As a broad rule:

Choose Leylandii when speed and substantial screening are the overriding priorities.

Choose Thuja when you want fast evergreen screening but prefer a softer and generally more refined hedge.

What Is Leylandii Hedging?

Leylandii is a vigorous evergreen conifer widely used for privacy and screening.

Its greatest advantage is simple:

it grows quickly.

Given suitable conditions, it can create a substantial screen considerably faster than many traditional hedging species.

This makes it particularly useful where:

• A neighbouring development needs screening

• Privacy is required relatively quickly

• A tall evergreen hedge is wanted

• An unattractive view needs concealing

• A large boundary requires planting

What Is Thuja Hedging?

Thuja is a group of evergreen conifers commonly known as arborvitae.

For substantial hedging in UK gardens, Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata, and selected cultivars such as 'Atrovirens' can be particularly useful.

Thuja creates a dense evergreen hedge with flattened sprays of foliage and can develop relatively quickly without quite the same reputation for extreme vigour as Leylandii.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Privacy

Both are excellent privacy plants.

They retain foliage throughout the year and can form dense visual screens.

If the objective is simply to establish a tall evergreen barrier as quickly as possible, Leylandii often has the advantage.

If appearance and long-term manageability are given greater weight, Thuja may be preferable.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Screening Neighbours

Both can screen:

• Neighbouring gardens

• Houses

• Ground-floor windows

• Roads

• Car parks

• Outbuildings

• Commercial buildings

For elevated overlooking from first-floor windows, however, consider whether an extremely tall hedge is really the best solution.

Pleached or specimen trees may sometimes provide more targeted screening.

Which Grows Faster: Leylandii or Thuja?

Leylandii generally grows faster.

Under favourable conditions, established Leylandii can produce considerable annual growth.

Thuja is also fast-growing but is usually somewhat more controlled.

This difference is important because growth rate affects both:

how quickly the hedge establishes

and

how much maintenance it requires afterwards.

How Fast Does Leylandii Grow?

Growth varies according to:

• Soil

• Moisture

• Light

• Exposure

• Plant age

• Establishment

Under favourable conditions, Leylandii can make substantial annual growth.

This makes it one of the quickest ways of creating a living evergreen screen.

How Fast Does Thuja Grow?

Thuja can also develop relatively quickly when planted in suitable conditions.

It may not match the most vigorous Leylandii growth rates, but for many gardens this can actually be an advantage.

You still gain useful screening without quite the same pressure to constantly control the hedge.

Fast Growth: Advantage or Disadvantage?

Both.

Fast growth is extremely useful while you are trying to establish privacy.

Once the hedge reaches the required dimensions, however, that same growth needs managing.

This is particularly important with Leylandii.

If regular maintenance is neglected, it can become:

• Too tall

• Too broad

• Visually dominant

• Difficult to renovate

Growth rate should therefore be considered as a long-term maintenance issue, not simply a selling point.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Immediate Privacy

If privacy is required immediately, growth rate is only part of the answer.

Both Leylandii and Thuja can be supplied as larger plants.

Installing more mature specimens can provide significantly greater screening from the outset.

This allows you to choose the species you prefer for the long term rather than selecting purely according to which grows fastest.

Leylandii vs Thuja Appearance

There is a noticeable difference in character.

Leylandii

Leylandii creates a hedge that is:

• Dense

• Strong

• Uniform

• Substantial

• Visually solid

Thuja

Thuja generally provides:

• Softer-looking foliage

• Flattened sprays

• Dense evergreen coverage

• A slightly more refined appearance

Where the hedge will form an important visual backdrop within a designed garden, this distinction can matter.

Leylandii vs Thuja Foliage

Leylandii has dense scale-like conifer foliage.

Thuja has distinctive flattened sprays of foliage.

Some Thuja also have a characteristic aromatic scent when the foliage is crushed or cut.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Formal Hedging

Both can be clipped into formal hedges.

Thuja can create a particularly attractive, dense and uniform screen.

Leylandii can also produce an extremely neat hedge, but regular trimming is essential because of its vigour.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Informal Screening

Both can be used as less tightly clipped screens where sufficient space is available.

