Seven fast growing plants for privacy

Add some privacy to your garden with these fast-growing plants that are perfect for a natural screen.

Pittosporum Tenuifolims

A bit tougher than lilly pillys, with a little maintenance they can thrive in the majority of New Zealand gardens. Pittosporum tenuifolim varieties such as Silver Sheen, Tasman Ruffles, or James Stirling feature small leaves, different colours and are a perfect screening plant due to their density. They grow from three to five metres.

Photinia Robusta

If you’re looking for a hardy plant that will grow anywhere, the large leaf Photinia Robusta is a great choice. Able to provide you with the privacy you’re looking for, it grows up to five metres tall. Its attractive red growth can also make it a good focal point for your garden.

Viburnums

Viburnums have been popular in New Zealand for decades as a screening plant. A good choice is the Viburnum tinus, a small leaf evergreen that grows to about 3.5 metres. The larger leaf Sweet Viburnum has large shiny emerald leaves and produces white fragrant flowers and small red berries. It enjoys milder conditions but not heavy frost and also reaches a height of around three to four metres.

Clumping Bamboo

Bamboo is a hardy choice if you want to fill in a small area and increase privacy. It’s very important to choose a clumping bamboo variety, which is easier to keep under control than the running varieties, which spread quickly. A moderate grower, it will take one to two years to start maturing but once established it will grow up to four metres.

Little Gem Magnolia

With its glossy green leaves and pretty white flowers, the Little Gem Magnolia is a popular screening option that grows well in most parts of New Zealand. Little Gem can grow up to four metres high and 2.5 metres wide, provided it is planted in well-draining soil in either full sun or part shade.

Climbing Roses

With a longer flowering season than most types of roses, climbing roses can provide your garden with a pretty screening option. However they will become sparse during the winter months when their foliage drops. Growing two to four metres tall, floribunda and hybrid tea varieties have large or clustered flowers and prosper in medium to hardy conditions.

Climber – Jasminoides

Climbers grow vertically in your garden so dense varieties can be trained to become an effective screen with some support, attention and care. Types of Jasminoides such as Trachelospermum flower early spring and then throughout the summer months with very fragrantwhites star shaped flowers.

Our Tip

Find out how easy it is to plant your own garden screen.

More D.I.Y. Advice

Planting & Growing Must-have herbs to help you cook up a storm Turn every meal into a gourmet affair with herbs from your own pot or patch. It’s easy to get started and gives endless rewards in both kitchen and garden.

Planting & Growing How to make a worm farm A worm farm can turn your organic waste into rich fertiliser to feed your garden. It’s also a fun and rewarding way to get the kids actively involved in the environment.

Person putting on protective edging on the raised garden bed

01:38

Planting & Growing How to build a raised garden bed Building a raised garden bed is a simple project you can do yourself. Learn how to build a raised garden bed with this guide from Bunnings Warehouse.

Planting & Growing How to attract bees and butterflies Bees, butterflies and other pollinators are great to have in the garden. Unfortunately bees in some parts of the world are under threat due to climate change, parasitic mites and poor farming practices. As gardeners, we can all help!

Planting & Growing 10 high protein foods you can grow at home Grow these high protein vegetables and protein rich foods at home in your very own garden. Whether you’re a vegetarian or are trying to eat healthier, here’s our list of top 10 high protein vegetables to grow at home.

Planting & Growing Five reasons to plant a mature or advanced tree Planting a mature or old tree in your garden can be a quick and easy way to create the backyard of your dreams. Here's a few good reasons why planting a mature tree might be worth considering for your garden.

Six plants that repel mosquitoes and flies

Planting & Growing 6 plants that repel mosquitoes and flies Using plants is a natural and effective way to repel mosquitoes, flies and other insects from entering your home. Here’s a list of the six best insect-repelling plants.

Planting & Growing How to control and eliminate garden pests organically Try controlling garden pests with these approaches from Eco Organic Garden.

Gates & Fencing Which fence is right for your home? Whether it’s for privacy, keeping pets and kids safely inside (or outside if it’s a pool) or as a decorative feature, there’s a type of fence that can add safety, security and style to any home. They’re also a great D.I.Y. project so you can get the...

00:14

Gates & Fencing How to build a Colorbond fence A colorbond fence is a sturdy way give your home privacy and security. They also come in a range of colours to match your outdoor décor.

close up on a bed of flowers at the foot of a wooden fence

Gates & Fencing Freshen your fence Want to refresh your old wooden fence? Follow our steps to fix, clean, repaint your fence and add some greenery for the best effect.

Man attaching the bamboo screen to the fence

03:14

Gates & Fencing How to install bamboo screening A bamboo fence is a great way to add some privacy or even just hide an ugly fence. Watch our step by step guide and we’ll show you how to install one.

Person overlapping final sheet to make it fit

02:35

Gates & Fencing How to install HardieFence Find out how to install a sturdy hardiefence in just a few simple steps.

Gates & Fencing How to dress up a fence Rather than staring at a plain or weathered looking old fence, why not give it a quick D.I.Y. makeover? Here are some super easy ways to give your fence a freshen up, without even picking up a paint brush.

Gates & Fencing How to choose a garden screen An outdoor screen is the ultimate concealer. You may want to hide something in your garden, add some privacy to an area or create an eye-catching feature. No matter what you want to do, there are a few options to consider.

03:20

Gates & Fencing How to install pickets for a picket fence Find out how to attach pickets to a fence. We’ll show you how to install the pickets and keep them evenly spaced.

Planting & Growing How to create an allergy-friendly garden If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, then being out in the garden can, at times, be less than enjoyable. But there are some steps you can take to create an allergy-friendly garden so you can spend more time gardening and less time sneezi...

Outdoor Living Five D.I.Y. ideas to update your outdoors Autumn is a great time of the year to tick off a few D.I.Y. projects from your to-do list. Here are a few good ideas to get you started.

Planters How to choose the right plant pot Pots are a great way to add colour, interest or texture to your outdoor space. Tuscan Path’s Elaine Foster shares her top tips on how to choose the perfect pot.

Planting & Growing How to plant and care for sunflowers Sunflowers are a great way to add colour to your garden, and they’re easy to grow and care for. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katie explains the basics of how to grow sunflowers and shares some tips on how to care for them.

Planting & Growing How to care for orchids Orchids are a low-maintenance flower that can be grown indoors or outside in a protected location. And, with a little care, they will provide you with lots of colour.

Guides & Projects How to upcycle almost any piece of furniture with paint Rather than throwing out old household items, you can restore them with paint. It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to give anything from furniture to fences a new lease on life. Learn how to paint and prepare different surfaces to get the finish y...

Planters D.I.Y. balcony and courtyard garden Even if your outdoor space is limited to a balcony or courtyard, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on having a garden. The team at Tuscan Path, who have been supplying pots to the Australian marketplace for over 40 years, share some ideas on how ...

Benchtops & Cabinets A guide to kitchen benchtop materials The perfect benchtop will add style to any kitchen. It’ll also see the most action, so choosing the right benchtop for your kitchen – and budget – is an important decision explains Bunnings Kitchen Designer Ben Carey.