20 fast-growing shrubs and bushes that add garden privacy quickly
20 fast-growing shrubs and bushes that add garden privacy quickly
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/20-fast-growing-shrubs-bushes-102700789.html
Publish Date: 2026-03-25 06:27:00
Source Domain: uk.style.yahoo.com
Don’t want to stare at that ugly block wall next door? Plants are the answer.
From hydrangea bushes to lilac bushes and every evergreen in between, many attractive, fast-growing shrubs provide privacy, hide eyesores, and offer food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife in a matter of a few seasons.
To ensure your shrub gets a good start, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the pot. Rough up the root ball with your hands a bit to help the roots spread out. Backfill the hole, but resist the urge to add peat moss or other organic matter. That’s an outdated practice that actually creates drainage problems, which can stunt or kill the plant eventually. Just water and mulch your new shrub, and don’t let it dry out the first season as it gets established. Then enjoy the view.
These plants typically reach maturity within a few seasons…
Arborvitae
Arborvitae are stately evergreens that come in many different heights, ranging from a few feet to 30 feet tall or more. Most don’t need shearing to maintain their shape.
Varieties to Try: Green Giant, Spring Grove
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Butterfly Bush
Sometimes called summer lilac, this sturdy shrub with purple flowers withstands drought, blooms all season long and attracts pollinators. Newer types are not invasive.
Varieties to Try: Miss Violet, Miss Ruby
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Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are wonderfully versatile shrubs that thrive across most parts of the UK, from sheltered southern gardens to cooler northern regions. Some tolerate part shade, but most need a few hours of sun for best blooms.
Varieties to Try: Firelight, Monmar
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Elderberry
Late spring or early summer flowers and attractive foliage make this graceful plant attractive in a mixed border.
Varieties to Try: Instant Karma, Lemony Lace
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Pyracantha
This vigorous shrub grows upright and boasts clusters of gorgeous autumn berries that last well into winter.
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