Fast Growing Hedges

Hedges for fall color
Flowering hedges
Evergreen hedges
Hedges for shade and partial shade

Fast Growing Hedging Plants
hedging plants are usually cheaper when bought in bulk

Canadian Hemlock Tsuga canadensis - tall and one of the fastest. Evergreen

Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Nigra' - not so quick or so tall, but more elegant. Evergreen

Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga Taxifola - good for wind break or background planting. Evergreen

Privet - Amur Ligustrum Amurense - quick and restrained to about 10ft. Evergreen

Hybrid Poplar Populus hybrida - One of the fastest. Deciduous

Siberian Elm Ulmus Pumilla - one of the fastest growers. Deciduous

Forsythia - Yellow spring flowers. Deciduous

Hedge or Fence?
Advantages of a hedge	Disadvantages of a hedge
An attractive living boundary that changes with the seasons Can be a part of a mixed border, doesn't have to be uniform Height easily variable to suit requirements Can be made intruder-proof by selection of plants Good at filtering wind	Requires regular maintenance Takes time to get established "Greedy" hedging plants often prevent other plants growing close by.
Advantages of a fence	Disadvantages of a fence
Instant barrier, no waiting Can plant right up to the fence Fence can be used as a support for climbers or shrubs	Unattractive (subject to opinion!) More prone to wind damage than hedge, not such a good wind filter

Size

Along with maintenance, the ultimate size of a hedge causes the greatest concerns. In a perfect world, the hedge would grow rapidly and thickly to a preset height and then stop dead in its tracks.

The reality is that if you want a "fast" hedge, one that will grow to the desired height and thicken up just as quickly, it will tend to keep on going upwards and outwards just as vigorously past the optimum size as it did to get there in the first place.

This is the cause of the great Lleylandii curse, a much used hedging plant in the UK. They rapidly form an excellent hedge, but require regular cutting back and the subsequent disposal of large quantities of material if they are not to get out of hand or even become the subject of a dispute between neighbors.

Fast growing plants means the hedge is effective sooner, but then requires more maintenance to keep it under control

Slower growing hedges will take several years to form an effective barrier, but will require less clipping and will live longer.

Maintenance

The other major issue with hedges is the need for regular maintenance. All hedges need trimming at least once a year, some more often. Regular light pruning is better for the hedge, and easier to carry out, than infrequent heavy pruning, there's also a lot less material to dispose of, if it's small twiggy stuff it can be fed though the garden shredder.

A powered hedge trimmer can be used for light pruning, (though not for heavy cutting back) this can speed up the trimming process and help to give a more uniform finish with straight lines.