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Tall fast growing plants for privacy


The 13 Best Backyard Plants to Grow for Privacy

Poet Robert Frost said it best, “Good fences make good neighbors.” But, barricading ourselves behind 8-ft. walls isn’t very practical, and in some cases, your homeowner’s association (HOA) may not even allow that, but creating a private oasis with plants may be the solution. 

We’ve gathered some plants that let you be you, without worrying about a few looky-loos.

Total obscurity or just a bit of coverage?

You’ll want to start by planning what you want out of a privacy border. And the first aspect to look at is the level of privacy you need. Do you want complete coverage or is something you can still sort of see through okay? That will determine the type of plants you use and their spacing. Some plants only grow four feet tall, while others can go far higher.

Also, remember to check with city or HOA ordinances. Some have rules about how much you can obscure a yard. You’ll need to plan your plant coverage around any of these restrictions.

You’ll also want to assess how much of the yard you are looking to block. Do you want a privacy border that extends the full perimeter of the yard? Or is only one direction where you currently have the least privacy acceptable? For instance, a full yard living privacy planting could be best accomplished with thick shrubbery, while partial privacy could just require one larger tree.

There are a plethora of thick, commonly used backyard plants that can serve as a fantastic barrier between you and your neighbors. Want to know which work best in your area? Take a look at our top 13 privacy plants.

Also, remember to check with city ordinances. Some have rules about how much you can obscure a yard. You’ll need to plan your plant coverage around any of these restrictions.

You’ll also want to assess how much of the yard you are looking to block. Do you want a privacy fence that extends the full perimeter of the yard? Or is only one direction where you currently have the least privacy acceptable? For instance, a full yard living privacy fence could be best accomplished with thick shrubbery, while partial privacy could just require one larger tree.

There are a plethora of thick, commonly used backyard plants that can serve as a fantastic barrier between you and your neighbors. Want to know which work best in your area? Take a look at our top 13 privacy plants.

Need to set some green boundaries with your neighbors? Here are the 13 best privacy plants:

1. Arborvitae

topseller/ Shutterstock

Arborvitae are the most commonly used privacy plants. They grow tall and form a solid wall when planted close together. They are one of the best tall plants for privacy. They are some of the hardiest plants both in and outside of cold weather. Make sure this plant has good drainage, a generally dry environment, and full sun to ensure it succeeds.

USDA hardiness zone

These plants do best in zones 3-7. This covers the northern United States, excluding far north near the Canadian border, and through south-central U.S. Versatile arborvitae does well in almost any environment except for extreme heat or extreme cold. Available at your local home improvement store, gardening outlet, or Amazon for just under $150.

2. Bamboo

AePatt Journey/ Shutterstock

Bamboo is another of the fastest-growing privacy plants on our list — particularly clumping bamboo, the fastest growing variety. Bamboo needs access to full sun with regular, heavy watering to ensure the best growth.

USDA hardiness zone

As you might have guessed, bamboo does better in warmer climates, especially zones 5-9. Because it requires regular exposure to water, desert environments further south than zone 9 tend to be too dry for most bamboo varieties.

Available at your local gardening outlet if in zones 5-9 or Amazon for roughly $50.

3. Boxwood

RK1979/ Shutterstock

While a sturdy plant and a fantastic privacy screen, Boxwood is a slower growing plant. It’s perfect, however, if you want easy-to-maintain. Boxwood is known for being easy to prune and form to whatever shape you want, including privacy bushes. These evergreens come in a variety of types and are deer resistant.

USDA hardiness zone

Boxwoods are vigorous up until zone 6. They do best in full sun, in average or cooler climates with an average amount of rain.

This plant is usually available at most home improvement stores across the upper midwest or Amazon for roughly $120, but spring 2022 supply chain issues have it listed as unavailable.

4. Chocolate Vines

Anna Krzywania/ Shutterstock

Chocolate vines are named so due to their dark purple flowers. This perennial vine is known as a great addition to backyard fences for extra privacy. It will tolerate shade but grows best in full sun. While it is native to Japan and Korea, it has naturalized through much of North America.

USDA hardiness zone

Grows best in zones 4-8. It remains green all year in zones 6 and warmer.

Available at most local home improvement stores or with starter plants.

5. Euonymus

Elena Terletskaya/ Shutterstock

Another of the faster-growing privacy hedges, Euonymus fills out neatly, minimizing the need for pruning, and reaches an average height of 4 feet. It sprouts small, white or pink flower buds in late summer that add to its overall appeal.

USDA hardiness zone

Euonymus grows best in zones 5-8. While it can tolerate shade, it grows best in full sun with regular water.

Available at many home improvement stores throughout zones 5-8 or at Amazon for just over $86.

6. Evergreen Azalea

ajisai13/ Shutterstock

These beautiful, colorful, and fast-growing privacy plants feature rose flowers against dark, glossy green leaves, which turn a darker red in the fall, adding to this shrub’s variety.

