Really fast growing hedge for privacy?

[xoomer]

Unless I buy a couple of 5 foot there isn't anything is there? For two 4-5 feet trees / bushes / hedges we are talking at least £40.

I have Cherry Laurel and Bamboo already but I bought 2-3 feet as they were cheaper and they aren't yet growing above the fence.

Any ideas or is it a case of be patient or spend £££?

Thanks.

Cypress but you need to really keep on top of clipping. A well placed sail/umbrella, trellis might be better

Well, leylandii is fast, but then the problem is... it's too fast! It will need clipping twice yearly really, and then you can't grow anything next to it.

Our neighbors have recently put in a trellis style fence (so you can see through it) along with lots of shrubs on both sides, it's thickened up lovely and looks much nicer than a fence or hedge.

Grisilenia

Willow screening on a roll, then plant something in front of it. Just be aware of how you attach it. If it’s your neighbours fence side you may need to drive a couple of poles in to your side as you are not supposed to attach anything to a neighbours fence.

Bay. It was a shrub three years ago now is getting up to the second floor. As soon as the birds nesting in it have gone it's going to be hacked into a shrub again.

Not what you're after OP but just incase it's helpful - we planted 3 ft bare root privet in our front garden in lockdown in 2020 and it's just this spring shot up and thickened up to give proper privacy - 6 ft tall and thick enough not to see through.

It looks really good now (and keeping it in check is about to become a new job for DH!) but I slightly expected it to be faster growing than it was.

Hi thanks all. All different recommendations 😂😂

I’ve often heard that larger (older) shrubs can take longer to establish than young ones so patience is the key. I’ve also had a similar experience to Wooly that the Cherry Laurels I planted in 2021 at 2/3 feet high have really taken off and the happiest one is 6ft now. Are you feeding/watering well?

Don’t plant leylandii for a short term fix. We are regularly cutting 3ft back a year and have an 10ft wide hedge because the previous owners didn’t trim the sides (so if we do much more, we just get back to the dead wood in the centre).

How high do you need it to be and which way is it facing? Do you need it to be evergreen or just leaves in the summer? I’d consider some climbers too although they don’t thicken up quickly, they do provide a bit of cover till your other plants get there. You might need some trellis or obelisks to support them. Lidl had some obelisks and arches for £10 recently.

Lonicera Henryi
Trachelospermum Jasminoides
Jasmine
Humulus lupulus Aureus
Clematis Montana