Privacy Hedges
A hedge is not just a fast-growing shrub planted in a line. The height, the evergreen or deciduous habit, and the shape of the plant all change what it screens and how much upkeep it asks for. We help you weigh height, use and design before you plant, not after it has grown in wrong.
Start here
The right approach follows how you want to use the space. Pick what you're actually after below, and the materials and layout mostly follow from it. Every project shown was built here in Southern California, so the choices are suited to this climate.
01 Privacy from the street or a neighbor A tall, dense evergreen screen along a property line blocks a view in both directions, not just one. See privacy hedge projects 
02 A formal, manicured look Clipped into clean lines, a hedge can frame a garden room the way a wall would, without the cost of one. See formal hedge design 
03 A green wall for entertaining A hedge backdrop turns a patio, a fire pit or a dining area into an enclosed room instead of an open yard. See hedge-screened backyards 
04 A polished, curb-appeal entry Low, clipped hedges along a walkway do as much for how a property reads from the street as the door does. See entry landscaping 
Best for Anyone who wants a dense, fast-growing screen and is willing to keep it trimmed.
On your property Grows fast enough that it needs periodic shaping with hedging tools to hold its line.
Best for Screening something tall, like a two-story neighbor or a tennis court, from a narrow footprint.
On your property Its tall, column-like form is what makes it the one hedge here built to go tall without taking up width.
Best for An upright, attractive evergreen with spring flowers, available in a range of mature sizes.
On your property Relatively easy to care for once the right variety is chosen for the space.
Best for Dense shade and privacy on a property with room for the roots.
On your property The roots are invasive and known to crack sidewalks and cross into neighboring yards, so professional installation and root control matter more here than with most hedges.
Best for A dense, classic hedge at a moderate, flexible height.
On your property Height is flexible, so it works whether you want a low border or a taller screen.
Best for A drought-tolerant filler or privacy screen in a lower-water landscape.
On your property Less dense than some hedge plants, so it works better as a filler or backdrop than a solid wall of privacy.
Best for A low, formal accent, edge or small hedge rather than a tall privacy screen.
On your property Best suited to accents, edges and low hedges rather than height, since it is slow-growing and stays compact.
Best for A modern, fast privacy screen for anyone comfortable with bamboo done the right way.
On your property Only clumping varieties like Alphonse Karr or Golden Goddess belong in a hedge. Running bamboo spreads uncontrollably and is the wrong plant for this job.
Things worth knowing before a first consultation.
All hedge plants grow to different mature sizes. Screening a second-story window takes a taller species than screening a patio, and a plant that grows too tall just adds maintenance.
An evergreen hedge screens year-round. A deciduous one can leave you exposed for part of the year, so it matters how many months of privacy you actually need.
Some hedge plants drop leaves or flowers and need extra trimming and cleanup. Near a pool or a walkway, that is worth avoiding rather than working around.
A fast-growing species gets you privacy sooner but needs shearing more often to hold its shape. A slow grower like boxwood asks less upkeep but takes longer to fill in.
Some species, ficus in particular, have roots aggressive enough to crack paving and cross into a neighboring yard. That changes where and how a hedge gets planted, not just what it looks like.
How far apart plants go decides how soon the hedge reads as a solid screen instead of a row of individual shrubs, and it varies by species.
A fence or a screen can cover the gap while a young hedge grows to height, so privacy does not depend on waiting out a few growing seasons.
No quote written off a photograph can account for what your property is like.
Access, engineering, permits, finishes and scope vary a lot from one property to the next, so the investment and the schedule for your project are set once we have seen the site and the design is settled.
Tell us about the property and what you want the space to do. We will walk through the design, site and permitting factors likely to shape it.
I've done several projects with Pacific Outdoor Living and they are always so easy to work with. Their project managers are knowledgeable and in constant communication throughout the project.
Having been in our home for some time we knew about numerous issues that needed to be addressed. The team walked us through every option before we decided.
It comes down to three things: height and width (how tall and wide the mature plant needs to be to screen what you want screened), use (decorative or functional), and design (whether the species fits your home’s style). We walk through all three during a consultation.
It depends on the species. Fast growers like eugenia or privet fill in within a few seasons; slower growers like boxwood take longer but need less trimming once established. A fence or screen can cover the gap in the meantime.
Running bamboo spreads uncontrollably and is a poor choice near a property line. Clumping varieties like Alphonse Karr or Golden Goddess grow in contained clumps and can work well as a fast, modern screen when installed correctly.
Some species can. Ficus nitida in particular has aggressive roots known to crack sidewalks and driveways. We factor root behavior into species choice and placement, especially near paving or a property line.
Yes, and it is a common way to get privacy immediately while a young hedge grows to its full screening height.
Yes. Privacy hedges are typically planted as part of a broader landscape design, coordinated with irrigation, lighting and the rest of the planting plan.
Schedule a consultation with one of our designers to discuss your project goals and explore what's possible on your property.
What happens next: we set up a visit, measure the property and talk through what you want the space to do. Then you get a design to look at before you commit to anything.
