Top 10 Hedges in Front of House for Privacy, Curb Appeal and Easy Care

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Planting hedges in front of your house can provide multiple benefits beyond visual appeal. The right hedges act as natural screens for enhanced privacy, buffer noise, and even clean the air when situated near busy roads. Choosing low-maintenance, evergreen varieties means year-round greenery with minimal upkeep required.

When selecting the best hedging plants for the front of your home consider the following criteria

Height and Growth Rate

  • Taller hedges like arborvitae and leyland cypress offer maximum privacy, while lower hedges like boxwood and holly add charm without blocking views.

  • Faster growing hedges like bamboo and leyland cypress provide quick coverage, while slow growers like boxwood take more time and pruning.

Sun Tolerance

  • Full sun lovers like privet, arborvitae and bamboo thrive in open, South-facing areas. Shade tolerant plants like holly, boxwood and yew suit North-facing plots.

  • Know your yard’s light conditions when choosing plants to ensure proper growth.

Maintenance Needs

  • Lower maintenance hedges like cherry laurel, podocarpus and arborvitae require less frequent pruning and care.

  • High maintenance hedges like boxwood and privet need regular trimming and attention to retain their shapes.

Deer and Pest Resistance

  • Deer-resistant hedges include holly, boxwood, leyland cypress and yew. This prevents browsing damage.

  • Disease/pest-prone hedges like boxwood may require preventative treatments. Hardy hedges resist problems better.

Evergreen vs. Deciduous

  • Evergreen hedges offer year-round screening. Choose broadleaf evergreens like cherry laurel or conifers like arborvitae.

  • Deciduous hedges like willow provide seasonal interest but lose leaves in winter.

Mature Size

  • Consider the eventual height and spread of the hedge to ensure it fits the space without excess pruning.

  • Some hedges like bamboo and leyland cypress can get very large if left unclipped. Maintain their shape annually.

Climate Match

  • Check each hedge’s hardiness zone rating and make sure it matches your region to ensure health and vigor.

  • Certain hedges like bamboo have cold-sensitive varieties – select ones rated for your zone.

Top 10 Front of House Hedge Plant Picks

Based on the above considerations, here are 10 of the best hedging plants for the front of homes:

1. Boxwood

The quintessential classic for formal hedge designs. Slow growing but dense and easily shaped by pruning. Needs well-drained soil and partial shade. Deer resistant.

2. Holly

Versatile broadleaf evergreen with glossy foliage and red berries. Provides privacy and natural security. Prefers acidic, moist soil and partial sun. Deer resistant.

3. Arborvitae

Fast-growing conifer suited to tight spaces. Soft lacy foliage provides filtered screening. Likes full sun. Choose compact varieties under 8 feet tall. Deer resistant.

4. Yew

Slow-growing conifer suitable for shade. Can be shaped into tight formal hedges with annual pruning. Poisonous foliage deters deer and pests. Give well-drained soil.

5. Laurel

Low maintenance broadleaf evergreen with thick glossy leaves. Grows quickly to give tall dense privacy screens. Tolerates shade and resists pests/disease.

6. Bamboo

Fast growing tropical hedge for quick, tall coverage. Provides airy, dappled light screening. Ensure proper containment measures are taken when planting.

7. Privet

Classic deciduous choice for pruned hedging. Glossy green foliage on fast growing plants. Does fine in sun or shade. Needs frequent trimming.

8. Leyland Cypress

Super fast growing tall conifer. Reaches 60 feet but keep trimmed as hedge. Plant closely for dense screen. Likes sun and well drained soil.

9. Willow

Beautiful deciduous hedge with colorful variegated foliage that provides dappled light screening. Likes sun and regular watering. Goes dormant in winter.

10. Podocarpus

Slow growing versatile conifer similar to yew. Makes solid hedge or can be shaped into tree form. Does well in sun or shade. Deer resistant.

Remember to give new hedges plenty of water until their root systems establish. Then they’ll thrive for years with minimal care. The right hedging plants can provide security, beauty and enhanced curb appeal for your front yard.

10 hedges to screen your front yard from view

Consider planting these privacy hedges in your front yard for a beautiful, botanical screen.

