The Best Hedges for Privacy in the UK

Ask any gardener why they are planting a hedge and the answer is almost always the same: privacy. A good hedge screens out the neighbours, softens a boundary and gives you a green, living wall far more beautiful than any fence. But which hedge is best? Here are our top choices for privacy in UK gardens, and how to pick the right one for your space.

What makes a good privacy hedge?

• Evergreen — so it screens all year, not just in summer.
• Dense — close-knit growth you cannot see through.
• The right height — tall enough to do the job, but something you can comfortably maintain (see our guide to hedge law and high hedges).
• A growth rate to suit you — fast for quick privacy, slower for less cutting.

The best hedges for privacy

1. Cherry Laurel — fast, dense and evergreen

The go-to privacy hedge, and for good reason. Cherry laurel grows 30–60cm a year, with large, glossy evergreen leaves that knit into a thick screening wall. Hard-wearing and shade-tolerant, it is the quickest way to a lush, formal green boundary. Browse our cherry laurel.

2. Portuguese Laurel — refined and hardy

For a more elegant look, Portuguese laurel has smaller, darker leaves on attractive red stems. A little slower and very hardy, it clips into a beautifully neat, dense hedge. See our Portuguese laurel.

3. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ — privacy with colour

If you want screening with a splash of colour, Photinia ‘Red Robin’ produces vivid red new growth above glossy green leaves. Evergreen and fast, it makes a striking, dense hedge. Explore Photinia Red Robin.

4. Western Red Cedar (Thuja) — a softer conifer

A brilliant alternative to Leylandii, Thuja is a fast evergreen conifer that forms a dense, rich-green screen — but unlike Leylandii it will regenerate if cut back, making it far more forgiving. See our Thuja hedging.

5. Yew — the classic formal hedge

Yew is the king of formal hedges: dense, deep green and tolerant of close clipping into crisp lines. Slower-growing but exceptionally long-lived, it is the choice for a timeless boundary. Browse our yew hedging.

6. Leylandii — fastest, but with a caveat

Leylandii is the fastest screen of all, but that speed is also its downside — it needs cutting two or three times a year and must never be cut back into old wood. Great for quick privacy if you keep on top of it. See our Leylandii hedging.

7. Bamboo — a contemporary screen

For a modern, exotic look, clump-forming bamboo creates a tall, rustling evergreen screen, ideal for narrow spaces and contemporary gardens. Explore our bamboo.

Want privacy now? Go instant

• Instant hedging and large root-balled plants — mature plants that go in already at head height.
• Pleached trees — a hedge on stilts that screens upstairs windows without stealing light at ground level. Perfect for overlooked gardens.

How to choose the right privacy hedge

Think about three things: how tall you need it (and whether you can maintain that height), how fast you want it (fast growers need more cutting), and the look you are after (glossy and informal, or crisp and formal). Match those to your soil and sun, and you will have a screen that thrives.

Privacy hedge FAQs

What is the fastest-growing hedge for privacy?
Leylandii is fastest, followed by cherry laurel and Thuja — all can put on 30–60cm or more a year. For privacy without the wait, choose instant hedging or pleached trees.

What is the best evergreen hedge for privacy?
Cherry laurel is the most popular all-rounder; for something more formal, yew or Portuguese laurel are superb.

How quickly can I get a private garden?
Instantly, with mature instant hedging or pleached trees; otherwise most fast hedges give good cover within two to three years.

What is the best hedge for a small garden?
A compact, well-behaved evergreen such as Portuguese laurel or a clipped yew keeps privacy without overwhelming the space.

Find your perfect privacy hedge

Whatever look and speed you are after, we grow it — all UK-grown and available from young plants to instant, mature hedging. Browse our full hedging collection, or get in touch and we will help you choose.