Azalea is generally an upright growing plant that provides higher screening. It’s one of the more durable plants in the right zones.

USDA hardiness zone

Best grown in zones 5-8. Unlike most of the plants on this list, Azalea grows best in partial shade with an average amount of water.

Available at most improvement stores starting around $50.

7. Holly

art_craft / Shutterstock

This broad-leaved evergreen shrub provides excellent privacy. It’s known for its lustrous, dark green foliage and striking red fruit it produces throughout the year. Holly can grow up to 10 feet, making it one of the best for tall privacy fencing.

USDA hardiness zone

Holly grows best in zones 5-9. It prefers full sun to partial shade and grows best in more temperate environments.

Available at home improvement stores for $16, but is currently listed as unavailable due to seasonal issues.

8. Inkberry

Erika Kirkpatrick / Shutterstock

Inkberry is a tough, extremely hardy evergreen. It grows more slowly than most varieties on this list, however.

Because it is so durable, you can grow it in any type of soil, even dense clay soils or areas with a fair amount of pollution. While it can serve as a decent privacy hedge, it doesn’t grow as tall as Holly, coming in at only 6 feet.

USDA hardiness zone

Inkberry grows best in zones 4-9. It is a sturdy variety, meaning it can grow in slightly colder environments. It generally prefers full sun.

Available at various garden stores for $37.

9. North Privet

NORTH DEVON PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock

One of the best trees for privacy due to its rapid growth, North Privet is a shrub variety known to grow upwards of three feet per year. It is not a hard shrub to prune to shape if done at least a few times a year.

This plant has small white flowers that bloom every spring. It can grow to be rather tall, making it an ideal solo shrub to grow for a uniform look.

USDA hardiness zone

Grows best in zones 5-8. Partial shade is OK, but privet needs at least four hours of uninterrupted sunlight.

Available at most home improvement stores or a similar variety, curled privet can be found on Amazon for $90 (not available for shipping in all states).

10. Red Twig Dogwood

Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock

This is a commonly used privacy plant throughout the northern United States. Bright red stalks make this a notable plant to use, especially in colder areas with long winters.

It can grow up to nine feet, ideal to use on its own. It has full foliage and showy flowers in warmer months.

USDA hardiness zone

Grows well through zones 3-8. Best used in areas with a long winter to show off the bright red stalks. When planting, plant in big batches.

Available at almost any home improvement store for $36.

11. Roughleaf Dogwood

Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock

Like its name, this tough, resilient plant can be pruned into a smaller, more refined tree, or a multi-branch shrub. In late spring, larger clusters of sweet-smelling white flowers make Roughleaf a pleasant privacy plant.

While dark green during most of the spring and summer, this foliage turns a rich dark burgundy in the fall. It can grow up to 15 feet tall, depending on how you prune it.

USDA hardiness zone

Grows best and is native to zones 4-9. Likes full sun.

Available at some nurseries for around $89.

12. Rose of Sharon

tamu1500 / Shutterstock

Rose of Sharon is a flowering privacy hedge that has long-lasting white flowers. They bloom all summer, a great decorative choice for privacy fencing.

This deciduous shrub can grow up to eight feet and is rather low maintenance, an ideal trait for any privacy hedge.

USDA hardiness zone

Best in warmer zones 5-8. It prefers full sun with a medium amount of water.

Available at most home improvement stores or Amazon for almost $30.

13. Yew

meunierd / Shutterstock

Last but not least, yew is a robust evergreen plant with many sub-varieties. Some, such as Densiformis Yew, are faster growing than others.

Most yew reaches about four feet high with a long spread. They are also hardy plants, doing best in both cold and hot environments.

USDA hardiness zone

Zones 4-7 are best for any yew variety. Partial shade is OK, and pruning for shape is relatively simple.

Available at most home improvement stores or Amazon for $23 (not available for shipping in all states).

How to plant privacy shrubs, step by step:

Step 1: Find the right privacy plant.

Make sure that you find the proper plant not only for your zone but for your privacy needs. For instance, a Euonymus plant alone will not grow higher than four or five feet. These are perfect if you want to still see some of your surroundings while maintaining a subtle sense of privacy, but not if you are after full enclosure. In this instance, purchasing a Holly variety or Arborvitae makes more sense.

Step 2: Determine your growing conditions.

Being in the right zone doesn’t automatically mean you have the ideal growing conditions for those plants. Make sure your setup has the correct amount of sunlight, water, and other needs to grow a healthy privacy fence.

Step 3: Follow care instructions regularly.

Talk to your garden store, home improvement store, or retailer about the ideal care instructions. Keep regular track of the plant’s health as the days and months go by.

Step 4: Prune to specifications.

If you want to prune your privacy plant to look a certain way, make sure you know how much pruning is needed and how regularly you should maintain trims.

Step 5: Watch your hard work grow!

