Create a Private Oasis with 9 Rapidly Growing Hedges
Posted on 14/06/2025
Create a Private Oasis with 9 Rapidly Growing Hedges
In earnest pursuit of privacy, beauty, and tranquility, homeowners and garden enthusiasts often find themselves searching for the ideal fast-growing hedge. Whether you are looking to block out nosy neighbors, create a gorgeous living fence, muffle street noise, or shape your own personal sanctuary, these rapidly growing hedges are the perfect solution. Not only do they provide effective shielding and lush green walls, but they also serve as habitats for wildlife and enhance your landscape's value and appeal.
Why Choose Fast Growing Hedges for Privacy?
A private oasis is more than just a backyard--it's your personal retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. By opting for rapidly growing hedging plants, you accelerate the transformation of your outdoor space into a safe haven. The benefits include:
- Quick results: Enjoy privacy within a few growing seasons rather than waiting years for slow-developing alternatives.
- Natural barrier: Hedges act as living fences, blocking undesirable views, buffering noise, and deterring trespassers.
- Environmental advantages: Improve local air quality, provide wildlife habitats, and support biodiversity.
- Low-maintenance options: Many fast-growing privacy hedges require little care once established, saving you time and effort.
- Aesthetic value: Apart from functionality, hedges offer visual appeal through varied textures, foliage, flowers, and seasonal color changes.
Essential Considerations Before Planting Growing Hedges
Before you pick the best fast-growing hedges for privacy, assess your yard's conditions.
- Climate compatibility: Choose species suited to your local climate and hardiness zone.
- Sunlight and soil: Evaluate the sun exposure and soil drainage where you'll plant your hedges.
- Maintenance level: Consider how much time you're willing to dedicate for pruning, watering, and shaping.
- Desired height and spread: Different species vary in their mature size, so pick ones that fit your privacy and space needs.
- Evergreen vs. deciduous: Evergreen hedges provide year-round cover, while deciduous varieties offer gorgeous seasonal interest.
- Growth rate: Balance rapid growth with stays manageable in terms of trimming and long-term height.
The 9 Best Rapidly Growing Hedges for a Private Oasis
Here's a list of the top 9 rapidly growing hedges perfect for crafting your own secluded sanctuary. Each plant offers unique benefits, charm, and eco-friendly privacy.
1. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii)
Undoubtedly one of the quickest growing privacy hedges, Leyland Cypress adds between 3 to 5 feet per year under optimal conditions. With its soft, fern-like foliage and elegant silhouette, it quickly forms a dense, evergreen barrier. Perfect for full sun spots, its fast growth must be managed with regular pruning. Leyland Cypress tolerates many soil types and is ideal for larger properties.
- Growth rate: 3-5 feet/year
- Best for: Tall, dense privacy screens
- Caution: Needs annual trimming to prevent outgrowing its space
2. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
A classic choice for traditional hedges, privet hedges are valued for their incredibly fast growth and tolerability of shaping. These semi-evergreen shrubs can shoot up 2-3 feet annually. Privet thrives in most soils, responds well to clipping, and creates a thick, impenetrable wall when planted close together. Some varieties flower in late spring, attracting pollinators.
- Growth rate: 2-3 feet/year
- Best for: Formal or informal barrier/hedge
- Note: Can be invasive in certain regions--check local regulations
3. Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata)
Often recommended as a softer alternative to Leyland Cypress, the Green Giant Arborvitae boasts a rapid growth rate (up to 3 feet/year) and a stately, uniform appearance. Adaptable to various soils and climates, it withstands snow, wind, and pests. The deep green, fragrant foliage ensures year-round privacy and beauty.
- Growth rate: 2-3 feet/year
- Best for: Evergreen privacy fence with minimal maintenance
- Tip: Space 5-6 feet apart for a thick hedge
4. Skip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis')
Ideal for shady or challenging sites, the Skip Laurel is a robust broadleaf evergreen with glossy green leaves. It grows up to 2 feet each year, rapidly filling in privacy gaps--even under mature trees. Its tolerance for drought, salt, and pollutants makes it versatile for urban and suburban gardens while its springtime white flowers add ornamental charm.
- Growth rate: Up to 2 feet/year
- Best for: Partial shade to full shade areas
- Bonus: Deer resistant and low-maintenance
5. Bamboo (Clumping Varieties)
Nothing matches bamboo for exotic appeal and ultra-fast growth--some types can add several feet in just one season. Clumping bamboo is ideal for non-invasive privacy screens (avoid running types that can spread aggressively). With upright canes and lush leaves, bamboo creates a sound-absorbing, wind-breaking green wall while attracting birds and pollinators.
