No article about fast growing shrubs for privacy hedges would be complete without providing examples of fast growing evergreen shrubs that tolerate cold winters. The advantage that evergreens have when it comes to privacy hedges is, of course, the fact that they can serve as four-season privacy hedges, since their leaves don't drop in autumn.
Arborvitae: Fast Growing Evergreen Shrubs
There are many kinds of arborvitae, not all of which are equally suited for use in privacy hedges. A good choice for privacy hedges is 'Emerald Green' arborvitae, which usually reaches just 12'-14', with a spread of 3'-4'. Its foliage comes in flat sprays and, if you look closely, the needles appear covered in scales. To learn more about arborvitae, click the link below:
Yew: Fast Growing Evergreen Shrubs
An advantage that yews have over many similar evergreens is that these shade plants will thrive in north-facing foundation plantings, no matter how sunlight-deprived. If you have small children, make sure they don't eat the berries: their toxic seeds qualify yews as poisonous plants. To learn more about yews, click the link below:
Hemlocks: Fast Growing Evergreen Shrubs
Whether you think of hemlock as a tree or shrub may well depend on where you live. If you dwell in a rural area of North America, you probably know hemlock as a towering tree. But some of the finest privacy hedges I've seen in suburbia are composed of scaled-down hemlocks. To learn more about hemlock, click the link below:
On Page 4 we'll look at some additional plants people sometimes consider for privacy hedges, due to their ability to grow fast. Fast growers or not, though, you'll want to avoid them, as they are firmly root on invasive plants lists....
