Large fast growing evergreen

[SchoolDramas]

Any ideas for a large (10-20ft height and 6-10ft spread) evergreen tree that could be planted for privacy at the back of a garden near a wall? I've been looking at native species but obviously there aren't many!

Not a Leylandii!! Most evergreen trees are quite slow growing. We have got some laurels - one is variegated, which is pretty. They grow fast, and they are dense, you won't see anything through them. Once they get to the height you want, trim them once a year. Plus they have flowers.

Yew? That will get that high and wide but will take a while but you can prune it however you like so it is very flexible.

Laurel. Get big ones and they get fence quickly. V easy to maintain.

Our bay three grows like lightning. Don't plant a female however, the seedlings come up everwhere.

evergreen magnolia?

Thanks everyone! Laurel looks like a good balance between evergreen and fast growing. There are a few species, I've found out that with Portuguese Laurel it's easy to lift the crown to get it more tree like, and it doesn't grow as wide and unmanageably fast as cherry laurel for example. In case it helps anyone else

Why not holly if you’re after a single specimen? Yes would be ideal and you can buy pretty tall hedgding plants

If you want the wall to remain you really shouldn't be planting something that is intended to grow to that height near it. The roots will undermine the foundations of the wall and depending on the prevailing wind direction the tree may end up leaning on the wall.

What is your budget? If finances permit, a full standard holly would be ideal.

They are top grafted with a clear trunk, so the trunk will thicken but it doesn't grow any taller. The crown develops and grows bigger, wider and bushier. This makes pruning and controlling the height much easier.

The tree would already be quite tall compared to a newly planted sapling, and you could select the height you want. The root spread would also be restricted by the size of the trunk.
Full standard holly specimens start at about £250 - £300.