"The best hedge in your street probably didn't start with better plants. It started with better decisions."
There are two kinds of hedges.
The ones that make you slow down as you drive past because they're lush, dense and perfectly green.
And the ones you can practically see straight through.
The funny thing is they often started with exactly the same plants.
Same nursery.
Same species.
Sometimes they were even planted on the same weekend.
So why does one become a beautiful living wall while the other spends the next five years looking like it needs a hug?
Here's the surprising part.
Most of the time...
it isn't the plant.
It's everything that happens in the first twelve months after planting.
We've helped thousands of Australians choose hedging plants over the years, and we've learnt that the variety you buy is only half the story.
The way you plant it, prune it and even space it will often determine whether your hedge becomes a feature or a frustration.
Why do we plant hedges?
It sounds like a silly question, but it's worth asking.
Very few people wake up one morning thinking,
"I really want a hedge."
They want privacy.
They want to hide the neighbour's shed.
They want to soften a Colorbond fence.
They want to block traffic noise.
They want birds.
Or they simply want their backyard to feel like their own again.
The hedge is just the solution.
Once you understand that, choosing the right hedge becomes much easier because you stop asking,
"Which hedge is best?"
and start asking,
"What problem am I trying to solve?"
A narrow side boundary needs a very different plant to a large acreage entrance.
A formal hedge around a front garden requires different characteristics to a fast-growing screen around a pool.
Choosing the right plant starts with understanding the job it's expected to do.
The biggest myth about hedges
People think hedges become thick because they grow taller.
That's actually backwards.
A hedge becomes thick because it grows wider.
And it only grows wider if you encourage it to branch.
Trees naturally want to grow upwards.
Plants produce hormones in their growing tips that tell them to keep heading for the sky. Gardeners call this apical dominance.
If you simply leave a young hedge alone, it often becomes tall with only a few main stems.
That's exactly why so many older hedges become woody underneath with very little foliage at eye level.
The best hedges are trained from the day they're planted.
Professional growers know this.
Landscapers know this.
The average home gardener usually doesn't.
That's why the best hedge in the street often isn't the oldest.
It's the one that was pruned correctly from the beginning.
One thing we've noticed after selling thousands of hedging plants
Customers spend weeks researching which hedge to buy.
Then about thirty seconds deciding how far apart to plant them.
Ironically...
Spacing usually has a much bigger impact on the finished hedge than the variety itself.
Plant them too far apart and you'll spend years waiting for gaps to fill.
Plant them too close and they'll eventually compete with each other for light and nutrients.
Getting the spacing right from the beginning saves years of disappointment.
Mistake number one — buying the fastest grower
Everyone wants a fast hedge.
We get it.
Privacy can't come soon enough.
But here's what we've learnt.
The fastest-growing hedge isn't always the best hedge.
Very vigorous plants usually need more pruning.
More pruning means more maintenance.
More maintenance often means people stop pruning properly.
Then the hedge becomes uneven, woody and difficult to manage.
Sometimes a slightly slower-growing hedge actually gives a far better long-term result because it's easier to keep dense and tidy.
That's one of the reasons we often recommend choosing a plant that naturally suits the available space rather than trying to constantly control one that's simply too vigorous.
Choosing the right hedge for your garden
Not every hedge should look the same.
Some gardens suit soft, natural screening.
Others need a crisp formal hedge.
Some people want flowers.
Others simply want privacy as quickly as possible.
The plants below are some of our favourites because they've consistently proven themselves in Australian gardens.
Not because they're fashionable.
Because they work.
Sweet Viburnum
If someone asked us to recommend one reliable screening hedge for most Australian gardens, Sweet Viburnum would be right near the top of the list.
It's fast.
It's evergreen.
It responds beautifully to pruning.
And once established, it forms an incredibly dense screen.
One thing we've noticed is that people often let Viburnum get far too tall before pruning.
The result?
A hedge that's leafy on top and bare underneath.
Light, regular pruning from an early age creates a much thicker hedge than waiting until it's reached full height.
Sweet Viburnum is ideal for:
• privacy screening
• suburban boundaries
• reducing traffic noise
• creating green outdoor rooms
• large backyard hedges
Murraya 'Min-a-Min'
If Sweet Viburnum is the dependable all-rounder, Murraya 'Min-a-Min' is the neat freak.
This compact form of Murraya has become incredibly popular because it naturally stays smaller, meaning less pruning and a tidier appearance all year round.
It's ideal where space is limited and you don't want a hedge constantly trying to take over the garden.
Unlike its larger cousin, 'Min-a-Min' is happy forming a lower, dense hedge that looks smart without demanding constant attention.
It also produces beautifully scented white flowers that attract bees and beneficial insects throughout the warmer months.
