9 Growing Hedges for Private Yards and Fast Results

Posted on 13/06/2025

9 Growing Hedges for Private Yards and Fast Results

If you value privacy but desire an aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly solution for your outdoor space, fast-growing hedges are the answer. Hedges for private yards will not only provide seclusion but also add beauty, act as windbreaks, reduce noise, and attract beneficial wildlife to your garden. In this comprehensive guide, we'll introduce you to 9 of the best fast-growing hedges for backyard privacy, discussing their unique features, care tips, and what makes them ideal for rapid results.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Private Yards?

When seeking to increase privacy in your landscape, there are numerous fencing options. However, living hedges offer several advantages over traditional barriers:

• *Natural beauty*: Evergreen and flowering hedges provide year-round visual interest.
• Wildlife habitat: Hedges attract birds and pollinators, enriching your micro-ecosystem.
• Cost-effective: They're often less expensive, especially if you're willing to wait a bit for growth.
• Improved air quality: Fast-growing hedge plants absorb pollutants and release oxygen.
• Noise reduction: Dense foliage acts as a sound buffer between you and the outside world.

What Makes a Good Hedge Plant?

The best hedges for privacy and rapid results share a few key characteristics:

1. Rapid growth rate - At least 1 to 3 feet per year under ideal conditions.
2. Dense foliage - Thick parent material to block views and sound.
3. *Hardiness*
4. Low-maintenance requirements
5. Adaptable to your climate and soil

Consider your region's conditions, sunlight, and space when choosing your fast privacy hedge.

9 Best Fast-Growing Hedges for Private Yards

Below are nine top-performing privacy hedges to consider. Each offers unique benefits and visual appeal.

1. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)

Green Giant Arborvitae is a superstar when it comes to fast, evergreen privacy screens. This hybrid conifer touts lush, medium-green foliage that remains vibrant throughout the year. It grows an astonishing 3 feet or more per year!

• Mature height: 30-40 feet; can be pruned to desired height
• Width: 8-12 feet
• Sun requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Low maintenance; resistant to most pests and diseases

Ideal for: Tall privacy screens, windbreaks, and formal hedge rows.

2. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

One of the fastest-growing conifer hedging plants, the Leyland Cypress is prized for its feathery, blue-green foliage and upright, columnar growth. Its vigor makes it a staple in privacy landscaping.

• Growth rate: 3-4 feet per year!
• Mature height: 40-60 feet (can be kept much shorter with pruning)
• Full sun to partial shade
• Very tolerant of a variety of soils; best with good drainage

Perfect for: Large properties where you need a fast, tall, dense hedge.

3. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges are classic for a reason--they're fast-growing, easily shaped, and form a thick, green barrier within a couple of seasons. European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and Japanese privet (L. japonicum) are popular and widely available.

• Growth rate: 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 8-15 feet (some species can reach 20+ feet)
• Shears beautifully for a manicured look
• Both evergreen and deciduous types available

Great choice for: Formal, shaped hedges and traditional garden borders.

4. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

cherry laurel is another top contender among fast-growing hedge plants. It has dense growth, white flower spikes in spring, and can tolerate shade better than many alternatives.

• Growth rate: 2 feet per year
• Ultimate height: 10-18 feet
• Sun or partial shade
• Tolerates urban conditions and pollution well

Use it for: Attractive, evergreen privacy in both sunny and shaded yards.

5. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Boxwood hedges are beloved for their dense evergreen structure and adaptability to shaping. While slower than some giants, specific varieties like Green Mountain or Winter Gem offer faster growth without sacrificing boxwood's signature neatness.

• Growth rate: Up to 12-24 inches per year in fast types
• Perfect for low to medium-height hedges (3-6 feet)
• Easy to shape for formal or informal screens
• Tolerates sun and partial shade

Best for: Classic, elegant borders and privacy around patios or entryways.

6. Photinia Red Tip (Photinia x fraseri)

Photinia brings color excitement to privacy screens thanks to its rich red new leaves, which mature to glossy green. Often seen in suburban landscapes, it grows quite fast and responds well to trimming.

• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Mature height: 10-15 feet; easily kept lower
• Sun to part shade
• White spring flowers attract pollinators

Excellent for: Colorful, medium-tall hedges and vibrant privacy screens.

