Need Privacy Fast? Sydney’s Hedges That Grow Wild

If you’ve ever stepped into your backyard, looked straight into your neighbour’s kitchen window, and thought, “Yep… we need a hedge yesterday,” you’re definitely not alone. Sydney homes are getting closer together, second-storey additions are popping up everywhere, and plenty of homeowners are suddenly realising their garden isn’t quite as private as it used to be.

The good news?

Sydney is blessed with a bunch of fast-growing hedge species that can turn a fishbowl backyard into a leafy private oasis—sometimes in as little as a year or two. As someone who works in hedge trimming Sydney suburbs all the time, I can tell you: choosing the right species makes all the difference between “instant privacy screen” and “still waiting three summers later.”

So, let’s walk through the hedges that actually grow fast in Sydney’s climate—without the sales talk, without the guesswork, and with a few real-life stories sprinkled in to help you avoid common mistakes.

What Makes a Hedge Truly “Fast-Growing”?

You’d think “fast-growing” just means… well, fast. But hedge growth depends on more than just the plant itself.

Sydney’s climate is a mix of:

• humid summers

• cool-ish winters

• sandy soil in some suburbs

• heavy clay in others

• coastal winds depending on where you live

Some hedges will shoot up over a metre a year if conditions are right. Others barely move if the soil or sun doesn’t suit them.

I once heard about a family in Forestville who planted a hedge that was perfect for full sun—except their yard only caught morning light. The hedge grew on one side… and sulked on the other. They spent years trying to fix something a good species choice could’ve solved in week one.

So, let’s spare you the waiting game.

Sydney’s Fastest-Growing Privacy Hedges

Lilly Pilly (Syzygium species)

If Sydney had an official “privacy hedge,” this would be it.

Why homeowners love it:

• grows 1–2 metres a year

• thick, dense foliage

• excellent for blocking two-storey homes

• perfect for shaping with regular trimming

Lilly Pilly varieties like Syzygium Resilience also handle psyllid pests better than older varieties. And when paired with good watering and hedge trimming Sydney maintenance, they fill out beautifully.

Murraya (Orange Jasmine)

This one is for people who want their hedge to smell amazing while it grows.

Benefits:

• lush, evergreen look

• small white fragrant flowers

• quick to thicken when trimmed regularly

• handles a mix of sun and shade

Murraya tends to do surprisingly well even in narrow side yards, where space is tight.

Viburnum ‘Emerald Lustre’ or ‘Odoratissimum’

If you need height fast, Viburnum is your friend.

Why it’s a favourite:

• large shiny leaves

• thrives in Sydney’s warm climate

• forms a dense screen quickly

• great for blocking out upper-level windows

A landscaper once told me he uses Viburnum whenever a client says, “I don’t want to see my neighbour’s deck ever again.”

Leighton Green (Leyland Cypress)

The heavyweight champion of fast-growing hedges.

This hedge can reach serious heights—6, 7, even 8 metres over time—so it’s best for large blocks or acreage.

Good for:

• long boundary lines

• rural-style privacy

• noise buffering

Just give it space. These aren’t plants you tuck into tiny suburban garden beds.

Photinia ‘Red Robin’

This hedge brings colour as well as speed.

Features:

• bright red new growth

• responds extremely well to pruning

• fast-growing once established

• great choice for decorative privacy

Photinia grows best with consistent shaping. Skip the trimming for too long and it gets leggy, but keep up the maintenance and it looks incredible.

How to Make Your Hedge Grow Faster (Really Faster)

Choose the Right Planting Season

Late winter to mid-spring is ideal for most hedges in Sydney. The soil is warming, rain is more frequent, and new growth kicks in fast. Plant in the middle of summer and you’re basically asking the poor hedge to fight for its life.

Prepare the Soil Like It Matters (Because It Does)

Sydney’s soils vary a lot.

• Clay-heavy areas: loosen with gypsum

• Sandy areas: load in compost or organic matter

Healthy soil = turbocharged growth.

Water Deeply, Not Constantly

A big mistake many homeowners make is “little-and-often” watering. Hedging species respond best to deep watering that encourages roots to chase moisture downward.

It makes them stronger, healthier, and far more drought-resistant.

Trim Early to Encourage Density

Here’s the counterintuitive trick:

Light trimming early actually makes hedges grow faster and thicker.

Think of it like teaching a teenager to clean their room—start with gentle guidance early, and the result is much better than waiting years to fix the mess.

A friend once planted a Viburnum line and refused to touch it for months, thinking trimming would “slow it down.” When they finally shaped it, all the foliage was at the top, leaving empty branches underneath. A few light trims earlier would have made all the difference.

Common Mistakes That Slow Hedge Growth

Here are the ones that show up most often when doing hedge trimming Sydney jobs:

• Planting too close together (they compete for resources)

• Planting too far apart (privacy gaps take forever to fill)

• Ignoring pests or fungal issues

• Heavy pruning too early

• Using high-nitrogen fertilisers at the wrong time

Most of these are easy to avoid once you know what to look for.

Choose the Right Hedge for Your Suburb

Different parts of Sydney suit different hedges.

Full Sun?

• Viburnum

• Photinia

• Lilly Pilly

Partial Shade?

• Murraya

• Some Pittosporum varieties

Coastal Areas?

• Viburnum

• Selected hardy Lilly Pilly varieties

Clay-rich North Shore suburbs?

• Lilly Pilly (with soil prep)

• Photinia

Where you live genuinely matters, and an arborist can often pick the right species far quicker than a nursery catalogue can.

DIY or Call a Pro?

Planting small hedges is a great DIY project. Keeping them shaped and healthy once they’re tall or covering long boundary lines—that’s when professionals step in.

A seasoned arborist understands:

• growth patterns

• species behaviour

• how to shape hedges for long-term density

• how to avoid cutting at the wrong time of year

• how to manage pests naturally

Plus, pro hedge trimming keeps the hedge looking like a hedge… not a green wall that’s slowly taking over the street.

Final Thoughts

Fast-growing hedges are one of the simplest, most natural ways to get privacy in your Sydney home—and they can transform a backyard far quicker than most people realise.

Choose the right species, plant them well, keep the trimming consistent, and you’ll have a lush living privacy screen in no time.

If you’re not sure which hedge suits your suburb, soil, or sunlight, Arbor Co is always happy to help you choose, plant, and maintain a hedge that grows fast and stays healthy for years to come.

Just reach out anytime.