Are you on the hunt for a way to bring both privacy and charm to your garden in double-quick time? You’re certainly not on your own there. Many of us dream about transforming our outdoor spaces into private sanctuaries, but the idea of waiting ages for a lush hedge to grow can be disheartening.
Staring at plants inching their way up day by day, many of us wish they’d just get a wriggle on. Luckily, there’s good news; some plants are quick off the mark, offering up that much-needed greenery and seclusion without the long wait.
After having a bit of a dig around, we’ve unearthed 10 speedy hedge plants that are perfect fits for Aussie gardens. From the delightfully fragrant Murraya with its shiny leaves to the sturdy Photinia Robusta – great for those expansive hedges – these choices promise swift satisfaction whether you’re chasing after flowering wonders or dense evergreens for screening purposes.
Our list is chockers with options catering to every kind of garden style and necessity. Keep reading to find out how these top-notch selections can quickly turn your garden into the secluded hideaway you’ve been dreaming about!
Key Takeaways
- Fast-growing hedges like Murraya and Photinia Robusta offer privacy and beauty to your garden without a long wait. They reach full size in 3-4 years, making them ideal for quick landscaping changes.
- Proper care, including choosing the right plant for your soil and sunlight, planting at the best time of year, regular watering, fertilising, and timely pruning is essential to encourage swift growth in hedge plants.
- Cherry Laurel creates grand barriers quickly with its large leaves and fragrant flowers, while more exotic options like Japanese Bamboo add unique aesthetics with minimal maintenance required.
- Native Australian options such as Lilly Pilly adapt well to various climates across Australia. They grow quickly when given proper care, providing dense greenery that attracts wildlife into the garden.
- Incorporating fast – growing plants like Viburnum and Camellia Sasanqua into your landscape not only speeds up creating privacy screens but also adds seasonal beauty with their flowers attracting beneficial insects.
How to Encourage Fast Growth in Hedge Plants
To get your hedge plants growing quickly, pick the right ones for your garden’s conditions. Make sure you plant them at the best time, give them plenty of water and food, and trim them when needed.
Choosing the right plant for the space
We know picking the right plant for your garden can make a big difference. Certain plants thrive in full sun, while others need shade to grow well. Think about where you want to place your hedge and what conditions that spot offers.
If you’re aiming for a privacy screen or wanting to add some greenery as part of your landscape design, choosing evergreen trees might be the way to go. They keep their leaves all year round, providing constant cover and beauty.
Soil plays a huge role too; it affects how well your hedges will do. Some plants love rich, moist soil with good drainage – like the cherry laurel or English laurel, which are both fast-growing hedges ideal for Australian gardens.
Other species might prefer drier conditions. Always check if the plant’s needs match what your garden can provide.
“The right plant in the right place makes all the difference.”
Remember to take into account how much space you have available. Fast-growing options like Murraya or photinia robusta quickly fill up spaces but also need room to expand without crowding other plants or structures in your garden.
Proper planting time
Planting at the right season ensures your hedge plants thrive. In Australia, the best time to plant most hedging species is during cooler months. This gives them a chance to establish their root systems before the heat of summer kicks in.
For hedges like Murraya, which take 3-4 years to reach full size, starting them off at the correct time can make all the difference.
Keep in mind, not all plants follow this rule. Japanese Bamboo, for instance, has a sturdy nature that allows it to tolerate both sunlight and moderate cold well. So, you could plant it almost any time outside of extreme weather conditions.
Always check specific needs for each type of plant you’re planning to grow in your garden.
Ensuring proper planting times also aligns with natural cycles for pollinating insects and beneficial wildlife in your garden design. This approach supports a thriving ecosystem around your fast-growing hedge plants – boosting their growth even more.
Regular watering and fertilising
Once the right planting time rolls around and you’ve tucked your plants into their new homes, it’s crucial to kickstart their growth with regular watering and feeding. Water acts like a thirst-quencher for your hedges, helping them stretch their roots out in search of nutrients.
Fertiliser is like a power-packed meal; it supplies essential nutrients that encourage lush, vibrant growth. Together, they make sure your hedges don’t just survive but thrive.
We use a simple routine: water deeply rather than often to encourage roots to grow deep into the soil. This way, plants become more robust and less dependent on frequent watering over time.
For feeding, we mix in slow-release fertilisers at the start of each growing season to keep our plants well-nourished without overwhelming them all at once. These habits help us ensure that our Murraya hedges hit their full height fast and that our Fiji Fire boundaries bloom with fuller dark green leaves and plenty of flowers.