Factor the living privacy plants into your style

You should also keep in mind how those plants will fit in with the style you are going for in your yard. For instance, well-trimmed hedges work best for yards that have a classic and neat appearance. Flower hedges work well with larger romantic garden spaces. Trees can offer a good option for more rustic yards that keep things on the natural side. You might even look into partial designs that can work for conceptual and artistic spaces, such as placing unconnected panels of fence alongside patches of evergreen trees. You can see an example in the photo above.

And remember to take into account the level of upkeep the living privacy fence will require. Though all living fences will need some upkeep, options like shrubbery will need regular trimming to maintain a clean look. If you’re not willing to spend a lot of time with your yard, you might choose options that don’t require regular trimming seasons, like willow trees or cactus.

There are a plethora of privacy plants out there. Look at what you have for growing conditions at the moment, consider what you want (fully enclosed backyard versus partial privacy), and do your research before buying. You can do some beautiful things with a well-maintained and thoroughly researched privacy hedge.

Frequently asked questions

Q:

What is the fastest-growing privacy plant?

A:

Any variety of privet.

Q:

What is the best plant for screening?

A:

Arborvitae or Holly.

Q:

How do I grow a privacy bush for cheap?

A:

Any Holly variety is relatively affordable and easy to expand across existing fencing for that natural hedge look.

SOLVED: Thickest, Tallest, and Fastest Growing Privacy Plants for House and Apartment

So, you’ve decided that you want to incorporate some privacy plants in your house or apartment’s landscape—what to do first? Consider why you want privacy plants in the first place, as this will help you choose a habit and size that can meet your needs. 

With this list of privacy plants, we’ll help to provide some common options that might be suitable for your outdoor space. As always, we’re here to help with any step along the way—just get in touch with any questions you might have. 

Evergreen Privacy Plants

Evergreen plants are commonly a top choice for privacy plants. Why? Some grow really fast, but nearly all provide a dense way to block out wind, noise, and people. While these choices are all great, it may be advantageous to plant at least two varieties to build resilience against pests and disease. 

Juniper (

Juniperus spp.)

Juniper is an excellent privacy screen—and with varieties that range from lower shrubs to taller trees, there’s a perfect option for any patio, deck, or backyard.  

Juniper does require full sun and may take several years to grow enough to become an effective privacy screen. However, in the meantime, be prepared to enjoy its gorgeous silver-blue berries that will also attract wildlife like birds [1]. 

Holly (

Ilex spp.)

While its glossy, dark green leaves and bright red berries are enough of a reason to incorporate holly into your landscaping plans, it’s also a common choice for a privacy plant. 

The medium grower can easily reach heights of around six feet tall, with a width nearly as large. With more than 780 evergreen species around the world [2], you’re sure to find something perfect for your needs. Just be sure that it has well-drained and slightly acidic soil.

Yew (

Taxus baccata)

As a dense hedge that does well with regular pruning, yew is perfect for keeping pesky neighbors at bay—particularly because it can reach heights of up to six feet tall and 16 feet wide [3]! The attractive dark green needles and red berries look great in any landscape, too.  

While its growth rate isn’t as fast as some of these other privacy plants, it does provide a uniform hedge and can tolerate a range of soil and sun conditions.  

Plants for Privacy from Neighbors

Leyland Cypress (

x Cupressocyparis Leylandii)

Don’t let its slender shape fool you, Leyland Cypress can provide an excellent privacy screen from neighbors—and it can do so quickly. 

Not only that, but it will show off its dark green color year-round, can tolerate a range of climate and soil conditions, and serves as a wonderful windbreak, too [4]. It will look beautiful regardless of where it’s placed, but can do especially well when planted along boundary lines. 

American Elderberry (

Sambucus canadensis)

Native to Eastern North America, this species of elderberry is known for its almost-black berries, which are valued for their high antioxidant levels. 

However, once it reaches maturity, tightly-packed elderberries provide a dense hedgerow, which is perfect for wind or privacy screening. The thicket-forming shrub can reach heights of up to 12 feet tall [5]. The dark green foliage and fragrant flower heads look great and will attract birds. 

Lilac (

Syringa vulgaris)

Fragrant blooms, gorgeous flowers, and privacy? What more could you want?! 

Lilac is a deciduous shrub that can reach heights of up to 16 feet tall [6]. In addition to being used to attract butterflies and hummingbirds—as well as provide fragrance and good cut flowers—lilacs can also be used as a privacy hedge. 

Tall Plants for Privacy in Pots

Privet (

Ligustrum spp.)

Privet is a fast-growing shrub that includes roughly 50 species [7]. They grow upright, they grow quickly, and like boxwood, they tolerate pruning. 

Variegated privet will require full sun, and all varieties will need well-draining soil in the pots. They should never be left to fully drive out. It’s also advantageous to select larger containers as privet should never outgrow its pot.