7. Viburnum (Viburnum tinus, Viburnum odoratissimum, etc.)

Viburnums comprise a versatile group of shrubs useful for fast privacy hedges. Sweet Viburnum (V. odoratissimum) is a popular choice, especially in warm climates, for its rapid growth and dense structure.

• Growth rate: Up to 2-3 feet per year
• Height: 6-15 feet (species dependent)
• Fragrant white blooms in spring
• Evergreen or semi-evergreen, depending on variety

Ideal for: Attractive, flowering privacy screens and mixed shrub borders.

8. Pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea)

The Pyracantha, or firethorn, grows speedily and produces showy clusters of orange-red berries in fall and winter, making it a favorite for adding wildlife and color to the garden.

• Growth rate: 2 feet per year
• Ultimate height: 8-12 feet
• Shiny evergreen leaves and thorny branches
• Excellent for security as well as privacy

Great for: Security screens, wildlife-friendly yards, and berry interest.

9. Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea & other clumping varieties)

For ultra-fast, non-traditional privacy hedges, bamboo offers near-instant screening and exotic flair. Clumping types like Golden Bamboo are preferred, as they don't spread aggressively like running bamboo.

• Growth rate: Up to 3-5 feet per year!
• Height: 10-25 feet (select species as per your need)
• Evergreen; minimal maintenance after establishment
• Beware of running varieties unless planting with barriers!

Perfect for: Quick, tall, lush green barriers with an Asian-inspired look.

How to Plant and Grow Fast-Growing Hedges for Quick Privacy

Once you choose your *hedge for private yards*, follow these steps for rapid, successful establishment:

• Plan ahead: Space plants correctly to achieve a tight, dense hedge--too close stunts roots, too far means gaps.
• Prepare your soil: Loosen, enrich with compost, and ensure good drainage.
• Water regularly: Deep, infrequent watering in the first two years is key for root development.
• Fertilize appropriately: Young plants benefit from balanced, slow-release fertilizer--avoid overdoing it.
• Prune to shape: Early, regular pruning stimulates bushier growth and denser coverage.

Maintenance Tips for Healthy Privacy Hedges

For lush, trouble-free hedges for privacy:

• Mulch annually to preserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
• Inspect for pests and diseases--early treatment is vital!
• Prune at the right time: For most evergreens, late winter; for flowering types, after bloom.
• Replace weak plants promptly-- gaps compromise privacy.
• Feed mature hedges in spring and water during dry spells.

Choosing the Right Fast Privacy Hedge for Your Space

Every yard is different. Before you plant, consider:

• Climate: Select species suited to your local hardiness zone.
• Sun requirements: Full sun or some shade?
• Desired texture and height: Do you want a towering screen or a lower border?
• Maintenance commitment: Some hedges need frequent trimming to stay dense and neat.
• Potential toxicity: If you have kids or pets, avoid toxic hedge species.

Don't hesitate to combine different hedge species for a more diverse, wildlife-friendly, and beautiful garden privacy wall.

Frequently Asked Questions About Privacy Hedges

How fast will my hedge grow?

Growth rates depend on species, climate, soil, and care, but the options above are top-rated for their speed. On average, you can expect 1-3 feet of growth per year with proper watering and feeding.

Evergreen vs. Deciduous Hedges - what's better for privacy?

Evergreens provide year-round coverage, which is ideal for maximum privacy and wind protection. Some deciduous hedges like privet or hornbeam are dense enough to block views even after leaf fall. Consider your privacy needs and aesthetic preferences.

How many plants do I need for a hedge?

Spacing varies by species and mature size, but as a general rule:

• Tall hedges (over 8 feet): 2-3 feet apart
• Medium hedges (4-8 feet): 1.5-2 feet apart
• Low borders: 1-1.5 feet apart

Check with your nursery or garden center for specific recommendations.

Conclusion: Create Your Ideal Private Yard with Fast-Growing Hedges

Adding fast-growing hedges for private yards is the ultimate way to naturally enhance your property's privacy, beauty, and biodiversity--all while enjoying rapid results. Whether you prefer the bold statement of Green Giant Arborvitae, the instant lushness of Bamboo, or the colorful flair of Photinia, there's a perfect hedge to suit your landscape vision.

Plant thoughtfully, keep up with watering and pruning, and within a season or two your yard will transform into a green, private sanctuary--shielded from the outside world by living walls of vibrant foliage.

Looking for more landscaping inspiration? Explore our other articles on garden privacy, low-maintenance landscaping ideas, and sustainable gardening tips for all yards!