Fast-track your outdoor privacy with these nine hedge varieties

Posted on 16/05/2025

Fast-track Your Outdoor Privacy With These Nine Hedge Varieties

Do you long for privacy in your backyard or garden but dread the thought of noisy construction or expensive fencing? Whether you want to block out nosey neighbors, soften a busy street, or create intimate spaces for relaxation, one of the easiest, most natural, and beautiful solutions is to plant privacy hedges. These living walls offer not just seclusion, but also year-round color, wildlife habitat, and even noise reduction. In this article, we'll explore nine of the best fast-growing hedge varieties to quickly transform your outdoor space into a peaceful, private retreat.

Why Opt for Privacy Hedges?

Privacy hedging offers advantages beyond its screening capability. Planting a hedge along your property line or patio:

• Enhances security by deterring trespassers
• Absorbs noise pollution from roads or neighbors
• Provides shelter and food for birds and pollinators
• Filters dust and helps improve air quality
• Adds year-round greenery and natural beauty
• Creates windbreaks, making your outdoor space more comfortable

Many homeowners prefer hedges to rigid fencing for their softer lines, adaptability, environmental benefits, and quicker growth. By choosing fast-growing hedge plants, you can enjoy privacy much sooner than you might realize.

Choosing the Right Hedge Variety for Your Outdoor Privacy

Picking the best hedge species for your garden depends on several factors:

• Climate: Select varieties suited to your USDA plant hardiness zone
• Height and spread: Consider how tall and wide you want your hedge to become
• Growth rate:
• Sunlight requirements: Match the plant's needs with the site's exposure
• Maintenance level: Some hedges require regular trimming, while others are low-maintenance
• Evergreen vs. deciduous: Do you want year-round privacy or seasonal interest?

Now, let's dive into the nine best fast-track privacy hedge options to help you create your ideal outdoor sanctuary.

Top 9 Fast-Growing Hedge Plants for Instant Outdoor Privacy

1. Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata)

When it comes to rapid hedging solutions, the Thuja Green Giant is a top favorite across North America. This hybrid arborvitae has an impressive growth rate of 3-5 feet per year in optimal conditions!

• Height/Spread: Quickly grows up to 30-40 feet tall and 12-18 feet wide
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 5-9
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Benefits: Disease and pest resistant, tolerant of most soils, withstands drought once established

Plant Thuja Green Giant in a staggered double row for dense privacy in just a few seasons.

2. Leyland Cypress (x Cuprocyparis leylandii)

Another fast-growing privacy screen, Leyland Cypress is a classic choice for homeowners wanting instant results. This tall, lush evergreen can add three to five feet of growth each year.

• Height/Spread: Reaches 40-60 feet high and 10-15 feet wide
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 6-10
• Light: Full sun
• Benefits: Dense foliage, adapts to most soils, tolerant of salt spray for coastal planting

Best for large yards or rural properties, Leyland Cypress offers instant grandeur and privacy.

3. English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Seeking a compact, dense hedge with glossy leaves? English Laurel is a fast-growing evergreen shrub for hedges that thrives in a broad range of conditions.

• Height/Spread: Up to 15-20 feet high, easily pruned to desired size
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 6-9
• Light: Full sun to shade
• Benefits: Handles heavy pruning, deer resistant, lush broad leaves for a tropical effect

Great for boundaries, foundation plantings, or as a noise-absorbing privacy hedge.

4. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

A traditional hedge plant for outdoor privacy, privet adapts to most climates and forms dense green screens quickly.

• Height/Spread: 10-15 feet high, easily maintained at lower heights
• Type: Semi-evergreen to deciduous, depending on variety and climate
• Zone: 4-8
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Benefits: Very tolerant of pruning, excellent formal appearance, attracts pollinators when in flower

For a formal-looking privacy hedge, privet is a reliable, budget-friendly choice.

5. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

For smaller spaces or those seeking a refined evergreen hedge, boxwood is unbeatable. It grows about 6-12 inches per year, but modern cultivars like 'Green Mountain' can grow even faster while maintaining their shape.

• Height/Spread: 2-6 feet high depending on cultivar, easily shaped
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 5-9
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Benefits: Dense, glossy leaves, tolerates heavy shearing, adaptable to containers

Boxwood is perfect for low outlines or dividing outdoor rooms while offering sustainable privacy.

6. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')

Also called 'Skip Laurel', this plant is prized for its ability to thrive in dry shade where other hedges fail. Its glossy foliage creates a rich, deep green backdrop for gardens.

• Height/Spread: 10-18 feet tall and 5-7 feet wide
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 6-9
• Light: Shade to partial sun
• Benefits: Tolerates dry soil, shade loving, fragrant white spring flowers

An ideal hedge plant for side yards or under mature trees where sun-loving species won't thrive.

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

Offering a stunning burst of red new foliage each spring, Photinia hedges add year-round privacy and vibrant color.

• Height/Spread: 10-15 feet, can be maintained at lower heights
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 7-9
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Benefits: Fast-growing, colorful, responds well to shearing

Plant Photinia as a dramatic backdrop or accent in mixed privacy screens.

8. Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)

For a modern, exotic twist, bamboo is unbeatable. Certain clumping bamboos make exceptional privacy screens, shooting up several feet per year.

• Height/Spread: 10-30 feet, depending on variety
• Type: Evergreen (in mild climates)
• Zone: 6-10+
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Benefits: Extremely fast-growing, unique aesthetic, wind and sound barrier

*Tip: Choose clumping bamboo rather than running types to avoid unwanted spread.*

9. Holly (Ilex aquifolium or Ilex x meserveae)

Holly offers more than prickly leaves--it gives year-round privacy, is wildlife friendly, and provides a wealth of berries for visual interest.

• Height/Spread: 8-25 feet, depending on variety
• Type: Evergreen
• Zone: 5-9
• Light: Full sun to shade
• Benefits: Bird-friendly, winter interest, tolerant of urban conditions, forms an effective barrier

Male and female plants are needed for berries; plant several for the brightest show and maximum privacy.

How to Fast-Track Your Hedge Privacy

Site Preparation Is Key

Give your hedge plants a head start with these tips:

• Clear the planting area of weeds, roots, and debris
• Add compost or organic soil amendments for healthy growth
• Provide consistent water during the first two years to establish strong roots

Proper Spacing for Maximum Density

Check the tag or plant description--denser privacy is achieved by spacing plants closer, but allow for mature growth to avoid overcrowding.

Mulching and Maintenance

Keep your hedge healthy and vigorous:

• Mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds
• Fertilize once a year in spring for optimum growth
• Prune regularly to shape and encourage fullness--especially important for laurel, privet, and photinia

Jumpstart Privacy With Larger, Instant Hedges

If you want immediate impact, consider purchasing established or "instant" hedges. Many nurseries offer mature hedge panels or extra-large potted shrubs, providing dramatic privacy from day one.

FAQs: Hedging for Outdoor Privacy

How fast do privacy hedges grow?

Most fast-growing hedges (like Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, or privet) can put on 2-5 feet of growth per year when well cared for and sited correctly. Slower options (like boxwood) provide structure and density with less annual maintenance.

What's the best privacy hedge for small gardens?

For smaller spaces, boxwood, holly, or compact laurel cultivars are ideal. They can be trimmed tightly and shaped to fit the area without overwhelming it.

Are privacy hedges eco-friendly?

Absolutely! Unlike fences, living hedges absorb carbon dioxide, filter dust, provide wildlife habitat, and regenerate themselves. Choose native plant varieties for maximum ecological benefits.

When is the best time to plant a privacy hedge?

Early spring or fall are the best times, ensuring plants have time to establish roots before the heat of summer or deep freezes of winter.

Conclusion: Create a Private Oasis with Fast-Growing Hedges

With today's fast-paced lifestyles and the increasing need for outdoor sanctuary, living privacy screens offer a smart, sustainable, and beautiful solution. Whether you choose Thuja Green Giant for its rapid height, photinia for its vibrant foliage, or boxwood or holly for neat borders and year-round coverage, you can fast-track your garden privacy in as little as a year or two.

• Assess your space, sunlight, and soil for the best variety
• Plant early and water well for quickest results
• Enjoy the transformation--your own green barrier for peace, beauty, and privacy

Ready to fast-track your outdoor privacy and increase your home's value? With these nine hedge varieties, you're just one planting season away from a lush, secluded oasis!