Privacy hedges and fast-growing shrubs offer a perfect solution for homeowners looking to create secluded outdoor spaces. Beyond blocking unsightly views, these dense hedges reduce noise, filter air pollutants, and provide shelter for local wildlife. While traditional fencing offers instant privacy, fast-growing privacy hedges become more beautiful and effective over time, increasing property value while reducing long-term maintenance costs.
When selecting hedge plants, growth rate matters significantly. Fast-growing hedge varieties can establish effective privacy screens within 2-3 seasons, compared to 5+ years for slower-growing options. This guide explores nine outstanding choices for fast-growing privacy hedges: Viburnum, Osmanthus, Gardenia, Camellia, Laurel, and Boxwood. Each brings unique characteristics suited for different growing conditions and aesthetic preferences.
Top Fast-Growing Privacy Hedge Options
Evergreen Champions
Laurel combines rapid growth of 2-3 feet annually with glossy dark green foliage that creates an effective privacy screen up to 15-20 feet tall. This hardy hedge plant adapts well to various soil conditions and shows good tolerance for both sun and shade conditions.
Flowering Privacy Options
Viburnum brings both privacy and seasonal interest as a fast growing hedge, growing 2 feet per year and reaching 10-15 feet tall. Spring brings clusters of white flowers, followed by colorful berries that attract birds. This deciduous shrub provides dense foliage through most seasons.
Gardenia creates a fragrant privacy screen, growing steadily at 1-2 feet annually to reach 6-8 feet. The glossy evergreen leaves provide year-round coverage, while the sweet-scented white blooms appear from late spring through summer, adding a lovely sensory element to your outdoor space.
Camellia develops into a stunning flowering hedge at a moderate growth rate of 1-2 feet yearly, ultimately reaching 10-12 feet tall. These sophisticated shrubs offer winter and spring blooms in shades of pink, red, and white, while maintaining attractive, dense growth throughout the year. Their dense hedge pattern makes them excellent choices for creating living walls in partly shaded areas.
Planting and Spacing Guidelines
Site Preparation
Most privacy hedge plants and evergreen shrubs like viburnum, boxwood, and arborvitae grow best in well-draining, slightly acidic soil conditions with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Before planting these fast-growing hedge varieties, work organic matter like compost into the top 12 inches of soil to improve drainage and fertility. While many privacy screens adapt to various light conditions, most prefer full sun to partial shade, getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Good drainage is a must - test by digging a hole 12 inches deep, filling it with water, and checking that it drains within 24 hours.
Proper Spacing
The spacing between hedge plants depends on their mature width and how quickly you want a dense hedge. For fast-growing shrubs, space plants 6-8 feet apart. Slower-growing species like boxwood should be planted 2-3 feet apart. When planning multiple rows of privacy trees, keep them 8-10 feet apart to allow proper air circulation. For border plantings along property lines, set the hedge back at least 3 feet from boundaries to allow for mature growth and maintenance access.
Planting Techniques
Dig planting holes twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the shrub's container depth. Rough up the sides of the hole to help roots penetrate the surrounding soil. Place new plants at the same depth they grew in their containers - planting too deep can damage the trunk. After positioning, backfill with native soil mixed with compost, water thoroughly, and add 2-3 inches of organic mulch around each fast-growing hedge plant, keeping it away from trunks. Water deeply twice weekly for the first growing season to help establish strong root systems.
Maintenance for Rapid Growth
Watering Schedule
New privacy hedge plants need consistent moisture and moist soil to develop strong root systems that support rapid growth. During the first year, water deeply 2-3 times per week, applying water directly to the root zone. A soaker hose works well for even distribution. Once established after 12-18 months, most fast-growing hedges become more drought-tolerant but still benefit from weekly deep watering during growing seasons.
Adjust watering based on rainfall and seasons. In summer, water early morning or evening to minimize evaporation. During spring and fall, reduce frequency but maintain the depth of watering. Winter typically requires minimal supplemental water except during dry spells.
Fertilization
Fast-growing privacy hedges like Laurel respond well to balanced, slow-release fertilizers with an NPK ratio around 10-10-10. Apply fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins, and again lightly in late summer. Spread fertilizer evenly around the root zone, starting 6 inches from the trunk and extending just beyond the drip line.
For organic options, composted manure or fish emulsion provide nutrients while improving soil conditions. Follow package directions for amount - over-fertilizing can damage roots and actually slow growth rate.
Pruning Practices
Time pruning based on your evergreen hedge variety. For most dense evergreen privacy screens like Boxwood and Osmanthus, prune in early spring before new growth starts, with light trimming through summer as needed. Wait until after flowering for blooming shrubs like Gardenia and Camellia.
Use clean, sharp bypass pruners for branches under ¾ inch and loppers for larger ones. Make cuts at a slight angle just above growth points. Remove dead or crossing branches first, then shape the hedge slightly wider at bottom than top to allow light penetration. Regular pruning promotes dense growth better than occasional heavy pruning.
Start Building Your Garden with Hedges
Fast-growing privacy hedge options stand as an excellent choice for outdoor space transformation, soaring 3-5 feet annually with dense evergreen foliage. This fast-growing shrub offers the perfect blend of rapid growth and lasting beauty, making it an ideal privacy screen solution for homeowners seeking quick, natural screening results.
The most successful hedge plants start with proper spacing and planting depth, followed by regular watering during the first growing season. While fastest-growing shrubs like Osmanthus need more frequent pruning to maintain their shape, low-maintenance options like Boxwood and Camellia require less care but still deliver beautiful results. For best results, plant your privacy hedge in spring or fall when temperatures are mild and rainfall is more frequent.
Ready to start your privacy screen project? Visit Singing Tree Gardens Nursery for expert guidance on choosing the right hedge plants for your space. Our knowledgeable staff can help you select from our collection of healthy, well-established specimens and provide personalized advice for your specific landscape needs.