Heavenly Bamboo (

Nandina domestica)

This broadleaf evergreen is technically not a bamboo, but instead a member of the barberry family. It’s a tough-as-nails shrub that is adored by gardeners for it’s dark, textured leaves (that look like the leaves of bamboo) and its striking fruit display. 

Its toughness allows it to adapt to nearly any condition. As an outdoor shrub border, as in indoor houseplant, or in a container outdoors. Being in a container might reduce its maximum height (up to eight feet tall), but it will thrive nonetheless [8]. 

Pampas Grass (

Cortaderia selloana)

Originating from South America, this grass is an excellent choice for a privacy plant as it can reach up to 10 feet tall and has large white flower and seed heads that emerge in late summer [9]. While it can be grown in zone 6, it will require full sun and some winter protection. 

When growing pampas grass in containers, be sure to use a large sized pot to match the large size of the grass. It needs adequate space and will be limited by a smaller container. You should also take care to place the containers away from heavily trafficked areas, as the leaves have sharp edges that may cut someone as they’re walking by.

Privacy Plants for Patio

Butterfly Bush (

Buddleia davidii)

Butterfly bush will attract the gaze of you, your guests, and beneficial pollinators, but it will minimize the gaze from neighbors or passerbys. 

This low-maintenance plant is tough and drought-resistant, and doesn’t require a lot in the way of pruning or fertilizer. While it is relatively disease resistant, it’s also an invasive plant in many areas of the US—particularly in California and the Pacific Northwest. Fortunately, this classification has yet to reach Massachusetts [10]. 

Hydrangeas (

Hydrangea macrophylla)

While there are evergreen varieties, the deciduous varieties are well-loved for their gorgeous, large flowers—which can provide a splash of color for any patio. Because they reach relatively large sizes, they’re an excellent summer privacy screen, too. 

Used as a hedge, hydrangeas won’t get out of control, are easy to cultivate, and require little maintenance [11]. However, you’ll likely go with a deciduous variety, you may want to interplant an evergreen species, like boxwood, for year-round privacy. 

Bamboo (

Bamboo fargesia sp.)

Bamboo is an excellent evergreen hedge or privacy screen because it has a very fence-like habit, doesn’t require a lot of space, grows extremely quickly, and is beautiful. It’s also one of the best plants (or grasses) out there to capture carbon—so it’s a great choice from a sustainability standpoint, too! 

Although bamboo tends to grow in warm regions in Asia, there are some varieties that are hardy to even USDA zone 5. That said, it’s still important to choose hardy varieties, or consider growing them in a container so that they can be moved indoors. Consider the Fargesia group [12], which aren’t as invasive as other bamboos and can tolerate temperatures well below freezing.  

Deck Privacy Plants

Siebold Viburnum (

Viburnum sieboldii)

While nearly all Viburnum species can serve as a good privacy plant, large species like V. sieboldii are an excellent choice for deck privacy plants, since they can reach heights of up to 20 feet tall [13]!

The upright deciduous shrub is low maintenance and can tolerate a wide range of soils. Just be sure to provide consistent and even moisture.  

Columnar Norway Spruce (

Picea abies Cupressina)

Thanks to its columnar appearance, this is a valued choice for a showy and elegant privacy screen—especially where a strong, vertical growing pattern is necessary. 

The dark green needles will extend from ground branches, forming a dense windbreak or privacy wall. While this spruce does need full sun, it can tolerate heat and humidity and will reach up to 30 feet tall over its lifetime [14]. 

English Ivy (

Hedera helix)

If you’re looking for an easy-to-grow privacy shrub and a way to cover up your deck’s ugly wall, English ivy could be the plant for you. It’s well suited to USDA zones 5-11, it’s hardy, and it provides privacy all year long. 

It will shoot out aerial rootlets that will stick to any surface—but, if you don’t train it, it can be highly invasive and can take over your whole yard, climbing up trees and expanding as a ground cover [15]. 

Privacy Plants Around Pool

Emerald Green Arborvitae (

Thuja ‘Emerald Green’)

Arborvitae makes the list again. This variety is popular and reliable. While it is slow growing, little maintenance will be required to get this arborvitae to up to 12 feet tall [16]. 

Emerald Green Arborvitae has a slim, pyramidal shape and its lush green foliage won’t fade in the winter and can tolerate heat, drought, and cold. However, unlike the other arborvitae in this list (Green Giant), this one is not deer resistant. 

Golden Euonymus (

Euonymus japonicus)

Golden euonymus shrubs bring color to your pool area—but they keep out the gaze of neighbors. It’s got dark green, leathery foliage with variegated buttercup yellow splashes. While it does flower in spring, the flowers aren’t showy and you might not even notice them. 

The shrub is easy to grow and while it does require full sun, its very thick foliage is perfect as a privacy and sound hedge. Reaching heights of up to 10 feet tall, the shrub won’t require a lot of maintenance, but will need regular water until the root system is fully established [17]. 

