9 Speedy Hedges to Elevate Your Privacy Instantly

Posted on 20/06/2025

9 Speedy Hedges to Elevate Your Privacy Instantly

Dream of a secluded backyard free from prying eyes? Achieving rapid privacy doesn't require you to wait for years! With the right selection of fast-growing privacy hedges, you can transform your outdoor space in just one or two seasons. Below, we reveal the top nine speedy hedges that deliver instant coverage, enhance your garden's aesthetics, and provide an environmentally friendly boundary.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedging Plants?

Choosing quick-growing hedges for privacy offers several advantages:

• Immediate results: Enjoy a greener, more secluded space sooner.
• Increased property value: Well-maintained living fences often boost curb appeal.
• Flexibility: Easily create arches, screens, or boundaries tailored to your garden's style.
• Wildlife friendly: Many hedges offer food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.

Factors to Consider Before Planting Privacy Hedges

When selecting fast-growing hedges, consider:

• Growth rate - Some hedges can grow up to 2 feet per year!
• Ultimate height and spread - Match the plant to your space and privacy needs.
• Maintenance level - Some varieties require regular trimming, while others are lower maintenance.
• Evergreen vs. Deciduous - Evergreens provide year-round privacy, while deciduous options offer seasonal interest.
• Climate suitability - Choose hedges that thrive in your region's conditions for optimal performance.

Let's explore the nine best speedy privacy hedges that can instantly elevate your backyard and provide excellent coverage:

1. Leyland Cypress

Why Leyland Cypress is a Top Choice

The Leyland cypress is one of the fastest-growing privacy hedges available, making it a favorite for homeowners seeking rapid results. Capable of growing up to 3 feet per year, Leyland cypress forms a dense, evergreen wall that provides excellent noise and wind screening.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: Up to 60 feet (prune as needed)
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Hardiness: USDA zones 6-10

Tip: Space plants 6-10 feet apart for a thick, uniform hedge.

2. Green Giant Arborvitae

Evergreen Privacy in a Hurry

Green Giant Arborvitae is another exceptional choice for an instant privacy screen. This hybrid conifer is beloved for its pest resistance, drought tolerance, and soft, feathery foliage. It can mature quickly, making it ideal for impatient landscapers.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Height: 30-40 feet tall, 8-12 feet wide
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Adapts to most soils
• Hardiness: Zones 5-8

Arborvitae hedges require little maintenance once established. Simply trim to your desired height and shape annually.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Classic and Customizable for Any Garden

Privet hedges are renowned for their glossy green leaves, tolerant nature, and swift growth. Whether you prefer an English cottage look or a tidy boundary, privet adapts beautifully to both formal and informal garden styles.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 8-15 feet (prune as needed)
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Tolerates a wide range
• Hardiness: Zones 5-8

Note: Privet can be invasive in some regions; check local guidelines before planting.

4. Photinia (Red Tip Photinia)

Vibrant Privacy with Red Foliage

Red Tip Photinia offers the unique benefit of striking, red new leaves that mature to glossy green. This fast-grower provides more than just screening - it adds stunning color and flair to your privacy hedge all year round.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Height: 10-15 feet (can be kept smaller)
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, fertile
• Hardiness: Zones 7-9

Regular pruning will encourage lush new growth and maintain an impenetrable barrier.

5. Bamboo

Instant Zen Walls and Exotic Privacy

Bamboo is unrivaled for its ultra-fast vertical growth and lush appearance. It creates a modern, tranquil privacy hedge that's perfect for urban or minimalist gardens. Choose clumping varieties over running types to prevent invasiveness.

• Growth Rate: Up to 5 feet in a single growing season
• Height: 10-30 feet, depending on variety
• Sun: Varies by type, generally full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, fertile
• Hardiness: Zones 5-10 (varies)

Tip: Plant bamboo in containers or with root barriers to control spread.

6. Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)

Fragrant and Fast

Wax myrtle boasts aromatic, evergreen foliage and dense branching that works wonderfully as a fast privacy hedge. It also tolerates drought, heat, and salt, making it a versatile option for difficult areas.

• Growth Rate: 2-4 feet per year
• Height: 10-20 feet (can be kept smaller)
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained, tolerates poor soils
• Hardiness: Zones 7-10

Wax myrtle is semi-evergreen in the north and fully evergreen in the south, enhancing year-round privacy.

7. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

Dense and Glossy Evergreen Screen

Cherry Laurel produces lush, broad evergreen leaves and grows quickly to form a formidable privacy barrier. In spring, fragrant white flowers add extra interest and attract pollinators to your garden.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 10-20 feet
• Sun: Full sun to shade
• Soil: Moist, fertile
• Hardiness: Zones 6-9

Cherry laurel responds well to pruning, allowing you to control size and shape for your ideal screen.

8. Carolina Sapphire Cypress

Fast-Growing and Resilient Privacy

The Carolina Sapphire Cypress offers feathery, silver-blue foliage and an accelerated growth rate, making it one of the best hedges for privacy and beauty. It's disease-resistant and tolerates drought well once established.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 feet per year
• Height: 20-30 feet
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
• Hardiness: Zones 7-9

Perfect for those wanting a low-maintenance, instant privacy hedge with eye-catching color.

9. Italian Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus)

Sleek Mediterranean Privacy

The Italian Buckthorn is a vigorous, evergreen shrub that thrives in coastal and urban settings. Its adaptability, elegant form, and fast growth make it perfect for stylish privacy hedges.

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Height: 8-15 feet
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Hardiness: Zones 8-10

Did you know? Italian buckthorn is drought-tolerant and resists salt spray, making it ideal for coastal properties.

Planting and Caring for Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

To get the most out of your speedy privacy hedge, follow these essential care tips:

• Prepare the soil: Dig in organic matter to boost soil health.
• Water deeply when planting and during the first growing season to establish roots.
• Mulch: Apply a thick layer to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Fertilize: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring for vigorous growth.
• Prune regularly: Trim your hedges to promote bushiness and maintain desired shape and height.

Benefits of Living Privacy Fences Over Traditional Fences

Natural privacy screens offer distinct perks compared to wood or vinyl fences, such as:

• Aesthetic appeal: Soften boundaries with greenery, color, and seasonal interest.
• Environmental impact: Hedges absorb carbon dioxide, reduce urban heat, and improve air quality.
• Wildlife habitat: Provide shelter and nesting for birds and pollinators.
• Cost effectiveness: Over time, hedges cost less to maintain and repair than solid fences.

FAQs About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How fast is "fast-growing" for privacy hedges?

Fast-growing hedges are typically classified as those adding at least 2 feet of height per year under optimal conditions, with some varieties growing even faster.

How often should I trim my privacy hedge?

Most privacy hedges benefit from annual pruning for shape and density. Vigorous growers may need two trims per season. Early spring and late summer are popular times to prune.

Can I mix different hedge varieties?

Absolutely! Mixing different hedging plants can improve biodiversity, pest resistance, and add visual interest to your landscape.

When is the best time to plant a privacy hedge?

Early spring or fall is ideal, when soil is workable and rainfall helps young plants establish strong roots.

Conclusion: Transform Your Privacy Instantly With Fast-Growing Hedges

Choosing the right speedy hedge for privacy is the key to creating a personal haven. Whether you prefer the stately height of a Leyland Cypress, the vibrant foliage of Red Tip Photinia, or the Zen calm of bamboo, you'll enjoy a transformed landscape in less time than you think. Use our guide to select, plant, and maintain the living fence that's perfect for your garden. A lush, secluded retreat awaits--start planting today!

Enhance your property's privacy and beauty with these 9 instant hedging solutions. Your backyard oasis is only a season away!