Timely pruning
Pruning keeps our hedges in top shape, helping them grow quickly and stay healthy. We cut back branches to maintain the hedge’s density and form, which is vital for its overall vitality.
This process also stops hedges like murraya paniculata and photinia robusta from getting too tall or wide more than we want. Using shears or a pruning saw, we make sure to prune at specific times of the year to boost flowering and encourage thick, lush growth.
Proper pruning is the gardener’s secret to a vibrant, flourishing hedge.”
This careful trimming prevents our beloved woody perennials from turning into unwieldy tangles. Instead of letting them grow out of control, timely cuts guide their energy into sprouting new leaves and branches exactly where we need them.
Whether it’s a cottage garden favorite like camellia sasanqua or a sturdy screen plant such as thuja occidentalis, regular pruning makes all the difference in achieving that perfect hedgerow appearance while ensuring fast growth and health.
Murraya: Fast-Growing and Fragrant
Murraya makes a top choice for those of us looking to fill our gardens with screening plants that don’t take ages to mature. With its glossy green leaves and sweet-smelling blossoms, this plant adds a touch of elegance anywhere it grows.
It thrives in temperate climates across Australia, bringing beauty and privacy to our outdoor spaces. We find that caring for Murraya is easy. It demands just the basics: some sun, a bit of water, and occasional pruning to keep it looking tidy.
In just 3-4 years, Murraya reaches its full height, making it an ideal option for gardeners eager to see quick results. Late spring or summer brings the reward of highly perfumed flowers, turning any garden into an aromatic paradise.
This bush isn’t just about fast growth; its fragrant blooms are a delight that enhance the charm of any landscape design. As horticulturalists always remind us, proper planting time and regular upkeep are key to unlocking the full potential of these herbaceous perennials.
Photinia Robusta: Great for Large Hedges
Photinia Robusta stands out as a top pick for creating impressive, large boundaries in our gardens. It loves the sun and handles cold snaps like a champ, making it ideal for various Australian climates.
We find its ability to withstand dry periods particularly valuable, ensuring it keeps our homes private and beautifully green year-round. Its leaves burst into vibrant shades of red before maturing to deep green, adding a lively splash of color that catches the eye.
This plant not only thrives along coastlines but also forms dense barriers quickly due to its fast growth rate. Pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages even more lush foliage to emerge.
So, if you aim for privacy or want to block unwanted views swiftly without sacrificing aesthetics, Photinia Robusta will do the job splendidly.
Moving on let’s talk about Cherry Laurel: Ideal for Grand Gardens
Cherry Laurel: Ideal for Grand Gardens
Cherry Laurel shines as a top choice for Australian gardeners who want to create grand, lush barriers quickly. With its large, shiny emerald leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers, this plant adds elegance and a sense of privacy to any space.
It grows fast, reaching full height in just 3-4 years. This makes Cherry Laurel perfect for those looking to screen their gardens from wind or prying eyes swiftly.
We find that Cherry Laurel not only boosts the beauty of our gardens but also serves a practical purpose by reducing noise and harsh winds. Its broadleaf evergreen nature means it stays vibrant year-round, providing a permanent backdrop to your outdoor space.
And with proper care—regular watering, timely pruning (but not too much!), and occasional fertilising—you’ll see your hedging ambitions come true sooner than you thought possible.
“Cherry Laurel: Turning grand garden dreams into reality.”
Japanese Bamboo: A Unique Choice
Japanese bamboo stands out in Australian gardens for its fast growth and ability to handle both sunny spots and a bit of cold. This clumping plant doesn’t spread wildly, making it easy to manage.
With an average height of 3.0m, it crafts a dense and private hedge quickly. Gardeners love how it brings an exotic touch while still being simple to care for.
This plant shines because of its versatility and unique appearance among fast-growing hedges. It can survive moderate cold snaps, meaning most Australian climates suit it well. Pruning helps keep its growth in check, encouraging thicker foliage that’s perfect for privacy or creating green borders around your garden spaces.
Opting for Japanese bamboo adds character and efficiency to your outdoor sanctuary without the hassle often associated with maintaining hedges.
Privet: Classic and Quick-Growing
Moving from the distinctive choice of Japanese Bamboo, we introduce privet, a staple in garden hedges known for its swift growth rate and dense foliage. This sturdy plant thrives in various conditions, making it an excellent pick for Australian gardens seeking a quick fix to privacy or aesthetic needs.
Privet’s ability to grow up to 30cm annually means your hedge will not only establish itself quickly but also reach impressive heights of up to 4.0m when fully grown.