Trumpet Honeysuckle (

Lonicera sempervirens ‘Magnifica’)

This vine is an excellent fast-grower that will provide a splash of color and some privacy as it grows on the fence that surrounds your pool area. As the name suggests, it’s got trumpet-shaped flowers that will bloom an orange-scarlet color throughout the warm summer and autumn months. 

It can be grown in zones 4-9, and in colder climates may be semi-evergreen during winter months [18]. 

Privacy Plants that Grow in Shade

Catawba Rhododendron (

Rhododendron catawbiense)

Rhodies are a valued choice for gardens for a variety of reasons. This particular variety has rhododendron’s usual attractive, dark green, glossy evergreen leaves, but also has lavender, pink, or white flowers. 

For many years the rhododendron will stay around six feet tall and wide, but it will eventually grow bigger. While you will need to provide fertile, acidic, and well-drained soil, the broadleaf evergreen shrubs can do well in dappled, partial shade [19]. 

Boxwood (

Buxus spp.)

As a gardener’s favorite, boxwood is great for a topiary, as it responds to shaping and pruning well. It’s an excellent deer-resistant shrub, too! 

When clipped, boxwood’s tiny leaves appear tidy and make for a great hedge. Different varieties can provide different sizes, and tall species can reach up to six feet tall! While it will require well-drained soil, some varieties of boxwood enjoy partial or dappled shade [20]. 

Variegated Japanese Laurel (

Aucuba japonica)

This is a standout evergreen that does so much more than acts as a privacy plant. Also known as the gold dust tree, this Japanese laurel has bright and leathery green leaves that are mottled with yellow variegation. 

While it does better with moist soils, the evergreen can reach heights of around six to nine feet, even with its preferred shady conditions. Just be sure to keep pets away, as parts of the plant are poisonous [21].

Privacy Plants for Balcony

Climbing Rose (

Rosa setigera)

Climbing roses are a true show-stopper and can transform your balcony into something out of a storybook. Climbing roses come in many different varieties [22], including those that are hardy in cool climates. Thriving in zone 5 and above, recommended climbing rose varieties include ‘Altissimo,’ ‘American Beauty,’ ‘Iceberg,’ and ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison.’

Morning Glory (

Ipomoea purpurea)

This climbing vine is fast-growing and can reach up to 10 feet tall in just one season! The heart-shaped foliage is joined by purple-blue trumpet-like flowers that open up in the morning, hence the name. You’ll enjoy these blooms every day from summer to fall [23]. 

Be sure that your morning glory has access to full sun and a balcony wall or fence to support it. If you’re lucky, you might welcome butterflies or even hummingbirds! 

Hay scented fern (

Dennstaedtia punctilobula)

This deciduous fern—like its name suggests—has the scent of freshly mowed hay. It can reach up to two feet high and four feet wide and is a great addition to your balcony and in a hanging basket will provide privacy. 

Unlike many other ferns that are well adapted to warm, tropical climates, this one is indigenous to USDA zones 3-8. While they will grow in full sun, your balcony’s partially shaded conditions are even better [24]. 

Fast Growing Privacy Plants

Arborvitae Green Giant (

Thuja Green Giant)

For a large, fast-growing, and vigorous evergreen, there are few better choices than Green Giant Arborvitae, which can grow up to three feet every year! The conical or pyramidal form is natural, providing gorgeous, rich green foliage that may become darker or take on a bronze appearance during cool months [25].  

The best thing about this arborvitae—aside from its quick growing nature—is that it becomes wind resistant once established, and can tolerate heavy rains, snow, and ice. 

Clematis (

Clematis spp.)

Clematis is a showy vine that flowers from late spring to fall in several different shapes and colors.

The perennial vine can climb roughly 3-20 feet, depending on the type. While it prefers full sun, there are certain varieties that can grow in part shade. In our South Shore growing zone, varieties like ‘Bee’s Jubilee,’ ‘Vanso,’ and ‘Betty Corning’ are good choices [26]. 

Hops (

Humulus lupulus)

These deciduous, perennial vines are another great privacy climber on a wall, trellis, or fence. They’re hardy through zones 3-8 and will provide lush foliage that not only creates a summertime privacy fence, but is also joined by showy paper-like flowers that attract butterflies [27]. 

Privacy Fence Plants

Firethorn (

Pyracantha coccinea)

In addition to serving as a perfect privacy fence, Pyracantha will excite and delight year-round thanks to its white blooms in spring and bright-orange berries that appear in winter. Birds will enjoy the show, too. 

Pyracantha does well in zones 5-8 and can quickly reach a size of up to 10 feet tall and eight feet wide [28]. 

Red Twig Dogwood (

Cornus sericea)

Between spring blossoms, variegated leaves, summertime berries, and red branches that brighten up a winter landscape, this shrub provides year-round interest and is great to use as a privacy fence. 

