Shield your space with top fast-growing hedge plants

Posted on 13/09/2025

Shield Your Space With Top Fast-Growing Hedge Plants

In today's world, privacy and security are becoming more important than ever before. One of the most attractive and effective ways to shield your space is by planting fast-growing hedge plants. These natural barriers do more than just create a boundary -- they also enhance beauty, reduce noise, and provide shelter for wildlife. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top fast-growing hedge plants to consider for your garden, yard, or property, ensuring you have a lush, green wall in no time!

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedge Plants?

When it comes to creating privacy screens or windbreaks, traditional fencing can be costly and less attractive. Fast-growing hedges offer a natural solution that keeps curious eyes away and acts as a living boundary. There are several key benefits to choosing hedges that grow quickly:

• Quick privacy: Enjoy a secluded space in just a few years.
• Cost-effective: Compared to hard fencing, plants are more affordable and require less long-term maintenance.
• Environmental benefits: Hedges absorb carbon dioxide, reduce dust, and support biodiversity by providing habitats for birds and insects.
• Aesthetics: Fast-growing hedge plants add visual interest with flowers, fruits, and year-round greenery.
• Noise and wind reduction: Dense foliage helps block noise and acts as a natural windbreak.

Top Fast-Growing Hedge Plants To Consider

Ready to shield your space with the best fast-growing hedges? Here are the top contenders for creating green privacy screens quickly and effectively:

1. Leylandii Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Height: Can reach 50 feet but is easily trimmed to desired height
• Best For: Large gardens, maximum screening, windbreaks
• Care: Requires regular trimming to maintain shape and prevent excessive height

The Leylandii Cypress is a standout among quickly growing hedge plants. Its rapid growth, dense green foliage, and adaptability to different soils make it one of the top choices for instant privacy. Leylandii can grow up to 3 feet annually, forming a dense, evergreen barrier in no time. Just remember to prune regularly to avoid it becoming unmanageable!

2. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

• Growth Rate: Up to 2 feet per year
• Height: 10 to 15 feet, depending on variety
• Best For: Formal hedges, urban settings
• Care: Tolerates heavy pruning and pollution

Privet is one of the most popular fast-growing hedge shrubs due to its resilience and dense foliage. Its ability to tolerate urban environments, pollution, and repeated trimming makes it perfect for city gardens. Privet also offers glossy leaves and delicate, fragrant flowers in early summer.

3. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

• Growth Rate: 2 to 3 feet per year
• Height: Up to 20 feet, often maintained at 6-10 feet
• Best For: Semi-formal or informal hedges, shade tolerance
• Care: Prune to maintain size, thrives in most soils except very wet

For areas where you need rapid coverage and a classic look, laurel hedges are unbeatable. Their large, glossy leaves deliver a lush look, and they're highly effective at screening and noise reduction. Plant laurel for a dense, evergreen hedge that thrives in both sun and shade.

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

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Height: 10 to 15 feet
• Best For: Colorful interest, formal and informal hedges
• Care: Prefers full sun to partial shade; trim to shape

Photinia 'Red Robin' brings a unique splash of color to your hedge. New growth emerges a vibrant red before maturing to glossy green. This colorful, adaptable hedge works well in mixed borders or as a feature privacy screen.

5. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

• Growth Rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Height: Can reach 30-40 feet, easily trimmed
• Best For: Tall privacy screens, windbreaks
• Care: Tolerant of a wide range of soils, drought resistant once established

If you're searching for fast-growing evergreen hedges for year-round coverage, Green Giant arborvitae is a top pick. Its fan-shaped foliage and towering stature make it perfect for privacy and shelter even in challenging climates.

6. Bamboo (Phyllostachys spp.)

• Growth Rate: Some species can grow over 3 feet per day!
• Height: Varies by species, commonly 10-30 feet
• Best For: Modern aesthetic, quick privacy, screening unsightly views
• Care: Choose clumping bamboo to prevent invasiveness; requires maintenance

Bamboo delivers ultra-fast growth and an exotic, contemporary feel to gardens. It's ideal for creating tall, dense screens in minimal space. Make sure to select non-invasive, clumping types and keep roots contained with barriers.

7. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

• Growth Rate: 1 to 1.5 feet per year
• Height: Up to 60 feet if left untrimmed, usually kept at 6-15 feet
• Best For: Formal hedges, shaded areas, wildlife gardens
• Care: Hardy, tolerant of poor soils; excellent for shaping

Hornbeam provides dense foliage that holds onto brown leaves through winter, giving privacy year-round. With regular pruning, hornbeam is perfect for clipped formal hedges and is resilient in a variety of conditions.

8. Escallonia

• Growth Rate: 1 to 2 feet per year
• Height: Generally 5-10 feet
• Best For: Flowering hedges, coastal areas
• Care: Prefers well-drained soil; drought and salt tolerant

Escallonia hedges stand out for their attractive, glossy leaves and clusters of pink, red, or white flowers through summer. They're especially popular in coastal locations due to salt tolerance and drought resistance.

How To Plant and Care for Fast-Growing Hedging Plants

To ensure your hedge gets off to the best start and grows rapidly, follow these simple steps:

1. Select the right plants: Consider your climate, soil type, and the amount of sunlight your garden receives.
2. Space plants evenly: Plant hedges at the recommended spacing to avoid overcrowding and ensure steady, upward growth.
3. Soil preparation: Enrich soil with organic compost before planting to boost nutrients.
4. Water well: Water deeply after planting and during dry periods to help roots establish.
5. Mulch: Apply a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
6. Regular pruning: Prune at least once a year to encourage bushy growth and maintain the desired shape.

Top Tips For Achieving a Dense, Lush Hedge

• Start strong: Use healthy, well-rooted nursery plants for planting.
• Feed annually: Fertilize each spring to encourage vigorous growth.
• Be patient: Even the best fast-growing privacy plants take 2-3 years to reach their full potential.
• Monitor for pests & diseases: Quick action keeps your hedge healthy and thriving.
• Clip for shape: Shape hedges with light trims for the first few years, then a major prune once mature.

Choosing The Right Fast-Growing Hedge for Your Space

Before you decide which fast-growing hedging plants are right for your property, ask yourself:

• What is my primary goal? (Privacy, noise reduction, aesthetic value, windbreak?)
• How much space do I have? Small gardens may benefit from slender or columnar plants.
• What are my soil and climate conditions?
• Do I want evergreen or deciduous? Evergreens provide year-round coverage, while deciduous types may offer blooms and seasonal interest.
• How much time can I dedicate to maintenance?

From evergreen giants like Leylandii to flowering hedges like Escallonia, there's a fast-growing option for every garden style and need.

Ideal Combinations for Mixed Hedges

For a hedge that offers a little of everything -- privacy, color, wildlife value, and seasonal interest -- try mixing different species. For example:

• Photinia and laurel for varied foliage color and texture
• Hornbeam, hawthorn, and holly for wildlife-friendly, native mixes
• Bamboo punctuated with flowering shrubs

Mixed hedges give a more natural appearance, support local fauna, and reduce the risk of disease spreading throughout your hedge.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Hedges

How quickly can I expect a new hedge to provide privacy?

With most fast-growing privacy hedges, you can achieve a solid, green screen in as little as 2-3 years when planted densely and cared for well.

Are there fast-growing hedges that are also low maintenance?

Yes! Options like Green Giant arborvitae, Privet, and Escallonia are not only quick to grow but also easy to maintain with occasional pruning and feeding.

Can I use fast-growing plants for small gardens?

Definitely. Select varieties that respond well to clipping, such as Boxwood, dwarf laurels, or slender bamboos, to keep them compact without sacrificing growth rate.

Will fast-growing hedges invade my garden?

Some, like running bamboo or unchecked Leylandii, can be vigorous. Always check with local nurseries, choose clumping or non-invasive species, and maintain regular pruning.

What are the best fast-growing evergreen hedges?

Evergreen superstars for instant privacy include Leylandii, laurel, and arborvitae. They keep their foliage year-round for continuous protection and beauty.

Conclusion: Shield Your Space With Fast-Growing Hedges

Choosing fast-growing hedge plants is a smart, sustainable way to create privacy, security, and beauty in your outdoor space. Whether you prefer the stately look of Leylandii, the vibrant hues of Photinia 'Red Robin', or the contemporary charm of bamboo, there's a solution for every need and taste. With the right care and maintenance, your hedge will quickly become an integral part of your landscape, shielding your space for years to come.

Ready to transform your garden? Plant one of these top fast-growing hedging plants this season and enjoy the privacy, protection, and beauty that only nature can provide!