Gardeners appreciate privet for more than just its speed; this plant is frost hardy, ensuring it can withstand even the chilliest winters without faltering. Its resilience makes it suited not only for creating striking boundaries but also as a windbreak or sound barrier.
With regular pruning—a task that should be undertaken with care to encourage denser growth—privets can form a lush, green wall that enhances any outdoor space while providing habitat and protection for local wildlife like birds and insects.
Lilly Pilly: Aussie Native with Rapid Growth
After discussing Privet, another fantastic option for a fast-growing hedge comes from our own backyard: Lilly Pilly. This Aussie native thrives in both sun and part shade, making it versatile for different garden spots.
Its many named varieties, falling under the ACMENA and SYZYGIUM species, allow gardeners to pick the perfect fit for their space. Whether you need a low border or aim to create privacy with a tall screen, there’s a Lilly Pilly variety that meets your needs.
This plant not only grows quickly but also brings vibrant greenery to your garden year-round. With proper care including regular pruning—not too dissimilar from giving your hair a trim—Lilly Pilly hedges remain dense and bushy.
These leafy walls can transform into wildlife gardens; their flowers attract pollinators while berries provide food for birds. Regular feeding schedules using compost or controlled-release fertiliser give these plants everything they need to reach their growth potential swiftly.
Choosing Lilly Pilly means opting for an easy-care plant that adapts well to various climates found across Australia. Whether planted as standalone specimens or shaped into formal hedges, they add structure and natural beauty to any outdoor area.
From cold-hardy varieties suited for chillier regions to those that love the warm coastal air, there’s always a Lilly Pilly ready to thrive in your garden.
Viburnum: Popular and Fast-Growing
We love growing Viburnum in our Australian gardens for many reasons. This plant thrives in warm temperate and coastal zones, quickly forming a dense and healthy looking dark green barrier that can reach heights between 2 to 4 metres.
It’s not just about the lush foliage; some types of Viburnum fill the air with sweet scents, while others boast clusters of snowy blossoms during winter and early spring.
Planting Viburnum brings more than fast growth and easy care to your garden. The white flower clusters add a touch of elegance in colder months, attracting beneficial insects like bees.
Whether you have a small patch or a grand landscape, incorporating this versatile shrub can create impressive hedges that stand out beautifully against any backdrop.
Camellia Sasanqua: Beautiful and Fast Growing
Camellia Sasanqua thrives in Australian gardens, presenting a stunning choice for those wanting quick privacy screens or ornamental hedges. Its ability to grow fast makes it an excellent option, whether you have a large area to cover or need something splendid along garden paths.
Offering flowers in shades of white, pink, or red from late summer to autumn, this plant adds a burst of colour when many others start to fade.
Gardeners love the variety Camellia Sasanqua offers in terms of flower hues and sizes — with options ranging from small shrubs to taller hedges over three metres high. This versatility means you can pick the perfect type that suits your space’s needs while enjoying fragrant blooms that attract local wildlife and add charm.
Best practices include selecting healthy saplings and ensuring they’re planted well within their preferred conditions; semi-shaded spots with well-draining soil seem to do the trick.
With regular watering, light feeding during growth periods, and careful pruning after flowering ends, these plants will flourish, creating lush barriers or decorative features throughout your garden.
Conclusion
Fast-growing hedge options transform Australian gardens quickly. These plants offer privacy, reduce wind, and add beauty with minimum wait time. We talked about Murraya’s fragrant flowers and Photinia Robusta’s coastal resilience.
Japanese Bamboo adds a unique touch while Privet grows speedily for traditional hedges. Each plant suits different garden needs, from soil type to sunlight exposure. Pick the right one for your space and watch your garden thrive with lush barriers in no time.
FAQs
1. What are some fast-growing hedge plants for Australian gardens?
Fast-growing hedge plants suitable for Australian gardens include Thuja plicata, also known as Western Red Cedar, Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica), American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), and the Red Twig Dogwood.
2. Can I use climbers as a quick option for hedges?
Yes, climbers make excellent options for quickly establishing hedges in your garden. They grow rapidly and can provide lush greenery or flowering beauty to your space.
3. How often should I prune my hedge plants to keep them healthy?
Pruning is essential for maintaining the health and shape of your hedge plants. It’s recommended to prune them regularly, but the frequency depends on the growth rate of the plant species you have chosen.
4. Are there any colourful options among fast-growing hedge plants?
Certainly! For colourful options, consider planting Acer ginnala (Amur Maple) for its stunning autumn foliage or Mock Orange with its beautiful white flowers that add a burst of colour to your garden landscape.