Create a Private Oasis with 9 Impressive Fast-growing Hedges

Posted on 04/06/2025

Create a Private Oasis with 9 Impressive Fast-Growing Hedges

Are you dreaming of a serene backyard sanctuary or wishing for natural privacy screens that look lush all year-round? Fast-growing hedges are the ultimate landscape solution for anyone hoping to create a private oasis quickly, beautifully, and effortlessly. In this comprehensive guide, discover the nine best choices for fast-growing privacy hedges and learn expert tips on planting, maintenance, and design ideas to transform your outdoor space.

Why Choose Fast-Growing Hedges for Privacy?

With today's smaller lot sizes and the desire for peaceful outdoor living, there's a growing demand for privacy hedges that thrive and mature quickly. Whether you want to block unsightly views, dampen noise, or simply carve out some tranquil green space, fast-growing hedges offer these advantages:

• Rapid Results: Achieve privacy and lush greenery in just a few seasons, rather than waiting years.
• Natural barriers: Attractive year-round screening that also softens wind and shields against dust.
• Low maintenance & eco-friendly: Many hedges require less care over time and are great for wildlife.
• Design versatility: Easily shaped to fit any garden style or size, from formal rows to informal borders.

What Are the Best Fast-growing Hedges?

Below are nine of the most popular and reliable fast-growing hedging plants for creating a lush, secluded retreat. Whether you want evergreen privacy, vibrant color, or native species, these options are proven favorites among landscapers and homeowners alike.

1. Privet Hedge (Ligustrum spp.)

Privet hedges are classic for a reason--they're tough, adaptable, and can gain an impressive 2 to 3 feet of height each year. Privet is ideal for dense, formal hedges and tolerates a wide range of soil types and pruning regimes. Its glossy green leaves remain full through most seasons, providing year-round comfort.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 ft/year
• Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Best Uses: Formal screens, property lines, garden rooms

2. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja 'Green Giant')

The Green Giant Arborvitae is a superstar when it comes to evergreen fast-growing hedges. It grows an astounding 3-5 feet per year under ideal conditions and forms a tall, dense, and towering privacy wall. It's also pest and disease-resistant, making it a low-fuss option.

• Growth Rate: 3-5 ft/year
• Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
• Best Uses: Windbreaks, tall borders, secluded patios

3. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

Widely recognized for its blazing growth speed, Leyland Cypress can reach 60-70 feet at maturity but stays easily manageable with regular trimming. It creates a soft-textured, feathery green fence that's perfect for instant privacy.

• Growth Rate: 3-4 ft/year
• Light Needs: Full sun
• Best Uses: Large properties, wind protection, fast privacy fences

4. Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')

Skip laurel hedges are increasingly popular thanks to their glossy, deep green leaves and upright growth. This hardy evergreen is deer-resistant and thrives even in partial shade--making it an excellent choice for urban gardens and shaded boundaries.

• Growth Rate: 2 ft/year
• Light Needs: Partial to full shade
• Best Uses: Shaded hedges, urban fencing, noise buffers

5. Bamboo (Phyllostachys and Bambusa spp.)

If you crave rapid privacy with a unique, exotic look, bamboo hedges are unbeatable. Certain clumping varieties (like Bambusa multiplex) can shoot up several feet in a single season. Always select the non-invasive species for manageable growth and easy upkeep.

• Growth Rate: 3-5+ ft/year
• Light Needs: Sun or part shade
• Best Uses: Modern gardens, noise screens, decorative barriers

6. Pyracantha (Firethorn)

Add vivid autumnal color and bird-friendly berries to your living fence with Pyracantha hedges. This thorny evergreen quickly forms a dense, impenetrable barrier and provides year-round interest thanks to its brilliant orange or red berries.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 ft/year
• Light Needs: Full sun to part shade
• Best Uses: Security hedges, wildlife gardens, visual screens

7. Photinia Red Tip (Photinia x fraseri)

Known for its striking red new foliage, the Photinia Red Tip grows dense and upright, ideal for creating colorful privacy screens. It's tolerant of most soils and responds well to shearing into formal shapes or left to grow naturally.

