The Fast Growing Evergreen Hedge That Is Perfect For Adding Privacy To Your Yard

If you want a rich, evergreen privacy screen around your garden, this glossy dark green leafed plant might just be for you. The wax leaf Ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum') is an evergreen shrub with dense foliage that will give your yard a beautiful English garden vibe. A cultivar of the widely-known Japanese privet, 'Texanum' does not produce viable seeds, states Neil Sperry's Gardens – an important distinction between this cultivar and its invasive relative. 

This bush can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 11, and it responds well to pruning, allowing you to carefully sculp a privacy hedge. The wax leaf Ligustrum is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that typically grows to about 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide if left unpruned. For most of the year the focal point of the shrub is its leaves, then it blooms in late spring and early summer with small tightly packed clusters of fragrant white flowers.

While it is one of the best hedges for privacy, and the wax leaf Ligustrum is known for its easy maintenance and fast growth, take an extra step before planting this cultivar. Because wax leaf Ligustrum is so closely related to an invasive species, be sure to confirm with your local extension service or agricultural department to make sure it's safe to plant in your area.

The first thing you'll need to do when you plant your shrub is to choose the right spot. You'll need a site that gets sun or part shade. Once you've picked out a location, check the soil because wax leaf Ligustrum prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils. When you dig the hole for your new shrub, dig so that the hole so that it is twice as wide as the root ball. Place the shrub in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Backfill the hole with soil and tamp it down to secure the shrub in place, then give your wax leaf Ligustrum a good watering to settle the soil around the roots. You'll need to keep it consistently watered through the first growing season to establish a strong root system and fertilize it with a balanced fertilizer every two weeks from spring through fall.

To grow this bush as a hedge, position your shrubs 4 feet apart to allow for growth. As the shrubs fill out, dense evergreen foliage gives excellent screening for privacy. If you decide to prune your wax leaf Ligustrum, use this easy hack to make cleaning up after pruning a breeze. This plant produces berries that are toxic to humans and pets when ingested so be sure to keep children and pets away from your hedge when the berries are present.