These shrubs are easy to grow( credit: RossHelen editorial / Alamy Stock Photo)

  • Best for: Low maintenance
  • Type: Evergreen shrub
  • Height: 10-18ft
  • Spread: 5-7ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 5-10

Glossy-leaved, evergreen laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a top choice for a fast front yard hedge. It’s known for being hardy and is a low-maintenance hedge plant that doesn’t need much care. It will quickly grow into a dense screen.

If left unpruned, it produces white flowers that attract bees, which then turn into berries that attract birds. Its resistant to deer as well as drought once established, and is unfussy about soil type. This shrub can also be grown in the shade.

You can shop Prunus laurocerasus from Fast Growing Trees.

Podocarpus macrophyllus can be grown in the garden in a number of different ways (image credit: Panther Media GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo).

  • Best for: Attracting birds
  • Type: Evergreen conifer
  • Height: 12-20ft
  • Spread: 6-8ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 7-11

Podocarpus macrophyllus is also known as Japanese yew or yew podocarpus. You can get it from Fast Growing Trees. However, although its long, leathery leaves are similar, its not from the yew (Taxus) genus. It hails from China and Japan but its not considered an invasive plant.

Arborist Ned Cromack says it is a very flexible evergreen shrub that happily changes shape every year when pruned. It can be grown as a tree, as topiary, or even in a large pot for a container display. It also makes a dense and pretty front yard hedge. It forms blue cones which then turn into berries that attract birds, he adds.

Its not a fast-growing shrub, but its worth the wait. One of the major benefits of Podocarpus macrophyllus is its fuss-free maintenance. Its deer-resistant, and pests and diseases generally dont pose a problem. Its also moderately drought tolerant once its established.

Plant it in full to partial sun in soil with good drainage for best results.

Ned is a qualified arborist and the Founder of The Bristol Tree Medic. In 2010, he started working as a tree climber in one of the best tree nurseries in the UK. He then did this for more than ten years in the UK, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. He has always been more interested in arboriculture than in working in it, and the field never fails to inspire him.

Tri-color dappled willow

This shrub has show-stopping foliage( credit: Martin Hughes-Jones / Alamy Stock Photo)

  • Best for: Colorful foliage
  • Type: Deciduous shrub
  • Height: 8-10ft
  • Spread: 8-10ft
  • Hardiness: USDA 5-9

Try this beautiful, small willow, also known as Salix integra Hakuro-nishiki, if you want your front yard to have more color. It loses its leaves in the winter, but the new green, white, and pink leaves are beautiful in the spring.

To keep these plants happy, water them often, especially in the first few years of growth, and use a slow-release fertilizer once a year in early spring. They like plenty of sunshine and should be pruned in late winter, before they put on new growth.

A timeless choice for hedging( credit: Deborah Vernon / Alamy Stock Photo)

  • Best for: Shaded front yards
  • Type: Evergreen conifer
  • Height: 4-65ft, depending on variety
  • Spread: 4-65ft, depending on variety
  • Hardiness: USDA 4-8

Yews are a classic choice because they grow evergreen leaves. They can be grown as trees or grouped together and trimmed into a smart, dense hedge.

The female plants produce red berries that attract birds. Yews are easy to grow and do well in both sun and deep shade. However, don’t plant them where the soil is too wet. Note that they are toxic, so remember to wear gloves when giving them their annual prune.

Fast Growing Trees sells the popular Hicksii yew, which grows to 8–12 feet tall and has a columnar shape.

TOP 7 SHRUBS TO PLANT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE ✅

FAQ

What is the downside of hedges?

The Downside to a Hedge There is a risk-reward tradeoff inherent in hedging; while it reduces potential risk, it also chips away at potential gains. Hedging isn’t free.

Can I put a hedge in my front yard?

You don’t need permission to plant a hedge on your land, but you do need to make sure it won’t negatively affect your neighbor’s enjoyment of their yard by growing too tall and blocking light, views or access.

Why do people put bushes in front of their house?

Increased Curb Appeal Selling homes with plenty of curb appeal is easier, and these properties often sell for more. Shrubs are a wonderful way to add curb appeal to your home, especially if you choose flowering bushes or plants that change color in the fall.

What is best shrub for front of house?

Evergreen shrubs are one of the best shrubs for the front of the house as they offer year-round character and interest to your front garden ideas. Yew is an ideal option, as opposed to the problematic box. Yew plants have dense and bushy foliage that is evergreen and super easy to maintain.

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