I spent way too much money at the local garden center trying to buy instant privacy for our exposed patio. We bought tiny, slow-growing boxwoods and then waited three long years for them to do exactly nothing. We just wanted to sit outside without the entire street watching us drink our morning coffee.
Here are the fast growers that actually worked for us.
1. Thuja Green Giant
If you only look at one single plant on this list, make it this one. These specific evergreen trees explode out of the dirt at a completely unreasonable speed every single year. They easily add three to five feet of new growth in a single season once their roots firmly establish in the ground. Christina planted a row across her back property line, and they totally hid her neighbor’s ugly tin shed within two years. You definitely want to space them at least six feet apart so they have room to breathe as they mature. They thrive in almost any dirt and don’t need constant fertilizer to keep pushing tall.
2. Forsythia
Most people naturally plant these for the bright yellow spring flowers. They also happen to grow very wide and thick faster than practically anything else on the market. Grab your sharp pruning shears and violently cut them back right after they finish blooming. They handle heavy pruning better than almost any other common yard shrub you can buy. Leaving them completely untrimmed results in a wild, arching mess that eats up your entire yard. Zero waiting around. They prefer full sun but will gladly tolerate partial shade if you have a tricky corner to fill.
3. Emerald Green Arborvitae
These stay much narrower than the Green Giants, making them perfect for tight property lines. They give you a dense, dark green wall that blocks out sound and sight completely without overflowing onto the sidewalk. Just keep a close eye on the soil moisture during their crucial first summer outdoors. Check the soil deeply with your finger before applying water. They completely hate drying out and will turn totally brown if you forget to water them (trust me on this one). You can plant these about three feet apart to form a tight, unyielding screen. They look fantastic lining a long driveway.
4. Clumping Bamboo
Don’t panic about the bamboo part. The distinct clumping variety stays exactly where you put it instead of blindly sending wild runners straight into your neighbor’s concrete driveway. It grows taller and faster than anything else you can buy at a typical nursery, shooting up several feet in just weeks. The thin leaves rustle loudly in the wind, creating a nice white noise effect that blocks out annoying road sounds.
These next few are a little more colorful.
5. Skip Laurel
We reach for this specific plant the most when we need something that naturally looks a bit more refined. It features these large, dark, glossy green leaves that form a completely solid visual block from a distance. They easily block out street traffic visually while reflecting sunlight off their waxy foliage. You rarely ever have to prune them if you give them enough space to stretch out. They handle both full sun and deep shade perfectly well. (yes, really). It makes them extremely versatile for tricky yards.
6. Red Twig Dogwood
Dead simple. They grow like absolute weeds and feature thick dark green foliage throughout the entire summer. In the harsh winter, they drop all their leaves to reveal bright red branches that look completely striking against the white snow. You can even use some creative setups around them; check out these 18 Genius Plastic Bottle Hacks for Your Home and Garden for some very cheap watering ideas.
7. Wax Myrtle
People completely overlook this extremely tough native plant at the local garden center. It tolerates terrible clay soil, survives serious dry spells, and smells vaguely like warm candle wax when you slowly crush the leaves. They shoot up very fast in southern climates and require practically zero special care from you once they settle in. The small silvery berries also attract tons of native winter birds right to your property line. You can let them grow as a wild shrub or loosely prune them into a small tree shape. They handle coastal salt spray beautifully too.
8. Sweet Viburnum
Honestly, I’d skip this entirely if you live in a very cold northern climate. For the rest of you, it creates a huge, leathery green wall entirely covered in tiny white flowers every single spring. The growth rate is almost aggressive, meaning you get genuine privacy very fast. You definitely don’t want to plant it too close to an actual wooden fence because it will quickly push right through the slats. They respond extremely well to tight pruning if you prefer a formal, boxy hedge look over a wild natural screen.
9. Leyland Cypress
You see these tall trees lining large properties everywhere for a very good reason. They act like a solid brick wall that blocks out severe wind and heavy road noise all year long. John planted six of them along his open driveway a few years back to block out a terrible street lamp glare. They worked perfectly. Just give them plenty of room to spread out horizontally. They grow very wide at the base, meaning you can’t squeeze them into a narrow side yard. Plant them fully in the sun for the best dark color.
Okay, this last batch works great for folks looking for something slightly smaller.
10. Limelight Hydrangea
They naturally grow over eight feet tall and wide in just a fast season or two. During the late summer heat, they become entirely covered in huge green and white blooms that physically block anyone from seeing past them into your yard. You just cut them back hard every single winter to keep them looking tidy and to encourage stronger stems. They drop their leaves in winter, so they are best for folks who only need patio privacy during the summer months. If you casually love planting hydrangeas, you really should check out these 15 Hydrangea Companion Plants We Swear By.
11. Nellie R. Stevens Holly
You absolutely need this specific shrub if you want sharp, thick leaves that actively discourage random people from walking directly through your yard. It creates a very dense, solid physical presence that pets and kids will definitely avoid. It holds onto a dark green color right through January. The bright red winter berries add a nice pop of color against drab gray skies.
12. Diablo Ninebark
This sprawling shrub brings completely dark purple leaves to the bland green yard. It grows fast and wide, freely reaching eight feet across with bending, arching branches that create a solid visual screen. It physically stands out dramatically from the typical boring green hedge you usually see. (don’t knock it till you try it). You get clusters of small pinkish-white flowers in the early summer that contrast perfectly against the dark foliage. Just make sure to plant them in full sun, or the thin leaves turn a muddy green color.
Your Yard Doesn’t Have To Feel Exposed
Planting a tight row of fast-growing shrubs gives you permanent privacy without the high cost of building a massive wooden fence. The sturdy plants do all the hard work for you while making the whole space feel much more alive and welcoming. Pick two or three favorites, get them in the dirt this weekend, and see what happens.