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Best tall hedging plants


7 Fast-Growing Hedges & Shrubs for Privacy

Home > Fast Growing Hedges

Fast-growing hedges are always in high demand! The main uses are:

Regardless of the reason for wanting a rapidly-growing tall hedge or privacy screen, we have excellent options for any space. These varieties will grow more than 1 foot per year (some can grow up to 4 feet per year in ideal conditions). They are all well-suited to hedging, so they can also be pruned to remain tight and kept at any desired height. Some are fast growing evergreen trees for privacy, some are deciduous. These plants are fastest growing shrubs in Florida and other states. We’ve included detailed information on each with the best ways to use and maintain them.

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7 Varieties of Fast Growing Hedges

ENCOURAGING FAST GROWTH

It is important to note that, although these varieties do grow fast when compared with some other types, a big factor in the growth rate is the environment. Fast growing privacy hedge and shrubs that are stressed from lack of water, extreme temperatures, or the wrong exposure (i.e. too much sun or too much shade), will grow much slower than the typical growth rates.

If getting a tall hedge fast is important to you, you will need to make sure to do the following 5 things:

1. Choose the right hedge for the right space.

If you don’t plant your hedge in the right site, fast growing shrubs will never thrive. Full sun plants need to be planted in full sun. Plants that are borderline hardiness will be damaged each winter by frost. Water-loving varieties can’t be planted in deserts. Do your research before planting, choose a plant that suits your site, and you will be just fine. Keep in mind that a plant that tolerates both shade and sun will generally grow faster in more sun.

2. Plant your hedge at the right time.

Planting an Amur Maple hedge in the middle of July in full sun with limited supplemental water is going to set the plants back significantly. The ideal time to plant is fall, after the hedges are dormant. You can also safely plant fast growing evergreen trees for privacy through the winter in areas where the ground does not freeze hard, and spring is also a good time. Doing this for fast growing shrubs saves your work and worry and saves the plants a lot of stress.

3. Water for the first 1-2 years

Once your hedge has been in the ground for several years and has had a chance to send roots deep into the soil, it will need very little supplemental water, if any. However, it is important to provide ample water during the first 1-2 growing seasons after planting. The best way to do this is to lay a drip line along the length of your fast growing shrubs and run for an hour at a time every few days to water deeply.

4. Fertilize

Fast growing shrubs are very low-maintenance, but if you want optimum growth, applying a high-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer will help. It is best to apply in the spring right before growth begins.

5. Prune at the right times

Spring is generally the best time to prune, as this stimulates new growth and ensures that no tender new shoots will be frozen if they emerge too close to winter. Yearly pruning, although it seems counterintuitive for a fast-growing hedge, really helps create a nice, dense hedge. You’ll be glad you did it!

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FLAME AMUR MAPLE

Acer Ginnala ‘Flame’

Flame Amur Maple is our favorite deciduous fast-growing hedge. It has outstanding fall color in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. It is very cold-hardy (down to -40ºF!) and can be grown in most parts of the US.

It can easily be grown as a hedge thanks to its multi-stemmed natural habit and can be maintained by pruning once per year. It thrives in full sun to part shade, and it is quite drought-tolerant once established.

Flame Amur Maple makes one of the best fast growing shrubs screens that provide shade in the summer and still allows light through in the winter.

ENGLISH LAUREL (CHERRY LAUREL)

Prunus Laurocerasus

English laurel (or Cherry Laurel) can make an enormous fast-growing hedge. Under the right conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet per year! It does very well in heat. It has glossy evergreen foliage and makes a very attractive large hedge with regular pruning 1-2 times per year. English laurel grows in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types and is very drought-tolerant once established. It is smog and salt tolerant, and deer will not touch it. English laurel makes a tough-as-nails, versatile, and seriously fast-growing hedge. The perfect fast growing shrubs for large spaces where privacy is needed. The hedge is considered as one of the best fast growing evergreen trees for privacy in the USA.