• Growth Rate: 2-3 ft/year
• Light Needs: Full sun for best color, tolerates partial shade
• Best Uses: Decorative hedges, color accents, privacy rows

8. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

For thick, glossy, deep-green leaves and a robust stature, cherry laurel hedges are top-tier. They're adaptable and resilient, tolerating various soils and pollution, which makes them a standout option for urban landscapes.

• Growth Rate: 2 ft/year
• Light Needs: Full sun to shade
• Best Uses: Foundation plantings, roadside screening, dense privacy

9. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

While boxwood is known for slower growth in some species, certain varieties like 'Winter Gem' and 'Green Mountain' can grow rapidly under optimal conditions. These versatile evergreens are easy to shape for classic, refined privacy hedges.

• Growth Rate: Up to 12-18"/year (fast selections)
• Light Needs: Sun to partial shade
• Best Uses: Formal gardens, parterres, foundation edging

Design Tips for Creating a Private Hedge Oasis

Creating a secluded garden retreat goes beyond just planting a row of shrubs. Integrate your fast-growing hedge with these expert landscaping tips:

• Mix textures and heights: Layer tall hedges with smaller shrubs or ornamental grasses for depth and interest.
• Define garden "rooms": Use hedges to enclose patios, dining areas, or meditation spots for cozy hideaways.
• Add seasonal color: Choose flowering or berry-bearing hedges to invite birds and pollinators.
• Frame views: Position hedges to block unwanted sights and highlight your favorite garden features.

How to Plant Fast-Growing Hedging Plants

For the best results with your quick-growing privacy hedges, proper planting is essential. Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure your living fence establishes quickly and flourishes for years to come.

1. Select the right hedge: Match your plant choice to climate, soil, and sun exposure.
2. Prepare the soil: Loosen soil along the planting strip, mix in compost, and ensure sharp drainage.
3. Space plants properly: Check each species for the recommended spacing (usually 2-5 feet apart) for fast closure without crowding.
4. Water thoroughly: After planting, water deeply to settle the roots, and keep soil moist during establishment.
5. Mulch and feed: Apply mulch to conserve moisture; fertilize each spring to boost growth.
6. Prune as needed: Begin shaping your hedge early to encourage dense, even growth.

Essential Care for Fast-growing Privacy Hedges

Maintenance is key to keeping your living screen healthy, dense, and beautiful. While many fast-growing hedges are robust and forgiving, a few simple steps ensure optimal growth and longevity:

• Regular watering: Especially during the first two years or dry spells.
• Yearly feeding: Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release plant food for lush foliage.
• Timely pruning: For best results, trim hedges lightly 1-2 times per season. This encourages branching and a thicker wall.
• Pest and disease monitoring: Inspect regularly and act promptly at the first signs of problems.

With these care essentials, your fast-growing hedges will become a long-lasting, attractive feature--and your neighbors will never know what's happening in your private oasis!

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Hedges

Which hedge grows the fastest for privacy?

The 'Green Giant' Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress are among the fastest-growing evergreen hedges, adding up to 3-5 feet per year under ideal conditions.

Are fast-growing hedges high-maintenance?

Most are surprisingly low-maintenance. The key is establishing early watering, regular trimming, and occasional feeding. Evergreen options like arborvitae and laurel are particularly easy to care for.

Can fast-growing hedges thrive in shade?

Yes! Some varieties, including skip laurel, cherry laurel, and certain types of boxwood, perform well in shaded or partially shaded areas.

How far apart should fast-growing hedges be planted?

Spacing depends on mature width--plant 2-5 feet apart for most hedges. Closer spacing fills gaps faster but may require more pruning to prevent overcrowding.

Transform Your Yard Into a Private Oasis

If you long to relax in peace, listen to birdsong, and enjoy garden beauty undisturbed, fast-growing privacy hedges are your ticket to a tranquil escape. With choices like arborvitae, privet, cherry laurel, and bamboo, there's a perfect living fence for every property size and style.

Follow these expert tips, choose your favorite quick-growing hedge plant, and soon you'll have a naturally secluded outdoor retreat that's the envy of your neighborhood. Create your own green paradise--and let your private oasis flourish!