Fast-track Your Privacy with 9 Lush and Speedy Hedges

Posted on 14/09/2025

Fast-track Your Privacy with 9 Lush and Speedy Hedges

Are you dreaming of a secluded oasis in your backyard? If so, you're not alone. More homeowners than ever are seeking quick privacy solutions for their gardens and yards, and what better way to achieve it than with a fast-growing hedge? In this article, we'll show you the top 9 lush and speedy hedges that can help you swiftly shield your outdoor space, enhance beauty, and even raise property value. If you're ready to fast-track your privacy, read on!

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

Natural fences offer much more than just privacy. Their dense foliage can reduce noise pollution, provide shelter for wildlife, and serve as windbreaks -- all while adding year-round beauty to your landscape. Compared to building a fence, hedges are eco-friendly, sustainable, and often increase your home's curb appeal.

• Rapid screening: Quick-growing varieties mean you'll enjoy seclusion sooner rather than later.
• Cost-effective: Hedges often cost less in the long run than installing and maintaining fences or walls.
• Attract wildlife and pollinators: Many of these plants provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
• Natural noise reduction: Dense hedges absorb sound from roads and neighbors.
• Visual interest: Lush leaves and vibrant blooms enhance the beauty of your property year-round.

Let's explore the best fast growing privacy hedges suitable for a variety of climates and garden sizes!

Top 9 Lush and Fast-Growing Hedges for Quick Privacy

Below, you'll discover nine speedy and lush hedges that are favored for their growth rate, density, and overall garden performance. Whether your climate is cool and temperate or hot and humid, you'll find the perfect privacy hedge here.

1. Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)

The Leyland Cypress is a renowned fast-growing evergreen privacy hedge--shooting up at a remarkable 3 to 4 feet per year! With its fine, feathery foliage and upright growth, it's ideal for large boundaries and provides instant living green screens.

• Growth rate: Very fast (up to 4 ft per year)
• Best for: Tall privacy walls, windbreaks
• USDA Zones: 6-10

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

For those seeking both beauty and speed, the Green Giant Arborvitae is hard to beat. Its dense, emerald-green foliage forms magnificent, columnar screens and grows 3 feet (or more) each year under ideal conditions.

• Growth rate: Up to 3 ft per year
• Best for: Uniform hedging, privacy walls, all-season screening
• USDA Zones: 5-8

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

A classic choice, Privet hedges are prized for their rapid fill-in ability and tolerance for frequent pruning. Their semi-evergreen to deciduous nature means dense coverage for most of the year, plus delightful white blossoms in spring.

• Growth rate: 2 to 3 ft per year
• Best for: Formal or informal hedges, shaping
• USDA Zones: Depends on species, typically 5-9

4. Bamboo (Clumping varieties e.g. Bambusa multiplex)

Looking for the fastest possible privacy? Bamboo hedges are phenomenal. Opt for non-invasive, clumping bamboo varieties which can shoot up 2-5 feet a year. Their lush canes and thick leaves create a tropical retreat in no time.

• Growth rate: 2 to 5 ft per year
• Best for: Modern landscapes, noise reduction, tropical feel
• USDA Zones: Varies, many hardy to Zone 8

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

With its broad, glossy leaves and white flower spikes in spring, Cherry Laurel is a favorite for lush, fast-growing privacy screens. It forms dense thickets up to 18 feet tall and is tolerant of shade--perfect for tricky spots.

• Growth rate: 2 ft per year or more
• Best for: Dense privacy in shade or sun, noise barrier
• USDA Zones: 6-9

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

This decorative hedge stands out for its flashy red new growth, maturing to glossy green. Photinia Red Robin grows quickly and responds well to trimming, making it an attractive and efficient living fence.

• Growth rate: 2-3 ft per year
• Best for: Colorful privacy boundary, smaller gardens
• USDA Zones: 7-9

7. Escallonia

Escallonia is a superb choice for coastal or milder climates, offering thick foliage and beautiful clusters of pink, white, or red flowers in summer. Quick to establish and drought-tolerant once mature, it forms a lush, evergreen privacy hedge.

• Growth rate: 1.5 to 2 ft per year
• Best for: Flowering privacy hedge, mild areas
• USDA Zones: 8-10

8. Viburnum Tinus

A resilient, evergreen shrub, Viburnum tinus forms compact hedges with glossy leaves and fragrant, winter-blooming flowers, followed by blue-black berries. It's superb for quick privacy in small or shaded spaces.

• Growth rate: 1 to 2 ft per year
• Best for: Urban gardens, partial or full shade
• USDA Zones: 7-10

9. Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica)

If you need an easy-care, shade-tolerant hedge, look no further than Spotted Laurel. Its attractive, variegated leaves are tolerant of pollution, heavy pruning, and urban conditions. These hedges bounce back quickly, providing year-round privacy.

• Growth rate: 1 to 2 ft per year
• Best for: Shady sites, urban gardens
• USDA Zones: 6-10

How to Successfully Establish Your Fast-Growing Hedge

While the above plants are all speedy privacy providers, their rapid development depends on proper planting and care. Here's how to ensure your hedge grows quickly and healthily:

Site Preparation

• Remove weeds and debris. Enrich soil with compost for optimal root growth.
• Space plants evenly as recommended for the species (typically 2-4 feet apart).

Planting Tips

• Plant at the right time: Early spring or fall are ideal.
• Soak the roots before planting, and water deeply after placing in the ground.
• Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Watering and Fertilizing

• First season: Water regularly, especially in dry spells or heatwaves.
• Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

Pruning for Speed and Density

• Trim regularly: Pruning encourages bushy, thick growth, crucial for quick privacy.
• Shape according to your design, whether formal or informal.

Tips to Fast-Track Your Privacy Even Further

• Choose larger starter plants: You'll see a mature effect faster, though at greater initial cost.
• Double-stagger plant your hedge rows for instant lushness.
• Mix species (e.g., combine evergreens and flowering shrubs) for interest, biodiversity, and year-round screening.
• Install temporary screening (like fencing or trellis) while your hedge establishes.

The Environmental Benefit of Quick-Living Fences

Choosing natural, fast-growing privacy hedges not only provides you with instant privacy screens but also delivers vital environmental benefits:

• Provide habitat for birds and pollinators, supporting local wildlife.
• Reduce carbon footprint by absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen.
• Help manage rainwater runoff and improve soil health.

FAQs: Fast-Track Your Privacy with Lush Hedges

Which hedge grows the fastest for privacy?

Leyland Cypress and Green Giant Arborvitae are among the fastest-growing hedges, often adding several feet per year under good conditions.

How far apart should I plant my privacy hedge?

Plant spacing depends on the variety, but generally 2-4 feet apart is ideal for speedy fill-in. Closer spacing results in faster screening.

Are fast-growing hedges high-maintenance?

Most are easy to care for with regular watering and annual trimming. Some, like Bamboo or Privet, benefit from more frequent pruning if you want a formal appearance.

Do privacy hedges attract wildlife?

Absolutely! Many species offer shelter and food for birds, bees, and butterflies, making your garden a sanctuary for nature.

Conclusion: Fast-Track Your Privacy with Lush and Speedy Hedges

Getting the seclusion you crave doesn't mean waiting a decade. With these nine lush, fast-growing privacy hedges, you can create a private, beautiful, and eco-friendly barrier around your home in just a few seasons. Whether your style is classic or contemporary, and whether you garden in sun or shade, there's a speedy solution for you among these living fences.

Ready to fast-track your garden privacy? Choose your favorite from our top 9 speedy hedges, plant them with care, and enjoy natural privacy--sooner than you think!