Creating a secluded and tranquil outdoor space is achievable by incorporating fast-growing shrubs into your garden. These plants not only provide privacy but also add beauty and structure to your landscape. Here are ten excellent options to consider:
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Leyland Cypress
A popular choice for privacy screens, the Leyland cypress is a fast-growing evergreen conifer that can add 3 to 5 feet per year. Its dense foliage forms a solid barrier, making it ideal for large spaces where privacy is needed.
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Cherry Laurel
Cherry laurel is a robust, versatile, and fast-growing shrub. It can grow up to 3 feet per year, making it suitable for creating a thick, evergreen hedge. This shrub thrives in various soil types and is drought-tolerant once established.
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Holly
Holly bushes offer dense foliage and, in some varieties, produce bright red berries, adding visual interest to your garden. They can grow up to 50 feet tall, providing an effective tall privacy screen. Additionally, their spiky leaves add an extra layer of security.
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Pyracantha (Firethorn)
Pyracantha is an evergreen shrub known for its vibrant orange berries in the fall. It works well as a standalone bush or as part of a hedge, providing both privacy and a splash of color.
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Bamboo
Bamboo is renowned for its rapid growth, making it an excellent choice for creating a natural privacy screen. Certain species can grow quickly and form a dense screen, making them a popular choice for privacy hedges. However, it’s important to choose a clumping variety of bamboo rather than a running variety to prevent it from becoming invasive.
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Lilac
Lilac shrubs are known for their fragrant, colorful blooms in the spring. They can grow quickly, providing a beautiful and aromatic privacy barrier.
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Forsythia
Forsythia is a deciduous shrub that bursts into bright yellow blooms in early spring. It’s a super fast grower that looks lovely in groups or when used in a mixed border, and it’s deer-resistant.
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Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are versatile shrubs that can stand alone or work as climbing plants. They offer beautiful, extravagant blooms and can be either evergreen or deciduous, depending on the variety.
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Arborvitae
Arborvitae is a popular evergreen shrub for privacy hedges due to its dense foliage and fast growth rate. It can grow up to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide, making it an effective screen for large properties.
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Dappled Willow
Also known as tri-color willow, this shrub has lovely pink, white, and pale green variegations with an elegant weeping or rounded form. New growth emerges with an eye-catching pink hue, adding a unique aesthetic to your garden.
Incorporating these fast-growing shrubs into your garden can quickly enhance privacy while adding beauty and diversity to your outdoor space.