9 Speedy Hedges to Secure Your Space with Greenery

Searching for the best fast-growing hedges to secure your garden or property with vibrant, lush foliage? In this comprehensive article, we'll explore nine of the quickest, most reliable hedging plants that deliver privacy, security, and natural beauty in record time. Our guide is SEO-optimized, informative, and tailored to help you make the best decision for your green boundaries.

The Importance of Quick-Growing Hedges

Whether you want to secure your home with greenery, add attractive borders, or reduce noise and wind, choosing the right hedging plants is essential. Fast-growing hedges offer the advantage of quicker results--with many offering thickness and security in just one or two seasons. These hedges not only provide instant privacy but also support biodiversity, enhance property value, and bring year-round interest to your landscape.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fast-Growing Hedge

• Climate compatibility: Ensure your chosen hedge thrives in your region.
• Desired height and spread: Plan based on your privacy needs and available space.
• Evergreen vs. deciduous: Evergreens keep their leaves year-round, offering better privacy.
• Maintenance requirements: Some hedges need frequent trimming; choose one that matches your commitment.
• Growth rate: Some varieties can grow up to 2-3 feet per year!

Now, let's discover the top nine speedy hedges for a secure and stunning natural barrier.

1. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)

Why Choose Privet Hedges?

Privet hedges are classics for a reason--they're among the fastest-growing hedge plants available, with some varieties adding up to 3 feet each year! They create dense, lush walls ideal for privacy and security.

• Growth speed: Up to 3 feet per year
• Evergreen (most species): Provides year-round screening
• Low maintenance: Responds well to trimming and shaping
• Drought tolerant once established

Privet is especially popular in both urban and rural settings due to its hardiness, adaptability to different soils, and ability to form a hedge quickly.

2. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

The Speedy Evergreen Barrier

Cherry laurel hedges are renowned for their rapid growth, sometimes reaching up to 2 feet per year. Its large, glossy green leaves create a lush, impenetrable wall that's perfect for securing your space with greenery.

• Excellent for privacy: Dense foliage blocks both sight and sound
• Shade tolerant: Grows well even in tricky spots
• Evergreen: Remains attractive all year
• Low maintenance: Occasional trimming keeps it in shape

3. Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)

The Ultimate Fast-Growing Security Hedge

When it comes to fast-growing hedging plants, Leyland cypress is often unmatched. This conifer can grow up to 4 feet per year, providing a towering, elegant screen.

• Growth speed: Up to 4 feet per year
• Tall and dense: Ideal for instant privacy and noise reduction
• Evergreen: Holds foliage all year round for non-stop cover
• Wind-resistant: Great for exposed sites

Tip: Leylandii require regular trimming to prevent them from becoming unmanageable, but with proper care, they form an unbeatable barrier quickly.

4. Bamboo (Phyllostachys and Fargesia spp.)

Exotic Hedges for Fast Privacy

Bamboo hedges are increasingly popular as speedy hedging plants. Their upright, lush canes provide a tropical vibe and fast coverage, making them ideal for modern landscapes.

• Rapid growth: Some bamboos grow up to 2-3 feet per year
• Evergreen: Stays green even in winter
• Great for narrow spaces: Grows upright with minimal spread
• Wildlife friendly: Provides shelter for birds and insects

Important: Choose clumping bamboo varieties over running types to avoid invasive spread.

5. Photinia 'Red Robin'

Secure Your Space with Vibrant Color

Photinia hedges are not just fast growers--they bring bright red new growth in spring, making your privacy screen a colorful feature in your landscape.

• Growth speed: 1-2 feet per year
• Evergreen: Retains leaves through the seasons
• Low maintenance: Responds well to clipping
• Showy foliage: Striking red growth turns glossy green

Perfect for those seeking green hedges with a twist--Photinia 'Red Robin' brightens up garden boundaries beautifully.

6. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

Sturdy Hedges with Lasting Greenery

If you want a robust, fast-growing and wildlife-friendly hedge, hornbeam is an excellent choice. While technically deciduous, hornbeam will often retain its coppery leaves through the winter, providing all-round coverage.

• Quick growing: Up to 1.5 feet per year
• Disease-resistant: Very tough and reliable
• Good in difficult soils: Will thrive in heavy clay
• Excellent for native hedges: Supports birds and insects

Interesting: Hornbeam can be tightly clipped for a neat, formal look or allowed to grow more loosely for a naturalistic boundary.

7. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)

Classic and Fast Low Hedges

Although usually grown as a slow-grower, certain varieties of boxwood can establish pleasantly quickly, forming compact, evergreen hedges perfect for garden borders and formal landscaping. With regular pruning and care, you can enjoy a dense green boundary in minimal time.

• Faster than you think: Up to 1 foot per year (with proper conditions)
• Evergreen: Attractive, small dark leaves all year round
• Easy to shape: Excellent for formal topiary and tight edges
• Disease resistant (choose improved varieties):

Tip: Opt for new disease-resistant strains if box blight is a concern in your area.

8. Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

An Elegant, Rapid-Growing Hedge

For a touch of sophistication, consider Portuguese laurel hedges. While slightly slower than cherry laurel, their glossy, dark-green leaves and upright growth still provide speedy results for securing your garden with greenery.

• Growth speed: Up to 2 feet per year
• Low maintenance: Holds shape well with occasional trimming
• Tolerant of shade and pollution: Great for urban environments
• Year-round interest: Evergreen with fragrant summer flowers and red stems

This hedge is perfect for those who want an easy-to-manage, yet visually appealing green screen around their property.

9. Escallonia

A Colorful, Fast-Growing Evergreen Hedge

If you're seeking a speedy hedge with the bonus of beautiful blooms, Escallonia is your answer. This evergreen is suited for coastal areas and produces masses of pink, white, or red flowers throughout summer.

• Quick growth: Up to 1.5-2 feet per year
• Evergreen: Retains glossy, green leaves all year
• Attractive flowers: Summer color for pollinators
• Salt and wind tolerant: Ideal for seaside gardens

A hardy, flowering hedge like Escallonia combines beauty, privacy, and durability in equal measure.

How to Establish Your Fast-Growing Hedge Quickly

• Prepare the ground well: Dig over the site, remove weeds, and enrich with compost.
• Plant at recommended spacing: Avoid overcrowding for healthier, denser growth.
• Water consistently in the first year: Fast growers especially need regular moisture.
• Mulch and feed: Mulch helps retain moisture and control weeds; a balanced slow-release fertilizer encourages vigorous growth.
• Prune lightly after planting: Encourages bushier, fuller hedges from the start.

Maintenance Tips for Speedy Hedges

While these hedges are chosen for their rapid results, some basic care will ensure they remain healthy, tidy, and effective at securing your space with greenery:

• Regular Pruning: Fast-growing species can quickly become unruly. Prune 1-2 times per year for a formal hedge; less for informal styles.
• Watch for pests and diseases: Choose resistant varieties if possible, and check regularly for signs of trouble.
• Fertilize in spring: A balanced, slow-release feed supports lush new growth.
• Water during dry spells: Even established hedges benefit from occasional deep watering in drought.
• Renew mulch annually: Maintains soil moisture and suppresses weeds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Growing Hedging Plants

How quickly will my hedge establish?

With proper planting and care, most fast-growing hedges will provide meaningful coverage in their first 1-2 years, forming a solid screen by year three.

How far apart should I plant my hedge?

This varies by species and desired density. General rules:

• Privet, Laurel, Photinia: 12-18 inches apart
• Leyland Cypress: 18-24 inches apart
• Bamboo: 2-3 feet apart (choose clumping types!)

What's the best hedge for year-round privacy?

Evergreen hedges like Laurel, Leylandii, Photinia, Boxwood, and Portuguese Laurel guarantee leafy screens through every season.

Can I mix different hedging plants?

Absolutely! Mixed hedges can provide extended interest, diverse habits, and improved wildlife value.

Conclusion: Secure Your Space with Speedy Green Hedges

A fast-growing hedge offers privacy, protection, and aesthetic charm in just a few growing seasons. Whether you prefer the classic formality of Boxwood or the dramatic height of Leylandii, there's a speedy hedging plant for every garden style and purpose.

By considering climate, size, and care level, you can quickly secure your garden with greenery--creating a natural sanctuary that's beautiful, effective, and eco-friendly.

Ready to transform your landscape? Choose any of these 9 speedy hedges and watch your green boundaries flourish faster than you thought possible!