9 hedges that will grow your privacy in record time

Posted on 07/09/2025

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9 Hedges That Will Grow Your Privacy in Record Time

If you crave a secluded sanctuary, fast-growing privacy hedges are your best bet. Whether you want to block unsightly views, muffle traffic noise, or simply define your property's borders, certain shrubs and trees can provide lush green walls quicker than you might imagine. In this comprehensive guide, we'll reveal the top 9 privacy hedges that grow in record time, complete with expert advice on selection, care, and landscape integration. Read on to transform your landscape into your own private oasis!

Why Choose Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges?

Unlike fences, living privacy screens offer natural beauty, attract wildlife, and improve air quality. Opting for rapidly growing plants means you won't wait years for your garden to feel cozy and protected. Plus, these hedges can enhance your home's value, delineate spaces, and serve as windbreaks. Whether you're a city dweller looking to block neighbors or a rural homeowner seeking shelter from winds, fast-growing hedges offer dynamic solutions.

Key Benefits of Quick Privacy Plants

• Fast results: Some varieties grow up to 3 feet per year.
• Year-round protection: Many options are evergreen, ensuring privacy even in winter.
• Eco-friendly: Absorb sound and dust, provide habitats for birds and beneficial insects.
• Attractive screens: Add texture, color, and interest to your landscape.

9 Best Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

Here's our curated list of the top nine fast-growing hedges to secure your garden privacy as quickly as possible:

1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus x leylandii)

The Leyland Cypress is legendary for its speed and density. This evergreen conifer can shoot up 3-4 feet per year, forming a thick wall of soft, feathery foliage.

• Growth rate: Up to 4 feet per year
• Height at maturity: 40-60 feet (trim yearly for a manageable hedge)
• Care tips: Thrives in full sun to part shade; well-drained soil is essential.
• Best for: Tall, wind-resistant privacy screens on large properties.

Pro note: Regular trimming keeps this hedge dense and stops it from becoming too tall to manage.

2. Privet Hedge (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet is a classic choice for quick-growing privacy hedges, with oval leaves and an ability to withstand heavy pruning. It's perfect for neatly clipped, formal borders as well as looser natural hedges.

• Growth rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Height at maturity: 12-15 feet (can be pruned for lower screens)
• Care tips: Tolerant of most soils; thrives in both sun and part shade.
• Best for: Urban privacy screens and driveways due to pollution tolerance.

Bonus: Fragrant white flowers in spring attract pollinators.

3. Thuja 'Green Giant' (Thuja standishii x plicata)

The 'Green Giant' Arborvitae is among the fastest-growing evergreens for privacy, forming a lush, pyramidal hedge ideal for almost any region.

• Growth rate: 3-5 feet a year
• Height at maturity: 30-40 feet
• Care: Tolerates various soils; requires full to part sun and moderate watering.
• Best for: Tall, disease-resistant garden screens.

Why choose it? Resists deer and disease better than many other conifers.

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

A broadleaf evergreen, cherry laurel features glossy leaves and produces a dense, leafy barrier in no time. It's one of the top picks for fast privacy hedging in urban settings.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height at maturity: 15-30 feet (clips easily to your preferred height)
• Care tips: Adaptable; prefers moist but well-drained soil and partial shade.
• Best for: Evergreen privacy hedges in shaded spots.

Extra value: White flowers in spring, sometimes followed by cherry-like fruits that birds love (note: leaves and pits are toxic if ingested).

5. Bamboo

For the boldest and most unique rapidly growing hedge, bamboo stands as an unbeatable contender. Some clumping varieties (avoid running types to prevent invasiveness!) grow at astonishing rates, creating a lush, modern privacy screen.

• Growth rate: Up to 5 feet per year (variety dependent)
• Height at maturity: 10-30+ feet
• Care tips: Clumping bamboo is best; plant in contained beds.
• Best for: Contemporary landscapes and adding exotic flair.

Tip: Research the best species for your climate, such as Fargesia or Bambusa.

6. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

Famous for its striking red new shoots, Photinia 'Red Robin' is popular in milder climates. This semi-evergreen shrub makes a brilliant, colorful privacy hedge that can be shaped or left to grow naturally.

• Growth rate: About 2 feet per year
• Height at maturity: 10-15 feet
• Care tips: Does best in full sun with well-drained soil; trim annually for thick growth.
• Best for: Vibrant, ornamental privacy screens.

Bonus: Produces clusters of small white flowers in late spring and red berries in autumn.