SCHIP LAUREL

Prunus Laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’

Schip laurels (or Skip laurels) are a very popular shrub to use for an evergreen fast-growing hedge. They can easily make a tall and narrow hedge with pruning once per year and occasional shaping. They are fast growing evergreen trees for zone 5. It has the advantage over most other fast-growing hedge types of tolerating full sun to full shade. Schip laurels fast growing shrubs also grow well in a wide variety of soil types, is drought-tolerant once established, and is not bothered by smog or salt. It does well in heat and is cold hardy to zone 6 or even warmer parts of zone 5. Schip laurel makes a durable fast-growing hedge that is ideal for privacy and for hiding fences.

PORTUGUESE LAUREL

Prunus Lusitanica

Portuguese laurel is a stunning fast-growing evergreen hedge that works well for warm, coastal regions. It grows quickly but is easy to maintain due to its mostly spreading habit. With pruning once per year, it quickly makes a very dense hedge. Portuguese laurel thrives in warm climates and does well in drought, smog, and salt. It grows in a wide range of soils, including poor soils. It is deer-resistant. It can take full sun and partial shade. Though a little slower-growing than the English laurel or Schip laurel, Portuguese laurel makes an excellent fast-growing hedge with less maintenance required. Its thickness makes it one of the best hedges for privacy, wind-block, and noise-block. It is also perfect for hiding fences.

AMERICAN ARBORVITAE

Thuja Occidentalis

American Arborvitae is a popular plant for evergreen fast-growing hedges. It is extremely cold-hardy so it is especially useful in the Northern US. They are fast growing shrubs but easy to maintain as a clipped hedge with one pruning per year. It is low-maintenance and fairly drought-tolerant once established. It does well in urban environments. Unfortunately, deer can be a problem. American Arborvitae make a wonderful, low-maintenance, evergreen, fast-growing hedge. It works especially well as a privacy hedge.

GREEN GIANT ARBORVITAE

Thuja X ‘Green Giant’

Green Giant Arborvitae is the big exception to the rule that Arborvitae grow slowly. This hybrid Thuja typically grows 3 feet per year, with some reports circulating of it growing 5 feet in one year! If you need a fast-growing, large, evergreen Arborvitae hedge, Green Giant is a perfect choice. It will take some work to maintain if you want to keep it as a medium-sized hedge, but one pruning per year will suffice for a large hedge. Green Giant grows in full sun to partial shade and is resistant to many diseases and pests, including deer. It tolerates many soils, but consistently damp and poor-draining sites should be avoided. It grows well in the humidity of the Southeastern US. Green Giant Arborvitae is a classic fast-growing hedge. It is a popular choice for privacy and wind-breaks, and will remain healthy in many areas where other Arborvitae would struggle.

VIRESCENS WESTERN RED CEDAR

Thuja Plicata ‘Virescens’

Virescens Western Red Cedar is a wonderful fast-growing hedge for warmer regions where other Arborvitae might not thrive. It has a unique upright-branching habit and responds well to hedging. Virescens naturally grow tall and narrow, so it lends itself well to a tall privacy hedge. One pruning per year is sufficient to maintain a nice hedge. Native to the Pacific Northwest, Virescens does well everywhere that isn’t too hot or too cold. It tolerates partial shade as well as full sun, and it holds its green color all year. Deer leave it alone. Virescens Western Red Cedar is so well-suited to forming a fast-growing hedge that it requires very little maintenance. Virescens’ fast growing shrubs make a very handsome privacy hedge and hide fences well. So if you are looking for a non-toxic privacy hedge to hide ugly fence of neighbors or your breakfast area that looks ugliest like never before then this is one of the best fast growing privacy hedges to consider.

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English Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus) - InstantHedge

Check Availability With rich evergreen foliage throughout the year and dense branches, English laurel or Prunus Laurocerasus is a popular hedge for those wanting a lush evergreen privacy screen. As it is a fast-growing shrub, English Laurel hedge makes an excellent choice for a taller privacy hedge or border.

QUICK GUIDE

There are a number of immediate benefits to choosing the English laurel for your next hedge:

PRUNUS LAUROCERASUS DETAILS

The English laurel is well-suited to sunnier climates and is more drought-resistant than other shrub varieties, which makes it a popular hedging plant choice throughout the U. S.

An unpruned English laurel can reach up to 40 feet in height, but keeping it around 10 to 12 feet tall makes it a perfect backyard privacy screen.

