The Perfect Trees for Privacy Hedges - PlantingTree (2024)

FAQs

What is the quickest growing tree for privacy? ›

What are the fastest-growing trees for privacy? Hybrid poplar tops the list. It can grow upwards of five feet per year. The Leyland cypress, green giant arborvitae, and silver maple are all close seconds because they add about two feet to their height each year.

One of the fastest-growing evergreens for privacy, English Laurel (or Prunus laurocerasus) will fill out a big space quickly. It is a great option as privacy hedges if you want a tall hedge quickly. Make sure to keep on top of pruning to keep it from getting leggy.

Arborvitae. If you need your privacy fast, how about the Green Giant Arborvitae which can grow three to five feet in one year. This shrub can grow to a mature height of 30-50 feet, but it tolerates shearing to keep it to the size you prefer.

Evergreens like Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress are excellent for privacy, creating dense barriers that shelter birds. Holly varieties, with their dense foliage and berries, offer both privacy and a vital food source for birds during scarce winter months.

The go-to evergreen for lining a fence, American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), also known as eastern arborvitae, can live for several hundred years. Most popular varieties mature at 10 to 15 feet, much smaller than in the wild, making them perfect for year-round privacy in evergreen landscaping.

With growth rates from 3 to 5 feet per year the fastest growing privacy hedges are Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, Cryptomeria Radicans, and Wax Myrtle. Carolina Sapphire Cypress, Nellie Stevens Holly, Oakland Holly, and Wavy Leaf Ligustrum offer fast privacy with 2 to 3 feet of upward growth per year.

Hedges planted in the autumn and winter have a longer time to get their roots established in the soil while the soil is moist and will need less watering, if any at all, in the summer months – so this is a good time to plant if you are not able to water your newly planted hedging plants.

Evergreen hedge plants offer the perfect solution for those seeking year-round privacy with minimal maintenance. These plants, such as laurel, euonymus, and yew, maintain their foliage all year long, creating a dense and attractive barrier to shield your garden from prying eyes and noise pollution.

Waiting for a hedge to mature usually takes 5-6 years. With InstantHedge, a mature hedge can be planted in one day.

Is a hedge cheaper than a fence? ›

Consider a hedge if you're in need of a fence. When managed properly, hedges cost less, outlast wooden fences, are more attractive than most walls, and produce wildlife- and pollinator-pleasing berries and blooms.

The top choice for a basic privacy and hedge tree has got to be the amazing Emerald Green Arborvitae. (It was discovered in Denmark, and it's proper name is 'Smaragd', but that's a story for another day).

Secret 1: Use evergreen and deciduous trees to create a natural barrier. Screening trees and shrubs is a great way to block out unwanted noise, provide attractive sightlines and create privacy. Tall privacy hedges such as Leyland cypress will form an effective barrier between you and your neighbors.

The Paulownia tree (Paulownia elongata or Paulownia fortunei) is often considered one of the fastest-growing trees in the world. It is native to China and is known for its rapid growth rate. Under ideal conditions, Paulownia trees can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) or more in a single year.

Arborvitae Trees such as Thuja Green Giants, American Pillars, and Emerald Green Arborvitaes are popular choices for both privacy and noise barriers. The thick soft foliage is evergreen, and they can be planted closer together than other kinds of trees.