Perfect for:
• front gardens
• pathways
• formal borders
• pool fencing
• smaller suburban gardens
One thing we've learnt over the years is that customers often underestimate how much impact a lower hedge can have.
Not every hedge needs to be two metres high.
Sometimes a beautiful one-metre hedge frames a garden far better than a towering wall of green.
Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly
Some gardens simply don't have room for a wide hedge.
Think side boundaries.
Driveways.
Between the fence and the footpath.
That's where Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly really shines.
Its naturally upright growth habit means it provides excellent screening without taking up valuable garden space.
Instead of constantly trimming width, you're working with the plant's natural shape.
That's always easier than fighting against it.
Straight and Narrow is excellent for:
• narrow side access
• screening windows
• modern architectural homes
• tight suburban blocks
• feature avenues
One thing we've noticed is that narrow hedges often make small gardens feel larger because they leave more usable space while still creating privacy.
Aussie Hedge Bush
If you're looking for a softer, more natural Australian hedge, Aussie Hedge Bush deserves a place on your shortlist.
Rather than creating a perfectly clipped formal wall, it develops into a relaxed evergreen screen that sits beautifully within native gardens.
Birds love it.
Pollinators love it.
And because it's Australian, it feels right at home in our landscapes.
It's particularly effective where you want privacy without making the garden feel overly formal.
Ideal for:
• native gardens
• wildlife-friendly landscapes
• informal screening
• larger properties
• country gardens
A good hedge doesn't always need ruler-straight edges.
Sometimes a softer hedge actually feels more welcoming and blends far better into the surrounding landscape.
Photinia 'Red Robin'
If hedges had personalities, Photinia would definitely enjoy being the centre of attention.
Every flush of new growth emerges brilliant red before gradually maturing to glossy green.
The contrast is stunning.
It's one of the reasons Photinia has remained one of Australia's favourite screening plants for decades.
Beyond the colour, it's tough, reliable and responds exceptionally well to clipping.
Perfect for:
• feature hedges
• entrance plantings
• larger suburban gardens
• traditional homes
• formal screening
One thing people don't realise is that regular pruning actually encourages more of that spectacular red new growth.
The more you lightly clip it, the more colourful it becomes.
Carissa 'Desert Star'
This one surprises people.
Most don't immediately think of Carissa as a hedge.
We do.
Especially where a lower hedge is needed.
Its naturally dense branching habit means it fills out beautifully, while the glossy foliage looks fantastic year-round.
Being highly tolerant of heat, coastal conditions and dry weather once established also makes it an excellent choice for exposed front gardens.
Perfect for:
• low formal hedges
• coastal gardens
• pool surrounds
• driveway edging
• modern landscapes
It's proof that not every hedge needs to become a towering green wall.
Sometimes a neat, compact hedge defines a space far more effectively.
Which hedge is right for you?
Ask yourself these five questions before buying.
How much privacy do I actually need?
Screening a neighbour's second-storey window is very different to defining a front garden.
How much room do I have?
Wide hedges need space to perform properly.
How much maintenance am I prepared to do?
Fast-growing plants generally need more pruning.
Do I want formal or informal?
Neither is right or wrong.
They simply create different styles.
How quickly do I need results?
Choosing the right plant often saves more time than simply choosing the fastest grower.
The biggest hedge mistakes we see every week
People often assume a hedge fails because they chose the wrong plant.
In reality, it's usually one of these simple mistakes.
Mistake 1 – Planting too far apart
This is by far the biggest one.
It makes sense at the time.
The plants look small.
They're not cheap.
So people think,
"I'll spread them out and they'll eventually join together."
Eventually...
Maybe.
But you'll spend years staring at gaps.
Professional landscapers often plant closer than home gardeners expect because they're buying the finished result, not individual plants.
Before planting, check the mature width of the plant and work out a spacing that allows neighbouring plants to knit together naturally.
It usually costs a little more upfront.
It looks dramatically better for the next twenty years.
Mistake 2 – Waiting too long to prune
This surprises almost everyone.
People think,
"I'll let it grow first."
Unfortunately, that's how you end up with a hedge that's leafy on top and bare underneath.
Young hedges should be lightly tip-pruned from an early age.
Every time you remove the growing tip, the plant responds by producing side shoots.
More side shoots mean a denser hedge.
Think of it like encouraging a young tree to grow branches rather than one long stick.
The earlier you start, the better the result.
Mistake 3 – Forgetting the bottom of the hedge needs sunlight
Have you ever noticed how some hedges are wider at the top than the bottom?
It might look neat...
But it's actually the opposite of what you want.
When the top becomes wider, it shades the lower branches.
Eventually those lower leaves die.
That's where those ugly bare stems come from.
Professional gardeners often shape hedges so they're ever so slightly wider at the bottom than the top.
You hardly notice it.
The plant certainly does.
Sunlight reaches the entire hedge, keeping it green from top to bottom.
