- Evergreens plants and shrubs such as privet, rhododendron and boxwood make excellent privacy hedges, and deciduous varieties such as hibiscus, lilac and forsythia all make suitable privacy hedges. Hibiscus is cold-sensitive and may die in temperatures below 25 degrees F. Evergreen hedges dense green foliage responds well to regular pruning and their growth will be around three feet per year. Deciduous varieties will not need regular pruning just a little trim now and again.
- Follow the directions that came with the privacy hedge plantings such as whether they prefer shade or full sun or both. Once you have planted your privacy hedge its roots will drink in nutrients from the earth (dirt), which get carried up the stems and branches to feed the hedge. Flowering hedge varieties require many nutrients in order to produce the blooms. Plantings should take a season to fill the gaps along the hedgerow. Some people plant temporary "filler" plants to fill the gaps while the privacy hedge is growing. These filler plants may be baby evergreen trees that you can transplant after the hedge has bushed out and filled in the gaps.
- Continue encouraging healthy vigorous growth by watering your hedge plantings according to the directions preventing them from drying out. Fertilize your hedge after each trimming with plenty of organic compost to provide enough nutrients. If you just want a wild-looking living privacy hedge, forego the trimming and just allow the plantings to grow naturally. This way the privacy hedge will reach its full height---sometimes over 15 feet.
