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Instant Hedges vs Traditional Planting: Cost and Speed Compared

Need privacy fast? Choosing between instant hedges and traditional planting comes down to budget, timeline, and maintenance. This guide compares real-world costs, installation speed, care, and the best species to help you build the right living screen for your yard.

Gardener planting small shrub for a hedge row
Traditional hedge planting: smaller shrubs spaced and grown over time.

What is an Instant Hedge vs a Traditional Hedge?

Instant hedges are pre-grown, mature hedge units (often root-bound in troughs or bags) installed for immediate height and coverage. Traditional hedging uses younger, individual plants positioned at standard spacing and grown into a continuous screen over months or years.

  • Instant hedges: near-instant privacy and finished look
  • Traditional planting: lowest upfront cost and widest plant choice

Speed: How Fast Until You Have Privacy?

Instant Hedges

  • Lead time: 1–4 weeks for sourcing and delivery
  • Installation: typically 1–2 days for a suburban boundary
  • Result: immediate coverage at 1.5–2.0+ m (depending on supplier)

Traditional Planting

  • Lead time: same week in most seasons
  • Installation: 1–3 days DIY or with a landscaper
  • Result: privacy in 6–24 months depending on species, climate, and care

If you’re prioritizing speed, also consider high-performance species. See our round-up of fast growers in Best Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges for Small Yards (2025).

Row of trimmed evergreen hedge providing privacy
Instant hedges deliver a finished, dense screen the day they’re installed.

Cost Comparison: Upfront and Ongoing

Instant Hedges (Higher Upfront, Lower Waiting Time)

  • Plant units: premium pricing for mature stock
  • Delivery and cranage: can add significantly for large formats
  • Groundwork: trenching, soil conditioning, irrigation install
  • Aftercare: intensive watering for 4–8 weeks post-install

Traditional Planting (Lower Upfront, Longer Grow-in)

  • Smaller plants: lowest initial spend per linear metre
  • More plants at closer spacing may be needed for quicker fill
  • Time cost: you “pay” with patience while plants knit together
  • Maintenance: formative pruning in the first 1–2 years

Considering a non-living screen while you wait? Compare options in Artificial Hedge Panels vs Live Hedges: Costs and Care.

Hidden Costs Many Homeowners Miss

  • Soil improvement: compost, organic matter, and slow-release fertiliser
  • Irrigation setup: dripline, pressure regulation, and timers
  • Mulch: moisture retention and weed suppression
  • Waste removal: soil spoil and nursery bag/tub disposal

Automating watering can protect your investment and accelerate growth. Explore practical setups in Smart Drip Irrigation for Hedges and Tropical Borders.

Drip irrigation line at the base of a hedge
Drip irrigation delivers consistent moisture with minimal waste.

Best Species for Instant and Traditional Hedges

Choose species that suit your climate, the space available, and the look you want. For quick privacy in small yards, lean into upright or fast-growing picks.

Lilly Pilly (Syzygium)

Evergreen Climbers (for Trellis-Supported Screens)

  • Star Jasmine: scented, glossy foliage; quick to cover a fence with support

Conifers and Formal Hedges

Young lilly pilly shrubs lined up for planting
Species choice shapes growth speed, width, and long-term maintenance.

Installation: DIY vs Professional

Instant Hedges

  • Often require multiple hands, equipment, or a mini-crane
  • Professional install reduces transplant shock risk

Traditional Planting

  • DIY-friendly with a shovel, compost, and patience
  • Use a string line to keep spacing straight; water in thoroughly
Hand trowel, compost, and mulch ready for hedge planting
Good soil prep and mulch are non-negotiable for rapid establishment.

Maintenance and Longevity

  • Water: consistent moisture is critical in the first growing season
  • Pruning: light, frequent trims build density and shape
  • Mulch: 5–7 cm layer to stabilise moisture and suppress weeds
  • Pests/disease: select resistant cultivars and monitor new growth

If you’re in a compact garden or near boundaries, review plant behavior and local rules—especially for screening species like bamboo. Read Bamboo Screening Laws, Root Barriers, and Alternatives.

Which Option Should You Choose?

  • Pick instant hedges if you need a finished look for a sale, a pool area, or immediate privacy and you have budget for premium stock and installation.
  • Pick traditional planting if you’re cost-conscious, enjoy gardening, and can wait a season or two for full coverage.

Quick Buyer’s Checklist

FAQ

How close should I plant a traditional hedge? It depends on species and target height. Many small-to-medium shrubs are spaced 50–100 cm apart; narrow, upright picks like Straight and Narrow Lilly Pilly can be tighter to speed coverage.

What’s the fastest living screen? In warm climates, vigorous Syzygium cultivars (Resilience, Green Machine) bulk up quickly with water and fertiliser. For climbers, Star Jasmine covers a fence fast with trellis support. More picks in Fast-Growing Privacy Hedges.

Do instant hedges still need pruning? Yes. Light shaping after establishment maintains density and the formal line—especially for conifers like Cupressus ‘Lemon Scent’ or Pencil Pine.

Can I mix instant and traditional? Absolutely. Use instant sections for high-visibility areas (front boundary) and traditional planting elsewhere to balance budget and speed.

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