Fast-growing shrubs for privacy are plants often considered by our clients if they are planning to plant a hedge, particularly if it is for screenage purposes. Hedges can also be planted to provide a definitive boundary to a property or define a certain area of a garden or act as a windbreak too. With their many benefits to your home and garden, they are worth the consideration.
There are many varieties of trees and shrubs that can be considered for screenage purposes, including evergreen and deciduous. We are here to help you decide on the perfect one for you. Evergreen trees and shrubs will keep their leaves all year round – so if you are planting for privacy then this is probably the right choice for you. Deciduous plants will look good from spring-autumn but will be bare during the winter months.
There are several other points to consider when purchasing your plants, which we can certainly help you with, and you will need to think about:
- Consider where the plants will be planted in your garden. Will there be enough room for them to spread to their optimum size? Labels on plants will often give an indication of the eventual height and spread – do not be put off by this – it is an indication and often over a 20-year period!
- Also, consider if you are planting for privacy\screenage you are likely to be planting near a boundary wall, fence or possibly a driveway. Root systems will grow down laterally and the bigger the plant, the bigger the root system will become. You need to ensure that the root system will not become invasive and for that reason, we would not recommend planting Bamboo, as they have a vigorous, invasive root system.
- Do your plants need to cope with coastal conditions for example? If so, plants to consider for these conditions include Quercus ilex and Griselinia littoralis
- Which way does your garden face? Will your chosen plants, for example, be able to cope with a scorching mid-day sun?
- What is your soil type? One way to see if your chosen plant will cope in your garden is to have a look around your local area and see what other people are growing. This is always a good indication of what grows well in your area.
Visiting a specialist nursery such as Arundel Arboretum, you can be confident that you will be getting the right advice for the right plants for you. We have an excellent selection of suitable plants in stock, and five that you may like to consider include:-
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’
This is one of our favourites and we have mentioned it many times before! It has so much to offer – easy to look after, fast-growing, a dense, but delicate growth habit and beautiful white flowers in June and July. The dark green leaves are deeply serrated to give added interest.
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ is also classed as a reasonably hardy tree and it should be able to withstand temperatures of between -5 to -10. It will grow happily in full sun, in good well-drained soil. We would advise that if your Hoheria is planted in an exposed position or is subjected to adverse weather it could get damaged. We would also recommend providing shelter in cold areas.
Further information about Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ can be found here.
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’ (Cherry Laurel)
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’ is a fast-growing evergreen shrub and an excellent choice if you do not wish to plant Leylandii. It is also an ideal plant for a shady area and is hardy. It will grow in most soils, but it does not like shallow, chalky or very wet ground. Fragrant, white flowers appear in spring and these are followed by cherry-like red fruits, which will eventually turn black.
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’ has an eventual height of 4-8m and a spread of 2-4m.
Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel)
Prunus lusitanica is an evergreen laurel, but has a smaller, neater leaf and creates more of a formal appearance than Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’. It has dark green leaves and produces fragrant white flowers in spring, which are followed by small, dark fruits.
Prunus lusitanica will grow happily on chalky soil, but cannot withstand wet ground. It is a medium-fast growing laurel. It will grow in full sun or partial shade in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of 12m and a spread of 8m.
Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’
This is another of our favourite fast-growing shrubs for privacy, again because there is so much interest to this plant! In the spring, it will produce a massive flush of bright red new foliage, which is followed by an abundance of delicate white flowers – although less so if you have regularly cut your plants back to encourage vibrant red leaf growth rather than the flowers.
Laurus nobilis (Bay Laurel)
Laurus nobilis is another evergreen shrub worthy of consideration. It has a dense habit and medium growth. Its aromatic leaves are useful in cooking. Small, pale yellow flowers appear in the spring, followed by glossy black fruits in autumn. Laurus nobilis can be planted in full sun or partial shade, in a sheltered or exposed position. It has an eventual height of between 8-12m and a spread of 8m+.
We have an excellent selection of fast-growing shrubs for privacy and others that you may wish to consider in stock. Why not pop in and have a look? Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist and advise you further on the right plants for you.
