Discover 9 Privacy Hedges That Grow Quickly for Your Garden

Posted on 16/05/2025

Discover 9 Privacy Hedges That Grow Quickly for Your Garden

Are you longing for a secluded retreat right in your own backyard? Privacy hedges that grow quickly are the gardener's secret weapon for creating leafy borders and lush green walls that block unwanted views and provide a tranquil sanctuary. Whether you're looking to muffle street noise, screen out prying eyes, or simply enjoy evergreen beauty year-round, selecting the right fast-growing garden privacy hedges is essential.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover the top nine privacy hedges for fast-growing garden borders that thrive in a variety of climates and landscapes. Read on to transform your outdoor space into a private green haven!

Why Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges Are a Landscape Game-Changer

• Instant Privacy: Rapid growth means you don't have to wait years for your garden screen to mature.
• Noise Reduction: Dense hedges help buffer noise from busy roads or neighbors.
• Increased Property Value: Beautiful, healthy hedges create attractive boundaries that enhance curb appeal.
• Wildlife Habitat: Shrubby hedges provide shelter and food for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
• Wind and Dust Protection: Living walls shield your garden from wind and trap dust.

Choosing quick-growing privacy shrubs or hedges unlocks multiple benefits for your backyard, from aesthetic improvement to practical protection. But which plants are best for the job?

9 Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges for Your Garden

Here are nine of the best privacy hedges to grow quickly and transform your garden into a leafy sanctuary in just a few seasons. Each selection highlights key features, ideal growing conditions, and care tips for achieving the thickest, healthiest hedge possible.

1. Arborvitae (Thuja)

• Growth rate: 3-5 feet per year
• USDA zones: 3-8
• Height: Up to 60 feet (varieties available for smaller spaces)

Arborvitae is perhaps the most popular fast-growing privacy hedge in North America. Known for its classic conical shape and dense, evergreen foliage, arborvitae forms a thick, impenetrable wall that grows quickly--ideal for instant privacy screens. Thuja Green Giant is a standout variety, reaching impressive heights yet responsive to shearing for a tailored look.

• Sun needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained

Tip: Plant arborvitae 3-5 feet apart for the quickest coverage, and water regularly during the first year to establish a strong root system.

2. Privet (Ligustrum)

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• USDA zones: 3-8
• Height: 6-15 feet, depending on species

Privet hedges have been the backbone of classic English gardens for centuries, and for good reason. They're adaptable, fast-growing privacy plants that respond well to frequent pruning. Privet forms a sleek, green barrier studded with fragrant white spring flowers, making it both practical and attractive.

• Sun needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Tolerates a variety, but prefers well-drained

Tip: Prune privet regularly to maintain your desired shape & thickness; unpruned, it can become invasive in some areas.

3. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

• Growth rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• USDA zones: 2-9
• Height: 40-50 feet tall, 8-20 feet wide

With its striking blue-green needles and tolerance for tough growing conditions, the Eastern red cedar is a reliable performer for fast-growing privacy hedges. This native evergreen is also low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making it suitable for tough spots where other plants struggle.

• Sun needs: Full sun
• Soil: Adaptable; tolerates poor, rocky soils

Tip: Be sure to give red cedars plenty of room to spread, as they can grow quite large.

4. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

• Growth rate: 2-5 feet per year (some up to 10+ feet!)
• USDA zones: 5-10 (varies by species)
• Height: 12-40+ feet, depending on variety

If you crave fast privacy hedges and a tropical vibe, bamboo is hard to beat. This super-fast grower can shoot up full-height stalks almost overnight--some species reaching privacy height within a single growing season! Clumping bamboo is best for garden hedges--it doesn't spread invasively like running bamboo.

• Sun needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained

Tip: Always choose clumping bamboo for garden hedges. Running bamboo varieties require barriers to control their spread.

5. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

• Growth rate: 2+ feet per year
• USDA zones: 6-9
• Height: 10-20 feet

For a fast-growing privacy shrub with glossy, deep green leaves and fragrant spring blooms, cherry laurel is a top pick. It grows quickly in a wide variety of soils and climates, creating a lush look that's easy to maintain and prune.

• Sun needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained, but tolerates clay

Tip: Cherry laurel tolerates heavy pruning, allowing you to shape a formal hedge or let it grow naturally for a softer screen.

6. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

• Growth rate: Up to 5 feet per year
• USDA zones: 7-10
• Height: 10-15 feet

Wax myrtle is a fantastic quick privacy hedge option for gardeners in coastal or southern regions. Its aromatic, evergreen leaves and dense branching provide excellent screening, while tiny berries attract winter birds. This native plant handles salt, heat, and even brief flooding.

• Sun needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Adaptable, tolerates poor and sandy soils

Tip: Wax myrtle can be pruned as a tidy hedge or allowed to grow informally as a natural privacy screen.

7. Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)

• Growth rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• USDA zones: 7-9
• Height: 10-15 feet

With its vibrant red new foliage and dense growth habit, photinia makes a stunning and fast-growing hedging plant. The most common variety, Red Tip Photinia, is prized for its colorful flushes and ability to form a robust, lush barrier.

• Sun needs: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained, avoid soggy sites

Tip: Watch out for leaf spot and prune to encourage air circulation in humid regions.

8. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

• Growth rate: Up to 12 inches per year (faster with some hybrids)
• USDA zones: 5-9
• Height: 3-8 feet, depending on cultivar

Boxwood is a classic choice for formal, beautiful privacy borders. While not as fast-growing as some on this list, new hybrid varieties have impressive growth rates and fill out quickly. Dense evergreen leaves are easily shaped for a tidy look, and boxwoods are highly deer-resistant.

• Sun needs: Sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained

Tip: For the fastest results, choose more vigorous boxwood hybrids and fertilize in spring for lush new growth.

9. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

• Growth rate: 3-5 feet per year
• USDA zones: 6-10
• Height: 40-60 feet

For truly instant privacy, few hedging plants match the Leyland cypress. This towering evergreen grows incredibly fast and forms a thick, dense screen that reaches full privacy height in just a few years. It's ideal for large properties and windbreaks--and it responds well to regular trimming.

• Sun needs: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained (avoid waterlogged soil)

Tip: Space young plants 8-10 feet apart for a quick, seamless privacy hedge.

Key Tips for Growing Fast Privacy Hedges Successfully

• Choose the Right Plant for your location--check hardiness zones, moisture, and sun requirements.
• Prepare the Soil Well: Loosen and enrich planting sites with compost or organic matter.
• Space Plants Properly for healthy growth and optimal density.
• Water Regularly, especially during the first couple of years to establish root systems.
• Feed Annually with balanced fertilizer for fast, sustained growth.
• Prune for Shape: Annual pruning helps encourage bushiness and keeps your hedge within bounds.

By following these hedge-growing best practices, you'll accelerate growth rates and enjoy a healthy, beautiful living privacy screen in record time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges

How close should I plant privacy hedge shrubs?

The suggested distance varies by species, but an average recommendation is 2-5 feet apart for dense hedges. Always check specific spacing for your chosen plant to avoid overcrowding or gaps.

What's the fastest-growing hedge for privacy?

Leyland cypress and Thuja Green Giant arborvitae are among the fastest-growing evergreens, often adding up to 5 feet per year in optimal conditions. Bamboo, particularly clumping varieties, can also achieve significant height quickly.

Are there fast privacy hedges for shade?

Yes! Cherry laurel, privet, and boxwood all tolerate partial shade. Always check light requirements before planting to ensure vigorous growth.

How tall should my privacy hedge be?

The ideal height depends on your privacy/seclusion needs and local regulations. Many hedges can easily be kept at 6-12 feet tall and trimmed to suit your taste.

How can I make my privacy hedge grow faster?

• Regular watering
• Feeding with a slow-release, balanced fertilizer
• Annual pruning to prevent legginess and stimulate bushiness
• Mulching to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture

Conclusion: Enjoy Instant Privacy With Quick-Growing Garden Hedges

Creating an outdoor oasis with fast-growing privacy hedges is a smart investment in beauty, tranquility, and property value. From versatile evergreens like arborvitae and Leyland cypress to show-stopping bamboo and colorful photinia, there are quick privacy solutions for every garden style.

Start by considering your climate, soil, sun exposure, and desired hedge height, then choose from our list of top-performing species to enjoy rapid, lush results. With proper planting and care, you'll soon revel in the comfort and seclusion only a living green wall can bring.

Plant your privacy hedge today, and watch as your garden transforms into a personal sanctuary--beautiful, private, and all your own!