When you want to make a quick impact in your garden you can't beat hedging plants. Especially fast-growing ones. Whether you plant them as small 1-foot-high youngsters or opt for mature five-foot plants your garden will be quickly transformed. Whether you're overlooked by neighbours, dealing with strong winds, or simply want to create some greenery in a hurry, there are plenty of fast-growing hedging plants that will quickly flourish and, just as importantly, look fantastic as well.

In this article, we’ll explore why fast-growing hedging plants are so popular, what you should think about before parting with your money, and which varieties available from Direct Hedging Plants offer the best results for quick coverage and long-term success.

Looking for a complete guide to hedging? Don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Garden Hedging Plants.

Benefits of Fast-Growing Hedges

Whether you've just moved into a property and are working with a blank canvas, indulging in a garden makeover, need to fill a boundary gap, or just want instant impact. Whatever the circumstances here's why you should be planting some hedging:

• Quick results: Many of the most vigorous hedging plants (I'm looking at you conifers) will put on up to 2–3 feet of growth each year, giving you a substantial screen within a couple of seasons. Of course, once your hedge is established the fast growth then becomes a problem as you need to keep it trimmed to be manageable. But that's a small price to pay.
• Versatile: Whether you're in the countryside or on an urban estate, fast-growing hedges you'll have a place in your garden for some fast-growing hedging.
• Natural privacy: A dense, leafy hedge is more attractive than a wooden fence or brick wall and can be just as effective at blocking views.
• Shelter and wind protection: It's surprising how effective hedges are for protecting your garden and delicate plants against high winds.
• Noise absorption: They'll not drown out the racket made by that kid down the street who has ripped the muffler out of his car's exhaust, but hedges can help keep out normal everyday noise.

Things to Consider Before Choosing

Fast-growing hedging plants are great—but they’re not always the right choice for everyone. Here’s what to keep in mind before planting:

• Maintenance matters: Unfortunately, it's an unavoidable fact for those of us who aren't the best at whipping out the clippers. The faster a hedge grows, the more often it needs trimming. If you’re looking for something low-effort, you may want a slower-growing variety.
• Size control: As I've already mentioned some fast growers can easily reach over 10 feet very quickly if left untrimmed. Always check the mature size of the variety you're planting and be prepared to prune regularly to keep it in check.
• Neighbour relations: We all want to keep on the right side of the neighbours. But an untidy hedge that flops over a fence or into someone else's garden is a sure-fire recipe for confrontation. Don't forget that unkempt and out of control hedges can be subject to the High Hedges legislation if they block light or cause disputes. Keep hedge height in mind, especially on boundaries. And think about the neighbours.
• Right plant, right place: Some hedging plants prefer full sun, others tolerate shade; some thrive on chalk, others struggle with clay. Match the plant to your garden for the best success. That said hardy plants such as leylandii will thrive just about anywhere.

Top Fast-Growing Hedging Plants Available from Direct Hedging Plants

Let's look at some of the most popular fast-growing hedges, all of which are available to buy from Direct Hedging Plants. Each one brings its own unique strengths:

Leylandii (Cupressocyparis leylandii)

• Growth rate: Up to 3 feet per year
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Most soil types (well-drained)

Leylandii is one of the fastest-growing evergreen hedging plants and of course insanely popular. It's also a top choice for instant screening. With dense, coniferous foliage and the fact that it grows very high very quickly, it forms an extremely effective privacy barrier and windbreak in a short time.

It’s also excellent at noise reduction and thrives in a wide range of soil types and conditions. However, this isn't a variety that you can just plant and forget. Leylandii requires trimming at least once a year (ideally twice) to keep it from becoming unmanageable. Left alone, it can easily reach over 20 feet. And it'll keep going.

Best for: Rapid screening, windbreaks, large gardens
Watch out for: Regular pruning is essential to maintain size and prevent neighbour disputes.

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’)

• Growth rate: 1.5 to 2.5 feet per year
• Position: Sun or shade
• Soil: Tolerates most soils, including clay

Cherry Laurel is a broadleaf evergreen with large, glossy green leaves and makes a lovely bushy and dense hedge. It’s one of the most popular choices for evergreen hedging because it grows fast, looks lush, and will grow successfully in most conditions—including partial or full shade.

Laurel produces small white flowers in spring and red berries in autumn, making it both ornamental and wildlife-friendly. It is also very effective at noise reduction thanks to its thick foliage. It can be kept clipped to a neat hedge or allowed to grow taller for screening.

Best for: Year-round privacy, shade tolerance, ornamental value
Watch out for: Requires regular trimming to maintain a neat shape; remember that its foliage can be toxic to pets and livestock if ingested.

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

• Growth rate: Around 1 to 2 feet per year
• Position: Sun or partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained soils preferred

Slightly slower growing than Cherry Laurel but still classed as fast-growing, Portuguese Laurel is a refined, elegant evergreen with smaller, darker green leaves and red-tinged stems. It will quickly form a dense hedge that clips beautifully into formal or informal shapes (depending on your skill with the shears).

Portuguese Laurel is very hardy and copes well with urban pollution, making it a great choice for driveways, front gardens, or along roadsides. It’s also a good choice if you want something a little more compact and that grows a little slower than Cherry Laurel or Leylandii.

Best for: Formal hedging, urban gardens, sheltered areas
Watch out for: Slower initial establishment than cherry laurel, but excellent structure once matured.

Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar)

• Growth rate: 2 to 3 feet per year
• Position: Full sun or light shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soils

One of the most under rated hedging plants. Western Red Cedar is a fast-growing conifer that just looks (and smells) nicer than Leylandii. Its soft, feathery foliage has a rich green tone and gives off a pleasant cedar scent when trimmed. With this plant it's easy to create a nice uniform hedge with a slightly more relaxed feel than tightly clipped conifers.

Western Red Cedar is excellent for screening and ideal for rural or large suburban gardens where a more natural look is desired. Like other conifers, it benefits from regular trimming to keep it compact and dense.

Best for: Taller hedges with a soft texture, rural properties, fragrant foliage
Watch out for: Needs moisture in the soil—avoid very dry or chalky sites unless improved.

FAQs

Which hedge grows fastest in the UK?
No surprise but Leylandii is widely regarded as the fastest-growing hedge, with growth rates of up to 3 feet per year under good conditions.

What’s the best fast-growing hedge for privacy?
Cherry Laurel offers a great balance of quick growth, density, and year-round coverage, making it ideal for domestic privacy screens.

Are there fast hedges that are also low maintenance?
Fast growers by nature require trimming, but Portuguese Laurel offers a good compromise—it grows quickly but is easier to manage than Leylandii.

Can I keep a fast-growing hedge small?
Yes—but you’ll need to trim regularly. Most fast-growing hedging plants respond well to cutting and can be shaped to your desired height and width.

Let’s wrap this up.

Fast-growing hedging plants are brilliant solution when you're in a hurry. Whether you’re screening a garden, blocking out a road, or just want to fill a space with greenery, hedges like Leylandii, Cherry Laurel, Portuguese Laurel, and Thuja plicata will get the job done.

Explore our full range of fast-growing hedging plants to find the perfect fit for your garden—and don’t forget to visit our Ultimate Guide to Garden Hedging Plants for planting and care advice.