The tiny clusters of cream-colored flowers that arrive in the spring are pleasantly fragrant and the namesake cherry-like fruit is devoured by birds in late summer.

The English laurel thrives with more direct sun in cooler climates, while it prefers some shade in more extreme heat zones.

The shrub’s large, glossy evergreen leaves are beautiful and recover easily from shearing, which makes the plant great for regular pruning.

Prunus laurocerasus is native to parts of Europe and Asia Minor, and the shrub has been a popular cultivated plant since at least 1576 and has been used in the United States since the colonial era.

As it is more salt-resistant than many other hedges, Prunus laurocerasus is popular in warmer coastal regions.

The naturally oval-shaped habit can be pruned into unique shapes, should that be desired. Other similar laurel hedge types are Schip laurel and Portuguese laurel. Also, check out more hedge types with both deciduous and evergreen options.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 - 9
Your Hardiness Zone:

Your auto-detected zip code: Detecting...

And your zone is: Detecting...
Sun/Shade: Partial to Full Sun
Deer Resistance: Yes
Watering Requirements: Weekly, or possibly more often in extreme heat
Growth Rate: Fast
Mature Size: 12’ height and 8’ width for average landscape use
Drought Tolerance: High
West Coast - Sunset Heat Zones: 4 - 9 and 14 - 24
Pest/Disease Issues:
Long-term health generally unaffected by pests. Mites, borers and caterpillars are attracted to the laurel. Moderately susceptible to shot-hole, powdery mildew and root rot.

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Top 15 best hedge plants

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We present to your attention a selection of the best plants in our opinion for creating a living fence on your site.

1. Thuja. Evergreen tree or shrub. In the conditions of the middle lane, it can reach a height of 3 m. It is widely used to create hedges. The optimal planting distance is 80-100 cm. It can be planted in two rows in a checkerboard pattern. In a temperate climate, among the various forms of thuja, the thuja western “Smaragd” and “Emerald” feel best. Among other plants used to create hedges, thuja has its advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Endurance. Not demanding on lighting, frost and heat resistant, feels good in urban environments.
  • Tolerates shearing well. Thuja is distinguished by strong branching, forms a dense fence, takes any shape.
  • Possesses volatile properties.

Drawbacks:

disadvantages of arborvitae include its burnout in the bright sun, while the needles lose their decorative effect and become brown.

2. Juniper. Common, Cossack, virgin, scaly, and Chinese junipers are used to create hedges. All of them have their own characteristics, but their main advantages are the same:

  • Creates a fairly tight enclosure.
  • Drought resistant.
  • Not picky about the soil.
  • The needles do not crumble.

Of the shortcomings of juniper, one can single out its need for good lighting. Otherwise, the bushes become loose and lose their decorative effect. Like all conifers, juniper has a rather slow growth, although this is a minus or plus for a hedge - a moot point.

3. Berry yew. Evergreen coniferous plant. Great for creating a living fence and for good reason:

  • Excellent shear tolerance.
  • Forms shoots even on old wood.
  • Long-lived and slow growing.
  • Hardy.
  • Drought resistant.
  • Produces bright red decorative fruits.

The yew has one drawback - all its parts are poisonous.

4. Lawson Cypress is one of the most beautiful coniferous plants.

Benefits:

  • Forms a dense dense conical crown.
  • Very decorative bluish-green needles.
  • Undemanding to soil fertility.
  • Quite resistant to diseases and pests.

Disadvantages: prefers well-lit areas (goes bald in the shade), requires regular watering and spraying.

5. Derain white. A fast-growing deciduous shrub up to 3 m high. Very beautiful, retains its decorative effect even in winter, thanks to bright red shoots. Blossoms twice a season, in the fall, along with young flowers, rounded white berries appear. The shrub has many virtues , among which:

  • Decorative throughout the year.
  • In autumn, the foliage turns a variety of hues.
  • It lends itself well to a haircut, able to take various forms.
  • Not picky about conditions.
  • Heat and winter hardy.
  • Adapted to urban conditions.
  • Fast growing.
  • Does not need additional feeding.

