In order to achieve maximum privacy, consider planting a fast-growing hedge. Depending on its species, it can grow as fast as three feet a year. There are many varieties of this shrub, including Loropetalum, which is available in white, pink, and red. Even if you’re on a budget, you can find one that meets your needs and budget without sacrificing the desired privacy. Read on to learn more about these fast-growing hedges.
Ivory Halo Dogwood
If you’re looking for a beautiful, easy-care shrub for privacy, look no further than Ivory Halo Dogwood. This beautiful plant features large, variegated leaves in summer, as well as striking red twigs in winter. It’s also hardy and has a compact growth habit, so you can mass-plant it in a large garden. And while its large, elegant leaves may draw some comparisons to the leaves of flowering dogwoods, they aren’t nearly as showy or dramatic.
The Ivory Halo Dogwood grows rapidly, and thrives in full sun or partial shade. It can tolerate a lot of soil types, and it’s not bothered by drought or standing water. This multi-stemmed tree grows to four to six feet in height and width. Its unbranched stems can become up to 3 feet tall within a single growing season. This fast-growing shrub is easy to care for, and it’s pest-resistant too.
Ivory Halo Dogwood’s flowers are spectacular in fall. The cool white berries are ornamental and a favorite of songbirds. In addition to berries, the foliage turns a brilliant red-purple in fall, giving it great color throughout the season. In winter, Ivory Halo Dogwood develops a red stem that is striking against snow. Whether used as a hedge or as a screen, Ivory Halo Dogwood provides excellent privacy for your garden.
Chamaecyparis
If you’re looking for a dense evergreen hedge that will still provide privacy, consider planting a Chamaecyparis shrub for your privacy. This type of shrub offers a wide variety of color and texture to enhance your landscape. They are also excellent accent or specimen plants. Chamaecyparis thrives in acidic soil, but they can be susceptible to twig blight. They should be planted in full sun and pruned late spring to early autumn.
If you want to add some privacy to your yard, you can plant Chamaecyparis, a species of False Cypress. This versatile plant is available in an endless variety of colors, sizes, and textures. They grow well in full sun or part shade, and they are easy to maintain. Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Gracilis’ is a dwarf, evergreen shrub with silvery blue foliage.
If you want privacy without compromising your view, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Fernspray Gold’ is an ideal choice. This fast-growing evergreen will be a compact hedge in no time. Chamaecyparis tolerates most soil types, but does not grow well in waterlogged soils. Its foliage helps to reduce noise pollution, and it increases your home’s value.
Another popular choice for privacy is the Gold Crippsii Chamaecyparis. It is compact and pyramidal, with rich yellow foliage. It has a slightly weeping habit, which softens its landscape. If you want to make a bold statement, consider planting this shrub in a sunny location. A full-grown specimen can reach six feet high and grow up to 8 feet wide.
Evergreen boxwood
If you’re looking for a dense evergreen hedge that won’t give you a view of the neighboring house, then an Evergreen Boxwood shrub is the perfect choice. These fast-growing, dense-branched shrubs will provide privacy and screen your home from view. Pruning these shrubs is easy, and with consistent care, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful privacy hedge. The beauty of this type of hedge is that it grows in a variety of different climates, from full sun to part shade.
This low-maintenance shrub grows to about 15 feet high and 30 feet wide. It is hardy to -10 degrees F, and has few pests. Its compact growth rate, and ability to adapt to a wide variety of soil conditions, make it an ideal privacy hedge. Plant these shrubs ten to eight feet apart to maximize privacy. They can grow between two to three feet a year. In addition to giving your privacy, they can add height and shape to your landscape.
Boxwoods grow one to 20 feet tall, but are less than that in width. They are generally best planted in partial shade, but they can tolerate full sun and midday sun, but overexposure will burn their foliage. The leaves are broad, lance-shaped and leathery, and some varieties even have variegated leaves. If privacy is a high priority, try a Dee Runk Boxwood for privacy.
Leyland cypress
If you are in the market for a fast-growing privacy shrub, consider a Leyland Cypress. This fast-growing evergreen grows up to 4 feet a year. The natural pyramidal shape and soft, scratch-free foliage give it a commanding presence. Even if you don’t have a view of your neighbor’s home, this privacy shrub is sure to impress. It is the perfect choice for those who want to protect their privacy while retaining some of their view.
The growth rate of Leyland cypress trees is three to five feet per year, making them perfect for fast privacy screening. The tree is also easy to prune into a formal hedge, but it can grow too fast and overpower a landscape. As an added bonus, they are often used as a Christmas tree. The Leyland cypress is suitable for most light conditions and grows best in partial shade.
For optimal growth, plant a Leyland cypress shrub in the spring or fall before the first frost. They tolerate brief periods of waterlogging but need a good amount of water in order to develop strong roots. In USDA zones seven and eight, Leyland cypress trees need one to two gallons of water per week. In colder climates, you can water your Leyland cypress once or twice a month. Watering depends on your climate and the depth of your soil.
Red tip photinia
A common shrub used for hedging in the urban landscape is the red tip photinia. Its berries are toxic to humans but the plant is beautiful to look at. Birds like to eat the berries. It is also commonly used for privacy screening and is available in many species. Using a thick work glove is helpful when pruning a red tip photinia shrub.
The red tip photinia will tolerate a variety of soil types, though it does require some light amendment. This shrub will prefer a well-drained soil. If your soil is heavy clay, add 50% compost. In addition to adding organic matter to your soil, you should prune the ends of the shoots to promote the growth of new leaves. This will help keep the plant’s vibrant red color year-round.
Planting red tip photinia will give you privacy and reduce your neighbors’ view. The red tip photinia prefers full sun, but it will tolerate partial shade. If you plan to plant the shrub in a dense, shaded area, it may be prone to fungal diseases. Make sure there is plenty of air circulation around the plant. It is hardy in USDA hardiness zones seven through nine. It does not need much water, but you must ensure that the soil is well-drained and free of weeds. If you have a heavy clay soil, make sure to amend it with 50% compost before planting.
Originally used for tall hedges, the red tip photinia was often planted too close together and was more susceptible to leaf spot. Its high susceptibility to leaf spot makes it a poor choice for hedging in the southern regions of the country. It is still an excellent choice for privacy screening in the yard and can thrive in a variety of climates. However, it is best grown for ornamental purposes and is deer resistant.
American holly
The American holly is an excellent choice for landscaping your home. This shrub can grow well in full sun or partial shade, and thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones five through nine. Its foliage is bright green and produces red berries in the fall. It is deer-resistant and requires little pruning, although it can be trained for special purposes. In addition to privacy, the American holly can be used as an indoor tree for arrangements and bird feeders. The berries are delicious and popular with songbirds.
The American holly is a popular choice for privacy plantings, due to its dense, evergreen foliage. Oakland(tm) Holly has distinctive oak-shaped leaves and is low-maintenance. In addition, it provides color to the landscape during the winter months. Another variety is the Bigfoot(tm), which reaches a height of twenty feet and produces uniform, evergreen leaves. This plant is also great for small spaces.
The American holly can be grown as a hedge, screen, or natural fence. It provides privacy and protection from unscrupulous neighbors. The berries appear in clusters every fall and remain for two weeks. You can also plant the American holly as a backdrop for flower gardens. Unlike most other plants, the berries are edible. You can eat them after they fall off the branches. If you want to use the American holly in flower beds, you can plant several at a time.