quickly, featuring aromatic leaves and berries that attract wildlife.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Best For: Southern gardens, coastal landscapes
• Care: Tolerates poor soil, drought, and salt spray

Tip: Shear after flowering to maintain shape and density.

6. Pittosporum (Mock Orange)

Pittosporum is a popular fast-growing hedge plant for privacy with glossy, gray-green foliage and a subtle, sweet scent. Its compact growing habit makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens where screening plants are needed fast.

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Best For: Urban gardens, decorative privacy borders
• Care: Adaptable; thrives in sun or shade

Dense growth also makes Pittosporum superb at reducing noise and creating a peaceful retreat.

7. Photinia ('Red Tip' Photinia)

Famed for its brilliant, red-tipped new growth, Photinia makes a bold statement while delivering fast privacy coverage. It's evergreen in mild climates and easily shaped into a tall, attractive hedge.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Best For: Flowering privacy hedge, splash of color in borders
• Care: Prune regularly for dense growth; prefers sun to partial shade

Photinia thrives in a range of soils and makes for a show-stopping privacy screen.

8. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Cherry Laurel is a vigorous and versatile evergreen hedge plant that quickly fills in to provide a glossy green privacy screen. If you're searching for a low-maintenance privacy hedge with year-round appeal, this is it.

• Growth Rate: 2 feet per year
• Best For: Evergreen walls, shade tolerance, formal or informal looks
• Care: Rarely bothered by pests; tolerates poor soils

Fun Fact: Birds love the black berries, adding additional life to your hedge.

9. Firethorn (Pyracantha)

If you want both security and privacy, Firethorn might be your answer. This thorny, quick-growing shrub for privacy puts out showy clusters of white flowers and orange-red berries, making it an excellent wildlife-attracting security hedge.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Best For: Decorative security, wildlife gardens, property borders
• Care: Easy to prune and shape; sun or part shade

Warning: Thorny branches deter intruders, so plant where pets and kids won't brush against them.

How to Choose the Best Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge for Your Yard

Not sure which fast-growing hedge plant is right for you? Take these factors into account for a successful, lush privacy screen:

• Climate: Choose species suited to your USDA Hardiness Zone.
• Sunlight: Some hedges need full sun, while others tolerate shade.
• Soil: Ensure the plants will thrive in your garden's soil type.
• Size: Think about mature height and width to avoid future crowding.
• Maintenance: Decide how much pruning and care you're willing to do.
• Appearance: Do you prefer glossy leaves, flowers, berries, or all-season color?

Consider mixing hedge species for texture and seasonal interest, or plant in staggered rows for maximum privacy and noise reduction.

Tips for Planting and Caring for Privacy Hedges

Get the most out of your quick-growing privacy hedge with these best practices:

• Soil Preparation: Loosen soil and add compost to promote root growth.
• Spacing: Always check plant tags for recommended spacing; crowding leads to disease and poor airflow.
• Watering: Water new hedges deeply and regularly during the first growing season.
• Mulch: A 2-3 inch layer helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Pruning: Trim once or twice a year for shape and density.
• Feeding: Use balanced, slow-release fertilizer for vigorous growth.

Patience and regular care are key -- but with these speedy species, you'll enjoy your green privacy in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

• How long will it take to establish a mature privacy hedge?
  With proper care, many fast-growing varieties will offer significant privacy within 2-3 years.
• Can I use these hedges in urban spaces?
  Absolutely! Many fast-growing species are ideal for small yards and even container planting.
• Which hedges are the most evergreen?
  Leyland Cypress, Arborvitae, and Cherry Laurel are evergreen and provide all-season privacy.
• Are there flowering fast-growing privacy hedges?
  Yes! Photinia and Firethorn both offer seasonal flowers, adding visual appeal to your borders.

Conclusion: Create Instant Seclusion with Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

There's no need to wait for years to enjoy seclusion and beauty in your garden. By choosing one -- or more -- of these quick-growing privacy hedges, you'll create a lush natural barrier, attract wildlife, and add stunning curb appeal to your property. Whether you want a classic evergreen wall, a showy flowering shrub, or a unique bamboo screen, the perfect hedge is out there for you. Start planting your living privacy fence today and experience the transformative power of greenery!

Want more tips? Explore our other guides on landscaping for privacy, garden design, and sustainable gardening -- and share your hedge success stories with us!