Perhaps the only feature of turf that can be called its disadvantage is the need for regular cutting. If this condition is not observed, the bush is exposed in the lower part, it looks sloppy.

6. Califolia vesicle. Spectacular shrub with spreading drooping branches and large ornamental leaves. It reaches a height of 3 m. With proper care, a vesicle hedge will become a real highlight of your garden.

Benefits:

  • Varieties of different colors allow interesting combinations.
  • Undemanding to the soil.
  • Drought resistant.
  • Very unpretentious in care.
  • Even a novice gardener can handle pruning.
  • Grows quickly to form a solid wall.
  • Heat and frost resistant.
  • Not affected by diseases and pests.

has no defects.

7. Coronal mock orange

A beautifully flowering fragrant shrub up to 3 m high. It is frost-resistant and unpretentious, excellent for the conditions of the middle zone. In addition to the already listed advantages of mock orange, the following should be noted:

  • Bright green foliage.
  • Relatively small shrub width.
  • The ability to quickly recover even after heavy pruning.

The plant has no significant shortcomings, it should only be noted that well-lit places should be chosen for planting mock orange, and the soil should not be compacted and waterlogged.

8. Spirea. A very ornamental shrub with beautiful abundant flowers. A spirea hedge can reach a height of 1.5 m. The plant has many advantages, including:

To maintain a neat appearance of the shrub, it is recommended to trim the faded inflorescences.

9. Thunberg barberry. Great for hedges because it:

  • Unpretentious and adapts easily to various conditions.
  • Very decorative, changes its appearance throughout the season: bright green bushes in summer turn into a noble red color in autumn, the bush is covered with small red berries.
  • Able to create a dense enclosure.
  • Good for cutting.

The plant has its own disadvantages . For example, the presence of long sharp spines complicates the care of the shrub. With a lack of sunlight, the decorative effect of the leaves is lost. The plant propagates easily and appears where its growth is undesirable.

10. Privet. Fast-growing shade-tolerant shrub up to 2-2.5 m high. The plant deserves special attention for the following reasons:

  • Grows well, creating an impenetrable wall.
  • Perfectly gives in to a hairstyle, taking any form.
  • Undemanding to growing conditions.
  • Winter hardy.
  • Does not require watering.
  • Not damaged by diseases and pests.

The only drawback of privet is poisonous fruits. Do not choose this plant if you have children.

11. Cotoneaster brilliant. Densely leafy deciduous shrub up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. Undoubted Benefits of Cotoneaster:

  • Decorative throughout the season.
  • Resistance to adverse conditions (drought, frost, waterlogging).
  • Not picky about soils.
  • Feels good in urban environments.
  • Possesses volatile properties.
  • It lends itself well to a haircut, taking any shape.
  • The fruits are not poisonous.

Cotoneaster branches are fairly fast growing so regular pruning is essential to maintain the shape and attractiveness of the shrub.

12. Blood red hawthorn. Unpretentious deciduous shrub, characterized by high longevity. The undoubted advantages of the plant are:

  • Resistance to adverse conditions (drought, frost, shading).
  • Undemanding to soils.
  • High shoot forming ability.
  • Handles shearing and shaping well.
  • Creates a dense, impenetrable fence over time.
  • Easily propagated by cuttings.

Irregular shearing of hawthorn can expose the underside of the bush.

13. Lilac. Very ornamental flowering shrub. To create a hedge, the use of undemanding, frost-resistant, drought-resistant varieties, such as Meyer's, Amur and Hungarian lilacs, is recommended. The advantage of lilac over other shrubs is as follows:

  • Feels good in urban environments.
  • Drought tolerant.
  • Not damaged by diseases and pests.
  • Good for cutting.
  • Winter-hardy, but can freeze slightly in severe winters.

disadvantages of lilac include the need for annual cutting of root shoots; a short flowering period, after which the decorativeness of the plant is significantly reduced.

14. Shrub cinquefoil. A very decorative compact shrub that blooms from early summer to autumn. The main advantages of the plant:

  • Unpretentiousness.
  • Winter hardiness.
  • Ability to grow in urban environments.
  • Good for cutting.
  • Long flowering.
  • A variety of varieties with different colors.