Mistake 4 – Feeding too much nitrogen
A lush green hedge sounds wonderful.
Until the first storm.
Too much high-nitrogen fertiliser encourages long, soft shoots that grow quickly but aren't always the strongest.
Balanced fertilising and steady growth generally produce a denser, healthier hedge over time.
Fast growth isn't always good growth.
Mistake 5 – Choosing the wrong plant for the wrong place
This is the biggest lesson we've learnt over the years.
A beautiful hedge isn't created because someone bought an expensive plant.
It's created because they matched the plant to the conditions.
Coastal gardens need different hedges to inland gardens.
Narrow side paths need different plants to acreage driveways.
Sunny front fences require different plants to shaded back boundaries.
The right plant in the right place will almost always outperform the wrong plant with perfect care.
What we've learnt after helping thousands of gardeners
One thing we've noticed is that customers often spend weeks researching varieties...
...and almost no time thinking about how they want the hedge to function.
Should it block a neighbour?
Hide a fence?
Frame an entrance?
Reduce road noise?
Create a windbreak?
Once you know the purpose, choosing the plant becomes much easier.
The hedge becomes the solution—not the goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest growing hedge for privacy?
Sweet Viburnum is one of our favourite fast-growing privacy hedges. It's evergreen, responds well to pruning and quickly forms a dense screen when planted and maintained correctly.
What is the best low-maintenance hedge?
Murraya 'Min-a-Min', Aussie Hedge Bush and Carissa 'Desert Star' are all excellent choices for gardeners wanting a neat hedge without constant pruning.
What is the best hedge for a narrow space?
Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly was developed specifically for situations where width is limited but privacy is still important.
Which hedge attracts birds?
Aussie Hedge Bush provides excellent habitat and shelter for small birds while blending beautifully into native gardens.
How often should I prune a hedge?
Little and often is almost always better than waiting twelve months and cutting it back hard.
Regular light trimming encourages dense branching and produces a healthier hedge over time.
Should I mulch under a hedge?
Absolutely.
Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds and regulate soil temperature while improving the soil as it breaks down.
The Plant Hub Hedge Checklist
Before you buy hedging plants, ask yourself these questions.
✔ How much privacy do I actually need?
✔ How tall do I want the finished hedge to be?
✔ How wide can the hedge become without taking over the garden?
✔ Do I want a formal clipped hedge or a softer natural screen?
✔ Am I happy pruning several times a year, or would I prefer a naturally compact plant?
✔ Is my garden coastal, frosty, dry or shaded?
Getting these questions right before you buy will usually make a far bigger difference than choosing between two similar hedge varieties.
Our favourite hedges for different situations
Best fast-growing privacy hedge
Sweet Viburnum
Perfect for creating a tall, dense evergreen screen around suburban backyards and larger properties.
Best hedge for smaller gardens
Murraya 'Min-a-Min'
Compact, tidy and beautifully scented. Ideal where space is limited but you still want a polished look.
Best hedge for narrow spaces
Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly
Excellent beside driveways, fences and side boundaries where width is limited.
Best Australian native hedge
Aussie Hedge Bush
A softer, wildlife-friendly hedge that blends beautifully into Australian landscapes.
Best feature hedge
Photinia 'Red Robin'
Brilliant red new growth provides colour almost all year when lightly pruned.
Best low hedge
Carissa 'Desert Star'
Perfect around pools, front gardens and pathways where you want structure without creating a tall wall.
Not sure which hedge suits your garden?
Choosing a hedge isn't just about picking the prettiest plant.
Every property is different.
A hedge growing beside the coast has very different requirements to one growing in a frosty inland garden.
The amount of sunlight, available space, soil type and even how much maintenance you're prepared to do all influence which hedge will perform best.
That's exactly why we built our Plant Finder.
Simply enter your suburb, sunlight and soil conditions and we'll help narrow the list to plants that genuinely suit your garden.
No guesswork.
Just better plant choices.
Final Thoughts
The best hedges aren't necessarily the fastest growing.
They aren't the most expensive either.
They're simply the ones that suit the job.
One thing we've learnt after helping thousands of Australian gardeners is that people rarely regret spending a little more time choosing the right hedge.
They regret planting the wrong one and spending the next ten years trying to fix it.
Start with the right plant.
Give it the right spacing.
Prune it early.
Be patient.
Do those four things well, and your hedge won't just provide privacy.
It'll become one of the best features in your entire garden.
Related Guides
If you're planning a new garden, you might also enjoy:
-
Best Plants for Hot Western Sun in Australia
-
Best Plants for Dry Shade
-
Best Coastal Plants for Australian Gardens
-
The Best Low Maintenance Garden Plants
-
Why Native Grasses Belong in Every Australian Garden
The more you understand your garden's conditions, the easier it becomes to choose plants that will thrive for years to come.