7. Willow Hybrid (Salix x matsudana x alba)

Willow hybrids are celebrated for exceptional growth speed, reaching their mature size in just a few seasons. Their feathery leaves and upright growth habit create beautiful, fast privacy hedges and windbreaks.

• Growth rate: 6-10 feet per year (one of the fastest!)
• Height at maturity: 30-40 feet
• Care tips: Needs moist soil and full sun; mulch well in hot climates.
• Best for: Large properties needing instant screening.

Caution: Avoid planting near drains or foundations; roots seek out water sources.

8. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

For a more refined look, hornbeam hedges offer quick screening with dense, pleated leaves. Although deciduous, their brown foliage often clings through winter for year-round coverage.

• Growth rate: Up to 1.5 feet per year
• Height at maturity: 15-35 feet (keeps shape well after clipping)
• Care tips: Grows in sun or shade; prefers well-drained, fertile soils.
• Best for: Formal gardens and tidy hedges.

Fun fact: Makes a great wildlife hedge--finches and other birds love nesting in hornbeam!

9. Pyracantha (Firethorn)

If you want privacy plus security, Firethorn is a stellar choice. This thorny, evergreen shrub grows fast and produces masses of bright berries. It's ideal under windows or along fences where extra deterrence is desirable.

• Growth rate: 2 feet per year
• Height at maturity: 8-10 feet (can be trained along structures)
• Care tips: Tough and undemanding; tolerates poor soil and pollution.
• Best for: High-security hedges and wildlife-friendly gardens.

Bonus: Attracts bees and birds with its flowers and berries, and its thorns deter intruders.

How to Choose the Best Privacy Hedge for Your Needs

Selecting the right fast-growing privacy plant involves more than just picking from a list. Here are key factors to consider before planting:

• Climate: Will your chosen hedge thrive in your local weather?
• Soil type: Test drainage and fertility. Amend as needed for optimal growth.
• Available space: Consider mature width and height to avoid overcrowding or blocked views.
• Evergreen or deciduous: Evergreens provide year-round screening; some deciduous species keep leaves through winter.
• Maintenance: Some hedges require regular trimming; others are low-care.
• Wildlife or security: Do you want to attract birds, or do you need a prickly, secure barrier?

Planting & Caring for Your Fast-Growing Hedge

For your hedge to reach its record speed, proper planting and early care are essential. Here's how to get the best performance from your fast-growing privacy plants:

1. Space plants correctly: Follow the recommended spacing (often 2-4 feet apart). This ensures quick coverage but avoids competition.
2. Water deeply in the first year: Consistent watering helps roots establish faster.
3. Mulch generously: Suppresses weeds and keeps roots cool and moist.
4. Feed in early spring: Use a balanced fertilizer for vigorous growth.
5. Prune young plants: Regular light trimming helps develop dense, bushy growth.
6. Monitor pests & diseases: Check for signs of stress and act fast to prevent problems.

Pro Tip:

Installing a low temporary fence or support netting behind your new hedge provides extra privacy while plants establish--plus a great climbing surface for flowering annuals!

The Fast Track to the Perfect Privacy Hedge

With the right fast-growing hedge, you can enjoy peace, seclusion, and beauty in your garden within just a few years--or even sooner! Whether your style is neat and formal or relaxed and natural, one of these nine top-performing hedges will meet your needs for quick, effective privacy screening.

Frequently Asked Questions About Quick-Growing Hedges

• How quickly do fast-growing hedges provide privacy?
  With the right care, most of the hedges above will give a significant privacy screen within 2-3 years and may reach full height in 5 years or less.
• What is the fastest-growing hedge for privacy?
  The willow hybrid is one of the fastest, able to shoot up 10 feet in a season under ideal conditions, but 'Green Giant' Thuja and Leyland Cypress are also rapid growers.
• How do I make my hedge grow faster?
  Regular watering, mulching, fertilization, and early formative pruning are essential for maximum growth rates.

In Conclusion: Plant Now, Enjoy Privacy Sooner

Don't settle for an exposed garden space. Fast-growing privacy hedges will rejuvenate your landscape, provide natural screens, and help you relax in your own private retreat much sooner than you thought possible. Consider your needs, choose the ideal hedge from our top 9 selections, and invest in a greener, more tranquil future.

Ready to transform your backyard or property line? Start with any of these record-speed privacy hedges, and see dramatic results within just a couple of seasons!