Growing around two feet every year, these can be placed where they’re easily viewed—typically at your yard’s perimeter. Their hardiness zones include zones 3-8. Just be sure they have access to a decent amount of sun and fertile, moist soil [29]. 

American Hornbeam (

Carpinus caroliniana) 

Also known as ironwood or musclewood, this fine-textured tree is a relative of the birch tree and has a trunk that looks like muscles. It’ll grow around a foot a year [30] and its deep green foliage will provide a perfect privacy fence during summer. It can be left to grow as a single-stemmed tree, or trained to be a multi-stemmed shrub that provides denser privacy cover.  

American hornbeam is hardy to zone 3 and can tolerate flooding, heat, and insects.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog on the best plants for privacy! If you want some more backyard landscaping ideas, check out the rest of our learning center!

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Fast growing hedge - choosing the right plants

It is not always possible to install a heavy concrete or solid metal fence, and the chain-link mesh, for all its functionality, does not add aesthetics. In this case, a hedge can be a worthy alternative.

A garden plot for many citizens is a place of solitude and inspiration for the upcoming work week. If you live on it permanently, then all the more you do not want the details of your personal life to be in the public domain. A hedge will help both hide your land from prying eyes and act as an element of decor. With its help, zoning is also done on the site itself to create a secluded place for reading books or romantic conversations. We will not cast a shadow on your future wattle fence and tell you which plants are best suited for creating an eco-friendly fence. nine0003

Barberry

This branchy shrub up to 3 m high with thin shoots and sharp long spines will reliably protect your garden from intruders. In addition, the barberry is famous for its beautiful foliage of various shades and bright red fruits that can be eaten (with the exception of some varieties). The shrub, as it grows, retains its decorative effect, because. does not suffer from baldness of the lower part of the bush, so you will not need to plant a second tier of the hedge. nine0003

The plant does not require special care, except for pruning, after which new shoots appear, and the crown becomes denser. Prefers sunny areas, although it can grow in shading, but in this case the foliage will not be as bright.

Barberry spreads very quickly in the area, so young seedlings that you find in the wrong place should be removed as early as possible, before they have had time to get stronger.

Privet

If you want a perfectly even and geometrically correct hedge up to 2 m high, then without any doubt choose this densely branched shrub. Privet has beautiful, dark green, leathery leaves; in ornamental varieties, they can be yellow. Its ability to quickly recover after a haircut and retain its shape for a long time will especially please novice gardeners. nine0003

Privet is an unpretentious, frost-resistant plant that can grow in almost any soil. Even urban conditions of strong gas contamination will not frighten her. The most rational form of a privet hedge is a trapezium with a slight narrowing at the top. Such a profile contributes to better illumination of the crown, and therefore prevents baldness of the lower part of the bush.

Hawthorn

A melliferous shrub from the Rosaceae family, reaching a height of 6-8 m, has beautiful rich green foliage that turns orange-red in autumn. In spring, hawthorn bushes are covered with beautiful white or pink inflorescences, which turn into bright red fruits in summer. nine0003

As an ornamental hedge plant, hawthorn is good because it needs almost no maintenance. Within 2-4 years after planting, the bushes are allowed to grow freely. When the diameter of the trunks at the base reaches 1.5-2 cm, hemping is carried out in the fall to improve the appearance (cutting the shoots at a height of 20-25 cm from the ground to get a low bush with a dense crown). A year later, the first haircut is carried out.

Hawthorn bushes should be pruned regularly as this limits their upward growth and directs them to the side shoots so that the crown at the bottom is not exposed. nine0003

Blackberry

A hedge, in addition to its functional and decorative qualities, can also be tasty. If you want to enjoy juicy and healthy fruits for several years in a row, then plant blackberry bushes around the perimeter of your plot. In addition, it will reliably protect your possessions, because there will be no one who wants to be in the prickly embrace of this shrub.

Blackberries are usually planted using a trellis method at a distance of 1.5 m from the main fence. You can use a chain-link mesh as a support, but this will complicate the care of the plant, and the neighbors may be unhappy with your prickly "guard". Blackberries will begin to bear fruit in the 2nd year after planting, but the first pruning should be carried out only after three years. The shrub is unpretentious in care and can withstand both extreme heat and severe frosts. nine0003

Willow

Many people are accustomed to seeing this plant growing wild along the edges of roads and near water bodies, but it will make an original light and elegant living fence. A wicker fence made of willow is decorative already when planting, an unpretentious plant takes root quickly and in almost any soil. However, such a fence serves more for beauty than protection, so it is suitable for creating secluded areas on the site itself or for decorating the main fence. Willow perfectly absorbs heavy metals and improves soil quality, does not require special care, except for a decorative haircut twice a year, for which many gardeners and designers love it. nine0003

Dogwood white (turf white)

This branchy shrub, up to 3 m high, is excellent for hedges. Its beautiful light green foliage becomes bronze-crimson, orange or burgundy with the onset of autumn. Plastically intertwined branches of deren, which are painted in various shades of red, are especially decorative, so your living fence will look spectacular at any time of the year.