Every 4-5 years the plant needs a rejuvenating pruning. Requires watering during dry periods.

15. Hydrangea. Incredibly beautiful shrub with large leaves and very lush flowering. Paniculata and tree varieties are great for creating hedges. Hydrangea Benefits:

  • Long flowering period.
  • Variety of colors.
  • Large leaves and lush inflorescences.
  • Suitable for slightly shaded areas.
  • Grows well in acidic soils.

At the same time, hydrangea is rather capricious, requires frequent watering, needs shelter for the winter, and is demanding on the composition of the soil. The plant needs pruning, since flowering occurs only on the shoots of the current year.

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Top 5 Best Hedge Plants - Hedge Planting and Care Tips

Many home gardens boast stunningly beautiful hedges. What is this green fence made of? A hedge is a very dense planting of shrubs or trees in a row. Such a living fence is not only a decorative component of a suburban area, but also performs a protective function. A picturesque fence carefully hides the site from prying eyes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: How to Choose Plants for Your Hedge Top 5 Plants for Your Hedge: Barberry Thunberg Euonymus Thuja Hawthorn Spiraea Planting and Care Tips

Hedges are real art. Usually such a fence is formed from shrubs or trees. Such attractive fences can be formed from coniferous or deciduous plants. There are also combined hedges.

The hedge has a lot of advantages and pluses:

Hedges also come in single-row and double-row. The latter consist of an outer row, where there may be thorny shrubs, and an inner row, fruit or coniferous trees.

How to choose hedge plants

What should be guided by when choosing trees or shrubs for living fencing? First you need to decide on the type of fence. Will the hedge be sheared or will it grow freely? Then you need to find out the required height of the future green fence. The fence will perform certain functions, they also need to be thought out. Find out the type of soil (acidic or alkaline, light or heavy). You also need to consider the climate of your area.

Top 5 hedge plants

We have selected the most popular hedge plants. These are Thunberg's barberry, euonymus, thuja, spirea, hawthorn.

Let's consider each separately.

Thunberg barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

This shrub is very attractive for creating a living fence. A plant of the average sizes with spherical form of a bush. The height of this type of barberry can reach up to 2.5 m. It blooms in May. Fruits in September-October. Barberry Thunberg is valued for its sharp thorns, so this fence will be an excellent guard for a suburban area. However, this is not the only remarkable quality of this shrub. Barberry is resistant to frost and cold.

With the help of this shrub, wonderful fences are formed. The leaves of the Thunberg barberry turn bright red or yellow in autumn, creating stunning splendor in a country garden. On fertile soils, this shrub will grow well. Barberry is sensitive to lack of moisture. If the summer is dry, then watering is required. The shrub feels good both in a sunny area and in partial shade. It needs to be trimmed 2 times a year.

Euonymus (Euonymus)

The owner of a dense and beautiful crown. Graceful euonymus branches are decorated with multi-colored leaves, however, in summer the leaves are dark green. Great for creating scenic hedges. Reaches a height of about a meter, and a width of 2-3 meters. It tolerates cold winters well. Likes fertile soils. Pruning is done in early spring. It prefers to grow in well-lit areas, but also feels good in partial shade.

Thuja

Thuja is excellent for an evergreen fence. There are a wide variety of varieties. They can be low and high, and without a haircut reach up to 12 meters in height. The winter hardiness of this plant is not bad, but the variety must be taken into account. On moist soils, thuja gives a denser crown. This evergreen plant grows well both in the sun and in partial shade, loves spraying.

Hawthorn

This shrub forms magnificent fences, as it has beautiful foliage and bright fruits. Hawthorn fruits are also useful. He also has a lot of spines, resistant to frost. It can reach a height of up to 7 meters, it depends on the species. The shrub loves places with good lighting and heavy, drained soil. Unpretentious to water.

Spirea (Spiraea)

Very beautiful, elegant and delicate shrub with white flowers. Height can reach two meters. It is winter-hardy, prefers moist soils, but reacts normally to drought. Loves sunny places and partial shade.

Hedge Planting and Care Tips

To begin with, a territory is chosen, the intended place is freed from weeds.

Learn more