Creating Instant Privacy with Fast-Growing Hedges
There is nothing quite like relaxing in your own private, quiet, secluded, sheltered garden. However, waiting years for a traditional hedge to fill out can be a test of patience most of us would rather avoid. If you are looking to block out unsightly buildings or nosy neighbours, reduce road noise, or simply create a leafy green boundary, the solution lies in fast-growing hedging or instant hedging.
For those searching for fast growing hedges for privacy UK, there are several standout options that combine speed, density, and year-round screening. Among the most popular options for gardens are Laurel, Leylandii, Thuja plicata, Griselinia, Portuguese Laurel and Mixed Native hedging.
Here is a guide to the best species for the job and how to achieve that “established” look immediately.
Top Plants for Instant Hedging
When speed is the priority, certain evergreen varieties stand out above the rest.
Laurel (Cherry Laurel) – Popular, classic and reliable
A Laurel privacy hedge is perhaps the most popular choice in the UK. With its large, glossy green leaves and vigorous growth (up to 60cm per year), laurel quickly forms a thick hedge. It is a hardy and thrives in sun or shade. For an instant Laurel hedge we suggest you plant our taller Laurel hedging plants up to 50cm apart (2 per metre).
Leylandii – Fast, cheap and tough
Leylandii has a reputation for rapid growth — and for good reason. It’s one of the quickest ways to create a screen. It is also one of the most economical ways of creating a tall hedge but it can also be kept to smaller heights (under 2m or 6ft). When maintained properly with regular trimming, it forms a dense, evergreen wall, and it does it all year round. Leylandii is also one of the best for filtering out air pollution and noise from roads.
For larger gardens or properties backing onto open land, Leylandii remains one of the most effective choices for people searching for instant hedges UK and those looking for height and impact.
For the most instant effect, we recommend planting Leylandii 50cm (1’8”) apart or two per metre. Our larger sizes of Leylandii 2001 will give the most instant privacy, see here for all our Leylandii prices and availability.
Thuja Plicata (Western Red Cedar) – Tough, dense and aromatic foliage
A fantastic alternative to Leylandii, Thuja plicata offers a similar formal look. It grows rapidly, tolerates a variety of soils, and produces an evergreen screen with aromatic foliage. It will often shoot back from old wood so is more forgiving if you cut your hedge back a bit too enthusiastically.
Thuja plicata is ideal for those who want a Leylandii type hedge but don’t want to plant Leylandii. It is often a bushier plant when grown in a pot so often gives a more instant hedge.
As with Leylandii, plant Thuja plicata two per metre (50cm apart) for the most instant effect. See here for all our Thuja plicata prices and availability.
Griselinia Littoralis – Modern, bright & coastal friendly
Griselinia is increasingly popular across the UK, particularly in coastal areas but it also does well inland. Its apple-green leaves bring a contemporary feel, and it tolerates coastal wind and salt better than many other species. It’s perfect if you want fast coverage without the darker tones of Laurel or Portuguese Laurel. As it is evergreen, its fresh green leaves bring brightness even in winter.
Plant two plants per metre (or closer with smaller plants) for more of an instant effect or we sell instant hedging troughs of Griselinia in a range of heights where we have done the work for you. Our instant Griselinia hedging troughs have been trimmed into dense hedge and are a one-metre-long trough. Just dig a trench and plant one per metre to create a truly instant hedge.
Portuguese Laurel – Elegant, Neat & Classy
For those who prefer a more refined, elegant look, Portuguese Laurel (also called Portugal Laurel) offers smaller, darker green leaves and striking red stems. While slightly slower than the Cherry Laurel, it is still a fast grower and very hardy. Portuguese Laurel can create a formal hedge which is suitable for both modern and traditional garden designs.
Plant two plants per metre for a quicker hedge. Our taller sizes of Portuguese Laurel will create a relatively instant screen at this distance.
While not evergreen, mixed native hedging is available as instant hedging troughs.
Mixed Native Hedging – Wildlife friendly, flowering and traditional
If you want to support local wildlife, a mixed native hedge (featuring Hawthorn, Hazel, and Field Maple) provides a charming, traditional “countryside” aesthetic. While slightly less uniform, it offers biodiversity benefits and seasonal interest, while providing effective screening from late spring to early winter. Although native hedging plants are not evergreen (except slow-growing Holly or Yew), they still produce a secure boundary.
Choose our instant Mixed Native Hedging troughs in various sizes for a truly instant hedge.
Why Choose Instant Hedging Troughs?
Even with fast-growing species, a young plant still takes time to “knit” together. For people wanting immediate impact Evergreenhedging.com offers high-quality instant hedging troughs
Unlike individual pots, these instant hedges in the UK are pre-grown in one-metre-long troughs. They have been professionally pruned and arrive as mature, fully knitted units that slot seamlessly into place, giving you a finished look immediately after planting.
The Benefits Include:
No Gaps: Because the foliage is already intertwined, you don’t have to wait 2–5 years for the plants to meet.
Ease of Planting: One trough equals one linear metre. It takes the guesswork out of spacing. Just dig a trench and plant.
Year-Round Impact: These hedging troughs are often used by hotels and show houses to give an instant effect that often adds value to the property.
If privacy matters to you now, not in five years, investing in instant hedging may be the best option. Choose the right species, plant well, maintain consistently, and you’ll create a private garden that lasts for years to come.