Fast-growing hedges – four good alternatives

Privets, hornbeams, black elder and thuja are four good choices for those who want to get their hedge in place as quickly as possible. Tip – at the very bottom of this article you will see hedge plants of these varieties that you can buy in our stores.

• Suitable for growing zone: 4 
• Fast growing: Yes 
• Height: Up to approx. 3 m 
• Privet hedges have in common that they grow quickly, provide dense foliage and are relatively easy to maintain. An excellent choice when you want to plant a hedge and make it easy for yourself, and also get a nice hedge that can be shaped to your liking and taste.

• Suitable for growing zones: 1–5 
• Fast growing: Yes 
• Height: Up to approx. 7 m 
• The Thuja is an extremely popular hedge plant in all the Nordic countries, because it is easy to plant and stays green all year round – i.e. both fast growing and evergreen. A common variety is the Thuja Brabant, which can grow very tall, for those who want to have a proper height for the hedge, or prune it to a suitable height. If you plant your Thuja plants closely, you will soon have a truly massive green wall around the plot or garden.

• Suitable for growing zones: 1–5 
• Fast growing: Yes 
• Height: Up to approx. 5 m 
• Sambucus nigra, or black elder as we usually call it, grows very quickly and becomes large in both width and height. Most varieties can grow up to five meters tall, high enough for most people's needs for protection from view. You should expect a real round of pruning each year to prevent it from taking up too much space in width, but in general it is easy to plant and shoots up quickly in height. In the planting guide for black elder you will find more information about different varieties of black elder bushes and hedges, and wise advice for planting and care.

• Suitable for growing zones: 1–4 
• Fast growing: Yes 
• Height: Up to approx. 5 m 
• A hedge that does the job, without being showy – hornbeam grows quickly, can be cut nicely and is wonderfully green in the summer months. In winter the leaves wither, but they can still remain, which can provide some privacy in the winter months.

• Hedge plants and shrubs come in different sizes. In general, the more they have grown before they are sold, the more expensive they are. If you want a hedge that is as complete as possible, you will have to expect to pay a little more. If you can instead wait a couple of extra years for the hedge to be fully grown, you will get away with it cheaper by buying smaller hedge plants at a lower price. 
• Fertilized potting soil is your best friend when it comes to planting fast-growing hedges – the right soil gives your plants the best conditions to grow quickly. 
• In general, it is important to water a lot when you have just planted the hedge, while next year you can reduce the watering.

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