- Growth rate: 3-5 feet/year or more
- Best for: Modern, Asian-inspired, or small gardens
- Reminder: Choose clumping varieties such as Bambusa or Fargesia for easier containment
6. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
If you long for color and rapid privacy simultaneously, forsythia is your go-to shrub. Bursting with yellow blooms in early spring, forsythia grows fast--up to 2 feet a year--forming an exuberant, informal hedge. It's easy to prune, tough as nails, and thrives even in poor soils.
- Growth rate: Up to 2 feet/year
- Best for: Flowering, informal screens and property boundaries
- Highlight: Attracts early-season pollinators
7. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
A native evergreen for milder climates, wax myrtle offers aromatic foliage, attractive berries, and a fast growth rate. With its salt tolerance, it's perfect for coastal gardens and grows well in both sun and shade. Wax myrtle quickly fills in to make a thick, bird-friendly hedge for year-round privacy.
- Growth rate: 2-5 feet/year
- Best for: Coastal or Southern gardens
- Perks: Attracts birds and repels some insects naturally
8. Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Cherry laurel is a resilient, broadleaf evergreen with lustrous leaves and a dense growth habit, flourishing in sun or partial shade. This hedge staple can grow up to 2 feet yearly and, with regular trimming, forms a solid barrier of glossy green. It adapts to most soils and rewards you with fragrant white flower spikes in spring and berries in fall.
- Growth rate: 1-2 feet/year
- Best for: All-purpose evergreen privacy hedge
- Note: Berries are toxic to pets and people if ingested
9. Red-Tipped Photinia (Photinia x fraseri)
Known for its striking red new growth and white spring flowers, red-tipped photinia grows 2-3 feet per year and forms a bold, broadleaf evergreen hedge. With routine pruning, it develops into a dense privacy screen that's both attractive and effective. It's best suited for areas with mild winters and well-drained soils.
- Growth rate: 2-3 feet/year
- Best for: Colorful privacy hedges with ornamental appeal
- Care: Avoid wet soils to prevent diseases like leaf spot
Planting & Growing Tips for Fast Growing Hedges
Selecting the right fast privacy hedge is only step one. Here are expert tips to ensure your hedges flourish quickly:
- Soil preparation: Amend soil with organic matter and ensure good drainage.
- Spacing: Follow recommended distances to avoid overcrowding and encourage healthy fill-in.
- Watering: Keep new hedges consistently moist for the first two years; mulch to conserve moisture.
- Regular pruning: Trim young plants to promote bushy, dense growth and shape as desired.
- Fertilization: Feed in early spring with a balanced fertilizer to support lush growth.
- Pest and disease management: Inspect regularly and address issues early to prevent hedge decline.
Pro tip: For the fastest results, consider planting larger nursery specimens instead of bare-root or small liners.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rapidly Growing Hedges
Which fast-growing hedge provides the most privacy?
Leyland Cypress, Green Giant Arborvitae, and bamboo (clumping varieties) are among the most effective for immediate privacy due to their thick, evergreen growth habit and rapid establishment.
What is the easiest fast hedge to maintain?
Skip laurel and Green Giant Arborvitae are low-maintenance once established, requiring only annual or semi-annual pruning and basic care.
Will fast-growing hedges block road noise?
Yes, densely planted evergreen hedges can significantly reduce noise levels, acting as a natural sound barrier between your property and the street.
What is the best hedge for small gardens?
Clumping bamboo and Skip Laurel are recommended for limited spaces, as they offer upright growth without overwhelming smaller yards.
Conclusion: Enclose Your Garden in Natural Beauty
A private oasis is achievable faster than ever with the right selection of rapidly growing hedges. Combining function and form, these living screens provide peace, seclusion, and lush beauty in record time. From towering Green Giant Arborvitae to vibrant Red-Tipped Photinia, there's a perfect privacy hedge for every need and setting.
As you transform your property into a walled garden retreat, remember to consider the specific requirements of each plant and invest in proper care during the early years. Your reward will be a thriving, beautiful barrier that turns heads, blocks disturbances, and welcomes you home to a green sanctuary.
Ready to elevate your landscape? Explore local nurseries for the best fast-growing hedge plants and start cultivating your private paradise today!
