Fast-growing hedging choices for enhancing seclusion, as revealed by a hedge expert
In the quest for a lush and private garden, fast-growing hedges have become a popular choice for many homeowners. These green screens not only provide privacy but also add a touch of beauty to any outdoor space. Let's explore some of the most popular fast-growing hedging varieties and their unique characteristics.
First on our list is the Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus). Known for its dense foliage, this evergreen conifer is a favourite for adding garden screening. With a growth rate of around 30-60cm per year, it fills out quickly, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a speedy solution. The Cherry Laurel boasts lush, shiny leaves, white flowers in the spring, and festive red berries in the winter, adding an attractive touch to any garden. However, it's essential to note that the berries and leaves are toxic if ingested, making it less suitable for homes with pets and children.
Another popular choice is the Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata). This versatile shrub thrives in various conditions, including normal, clay, and chalk soils, full sun to semi-shade, inland and exposed coastal areas. With a growth rate of 40-60cm per year, it's a bit slower than the Cherry Laurel but still offers rapid growth. Western Red Cedar is also known for its attractive pineapple-like scent. What's more, it's more resilient to pests and diseases compared to some other varieties and is effective at absorbing traffic pollution particles, making it an ideal choice for urban gardens.
Leylandii is another fast-growing hedging shrub, with a growth rate of around 75-90cm a year. Recommended by Jamie Shipley from Hedges Direct Ltd, this fast-grower is particularly suitable for creating privacy in gardens. However, it's important to note that Leylandii can grow very tall and overshadow a space, making it less suitable for very small gardens. Despite its rapid growth, Leylandii requires regular clipping with a hedge trimmer during midsummer and autumn to stimulate dense and healthy growth.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a popular hedging variety that grows approximately 30-60cm per year and is good for low-maintenance gardens as it requires less pruning than faster growers. However, Beech struggles to establish in heavy clay or waterlogged soil. To encourage leaf coverage to remain into the winter, Beech hedging requires trimming in the late summer or early autumn.
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a very popular evergreen shrub that can be shaped into a formal hedge or topiary shapes, with delicate white blooms in the summer that attract bees and butterflies. Privet grows at a rate of around 30 cm per year, but it's essential to note that it may lose some or all of its leaves depending on how extreme the winter is. Additionally, Privet won't establish in particularly wet sites.
Lastly, Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a great option for securing extra privacy in your garden, as it retains its leaves all year round. Bay Laurel can reach around 23ft and is also quite dense.
Fast-growing hedges offer numerous benefits. They are low-maintenance, requiring pruning only twice a year to keep them tidy. Moreover, they provide food and shelter to birds and are a budget-friendly alternative to garden fences, with some growing up to nearly a metre per year.
In conclusion, when choosing a fast-growing hedge, consider factors such as growth rate, soil type, climate, maintenance requirements, and safety for pets and children. With the right choice, fast-growing hedges can be a lifetime investment, transforming your garden into a lush, private, and beautiful oasis.
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