For planting varieties of turf with variegated color of leaves, it is necessary to choose brightly lit places, because in the shade the foliage will lose its original color. nine0003

Care of the turf consists of regular sanitary cutting if you decide to keep the natural shape of the bush. In landscape design, the most popular are the shapes of a ball, cube, arc or hemisphere. The first pruning is carried out 3 years after planting, and then twice a year, in June and July. Young bushes need regular watering 1-2 times a week, as well as loosening the soil in the trunk circle and removing weeds.

Lawson Cypress

Native to North America, in nature it reaches a height of 80 m, ornamental varieties that can be used in landscape design - up to 30 m. . nine0003

The plant tolerates shearing well, is undemanding to soil fertility, but does not like stagnant groundwater, so it should be planted on hills. Moreover, with age, Lawson's cypress becomes photophilous. However, young trees tolerate shade well, and they should be covered from the bright spring sun.

Turn

Fruit shrub up to 2 m tall with serrated leaves densely covering thorny branches. The turn forms impenetrable thickets, so it is great for hedges. Moreover, its fruits can be eaten, and the leaves can be brewed as a tea. A solid wall of this plant around the perimeter of your site will protect heat-loving plants from cold winds. nine0003

Since the blackthorn is an unpretentious shrub that also grows very quickly, the main care consists in regular cutting three times a year - in early April, late June and July.

Thuja Brabant

A thuja hedge is a classic option if you need a fence up to 3 m high. The dense green array that trees form will securely close the area from prying eyes and give it austerity. However, thuja do not transmit light well, so in small areas they will give strong shading. nine0003

Care of the plant consists in the removal of dried legs and a complex haircut twice a year. Thuja Brabant can grow up to 1.5 m per year, so the hedge will acquire the necessary forms in the shortest possible time. The plant is picky in the choice of soils, however, on fertile soil, it acquires the greatest decorative effect.

Forsythia

A shrub native to China, introduced to Europe by the Scottish botanist William Forsyth and named after him. Forsythia is especially attractive in the spring, when its bright yellow inflorescences color the landscape that is still gray, barely waking up from a long winter. As a hedge, the shrub is good because it grows very quickly, therefore, to preserve the decorative effect immediately after flowering, it must be cut. nine0003

Forsythia is unpretentious, resistant to diseases and pests. It also perfectly tolerates the difficult conditions of the urban environment, coping with air pollution and gas pollution.

Rosehip

A permanent inhabitant of my grandmother's front garden, this beautiful shrub has won the hearts of many gardeners. Among other things, wild rose is able to grow profusely, forming impenetrable thickets. Plus, its branches are densely strewn with thorns.

The first 2-3 years after planting, rose hips need abundant watering 1-2 times a week and regular weeding. In autumn, pruning of all diseased, old and broken branches, as well as forming pruning, is carried out. nine0003

With the right choice of hedge plants, an eco-friendly fence can become not only a reliable protector and a low-maintenance decorative element, but also a useful and tasty culinary addition. Just remember that plants prone to diseases and pest attacks, such as viburnum, will not work as a hedge. Firstly, they very quickly lose their decorative appearance. And secondly, during the epidemic, dense thickets are very difficult to treat with chemicals, especially if this eco-fence is located on the border of the plots. nine0003

Selecting fast growing shrubs and trees for hedges

A hedge of live shrubs can completely transform the look of your yard. You can plant a small green fence several tens of centimeters high to divide the garden into different zones. Or grow an impenetrable green fence of thorny bushes up to 3 meters high on the site, which will become an ecological alternative to traditional fencing. Depending on the task at hand, you will need different fast-growing hedge shrubs. In this article, we will tell you about which plants are best to choose for planting a green fence. nine0003

Purpose of the fence

Before choosing plants, answer yourself the question - why do you need a fast-growing perennial hedge?

And what should it look like?

In each case, the choice of shrubs or trees for planting will be different. A hedge to protect the site from strangers, as well as a fence that should bloom all season, are planted in several rows. nine0003

Shade-tolerant plants

For planting hedges, and especially multi-row hedges, landscape designers recommend choosing unpretentious and shade-tolerant shrubs that tolerate regular shearing well. We will tell you about the most popular plants for hedges in this section.

Honeysuckle

This is a hardy plant that flowers and bears fruit. The shrub reaches a height of 2.5 m. Honeysuckle is resistant to diseases and pests.

Mexican Jasmine

Everyone knows this flowering shrub with a pleasant citrus aroma. Jasmine blooms several times a season and will fill your garden with fragrance. The shrub is ideal for fencing a romantic zone, a place for solitude. Can grow up to 3 meters in height. But it is worth remembering that jasmine does not tolerate a haircut very well, so you should let its crown grow naturally. The shrub is able to grow in full shade, but does not like frost.

Hazel

Otherwise known as hazel. You can not only collect fruits from a shrub, but also grow a hedge from it, the first 4-8 branches will be enough for this. Hazel needs regular pruning, as well as fertilization.

Low-growing plants

Botanists call a bush low-growing if its height does not exceed 1 meter. Such plants are well suited for the formation of a green border and zoning of the site.

Potentilla

The plant blooms with small yellow, white or light orange flowers for 100 days. This plant is drought tolerant, however in hot weather the appearance of the hedge is best maintained by spraying. Potentilla well tolerates winter cold. nine0003

Japanese quince

Low growing shrub with long spiny branches. Such a fence will not protect from neighbors, but will close the road to your site with their annoying animals. Japanese quince tolerates both shearing and Russian frosts well.

Ornamental bushes

Hedge plants in this category have beautiful leaves or flowers. When choosing one of these shrubs, your hedge will not only be a fence, but also a decoration of the site.

Barberry Thunberg

This is a frost-resistant variety of barberry. The shrub is notable for its unusual blue-gray leaves, in addition, it blooms for 3 weeks. From the barberry most often form spherical hedges up to 70 cm high.

Hydrangea

There are many varieties of this flowering shrub with a lush crown, with a rich palette of colors. Hydrangea grows up to 1.5 meters tall. It tolerates the neighborhood of taller trees well and can grow in the shade.

Weigela

An ornamental garden shrub with dark green foliage that blooms in early summer. In autumn, its branches will grow berries that will decorate your garden for most of the winter. The plant tolerates frost well and is resistant to garden pests.

Fast growing species

Forming a reliable hedge, in which plants are closely intertwined, is a matter of many years. However, there are shrubs with a high growth rate that can form a living fence in as little as 2-3 years. nine0003

Aubert's knotweed

One of the fastest growing shrubs that needs to be cut very often. It has lush foliage and white flowers that bloom in July.

Hops

A shrub with decorative cones that can grow up to 7 m in height. It does not need a haircut, but it is picky about watering.

Clematis

Sun-loving shrub with beautiful flowers. There are many varieties of clematis in various shades.

Willow

The water beauty grows very fast and will soon become a charming fence. Be prepared to constantly trim its flexible branches to keep your willow fence in shape.

Thorny plants

If you want to create an impenetrable hedge around the perimeter of the site, choose plants from this category. They grow well in height and have prickly branches with thorns. To make the fence as dangerous as possible for intruders, do not cut the bushes, allowing them to grow. nine0003

Rose

This beautiful flower can also become a reliable guardian of your home. The rose grows well in height, and its thorny shoots can curl, forming a solid wall. When planting this hedge, your garden will be filled with a wonderful rose fragrance.

Blackthorn

The most famous of all thorn bushes. The branches of the thorn are well intertwined with each other, protecting the yard from ill-wishers. The bush blooms with small white flowers, and later forms non-poisonous berries. Blackthorn can reach meters in height. nine0003

Sea buckthorn

Known to everyone since childhood, a shrub with tart orange berries can defend the boundaries of your plot. To create a reliable hedge, you need to plant sea buckthorn in two rows and twist them together. From pruning, the yield decreases, but all the same, all your relatives, friends and neighbors will be provided with sea buckthorn jam for a long time.

Norway spruce

A green beauty fence will not only protect your site from uninvited guests, but will also saturate the air with useful phytoncides and antiseptics. And closer to the new year, the entire hedge of spruce can be decorated for the holiday. nine0003

Tall Plants

If you want a 3-5 meter high hedge, plant shrubs that will reach that height in 2-3 years. But get a ladder in advance to cut the hedge from above, many shrubs will tend to outgrow the specified height.

Thuja

This plant belongs to the cypress family. A thuja hedge can grow up to 20 m tall. The plant tolerates a haircut well, garden figures can be cut out of it. In addition, thuja fills the air with useful phytoncides. nine0003

Privet

Cone-shaped shrub growing up to 3 meters in height. In July, it blooms with light cream flowers, after which black berries form on the branches, which do not fall all winter. The shrub tolerates a haircut well and is suitable for the formation of various figures.

Aronia chokeberry

Shrub grows up to 3 meters high. Has white or pink flowers. Aronia berries are edible and very useful, they contain a lot of ascorbic acid. The plant does not need frequent cutting

Lilac tall

Shrub can grow up to 5 m in height. It is not recommended to plant on the border of the site, neighbors and passers-by will harm the plant, breaking off branches with flowers in May. And if he plants a lilac hedge inside the territory, this purple flower will become

Elderberry

Undoubted advantages of elderberry are fragrant flowers and healthy berries. There are two subspecies that grow well in height - red and black elder. This plant does not require care. nine0003

Hardy plants

There are shrubs suitable for hedges that will take root in any soil, will not suffer from frequent shearing, shade, frost and drought.

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