However, allowing Leylandii to develop without adequate control can eventually create extremely large plants.

Long-term size should be considered from the beginning.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Tall Hedging

Both are capable of producing substantial tall screens.

This makes them useful for larger gardens and boundaries where significant height is genuinely appropriate.

However, simply because a plant can grow very tall does not mean it should be allowed to do so.

The appropriate finished height should be established before planting.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Small Gardens

This requires careful thought.

Leylandii can become too vigorous for small gardens if maintenance is neglected.

Thuja may provide somewhat greater control, but it is still capable of becoming a substantial plant.

For compact gardens, alternatives such as:

• Yew

• Portuguese Laurel

• Pleached trees

may sometimes provide more appropriate screening.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Large Gardens

Both can work extremely well where there is sufficient space.

They can create:

• Large evergreen boundaries

• Wind protection

• Privacy

• Backdrops to planting

• Screening from neighbouring development

The available width should still be considered.

Leylandii vs Thuja for New Build Gardens

Both can provide relatively rapid privacy in exposed new build gardens.

However, garden size is critical.

In a compact new build plot, a vigorous conifer hedge can consume valuable width.

Where the main problem is overlooking from upper-storey windows, pleached trees may provide a more targeted solution.

Leylandii vs Thuja Above a Fence

Both can grow above existing fencing to provide additional privacy.

However, before creating a very tall hedge, assess the actual sightline.

A more strategically positioned specimen or pleached tree may achieve the same result without creating a continuous high boundary.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Full Sun

Both generally perform well in full sun when adequately watered and established.

Newly planted specimens require reliable watering during dry periods.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Partial Shade

Both can tolerate some partial shade.

Thuja can perform well in reasonably light shade, although dense growth is generally best where adequate light is available.

Deep shade requires more careful species selection.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Clay Soil

Both can tolerate a range of soils provided drainage is reasonable.

Heavy clay should be assessed for:

• Compaction

• Waterlogging

• Poor structure

Correct soil preparation is important, particularly for larger plants.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Wet Ground

Neither should simply be assumed suitable for permanently waterlogged soil.

Thuja plicata can tolerate moist conditions, but persistently saturated ground still requires careful assessment.

Drainage and soil structure should be considered before planting.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Poorly Drained Soil

Poor drainage can cause establishment problems for many hedging species.

If water remains around the root zone for prolonged periods, investigate the underlying cause before planting.

Selecting a vigorous conifer does not compensate for unsuitable ground conditions.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Exposed Gardens

Both can provide substantial shelter once established.

They can be useful where a garden is exposed to prevailing winds.

However, very large newly planted specimens may require appropriate support while their root systems establish.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Coastal Gardens

Exposure to salt-laden winds can significantly affect plant performance.

Neither should automatically be selected for severe coastal exposure without considering the specific site.

Alternative hedging species may be more appropriate in highly exposed coastal conditions.

Leylandii vs Thuja as a Windbreak

Both can create effective wind-filtering screens.

A hedge can help create a more sheltered microclimate within the garden.

However, positioning, permeability, height and surrounding conditions all influence wind behaviour.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Roadside Screening

Both can provide useful visual screening from roads.

Their evergreen foliage helps maintain separation throughout winter.

They can also create an attractive green backdrop where the alternative view is traffic or neighbouring development.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Screening an Ugly View

Both are highly effective where the main objective is concealment.

They can screen:

• Garages

• Sheds

• Industrial buildings

• Car parks

• Neighbouring houses

• Utility areas

Leylandii may achieve height more rapidly.

Thuja may create a softer long-term appearance.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Wildlife

Dense evergreen hedges can provide:

• Shelter

• Nesting opportunities

• Cover from weather

• Protected habitat

They do not provide the same diversity of flowers and berries as mixed native hedging, but their dense evergreen structure can still be useful to wildlife.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Birds

Both can create dense shelter for garden birds.

A broad, well-established hedge can provide valuable nesting and refuge opportunities.

Avoid hedge cutting where active nests are present.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Noise Reduction

Dense evergreen planting can help visually separate a garden from a noisy environment and may contribute some attenuation depending on the depth and structure of planting.

However, neither hedge should be promoted as a substitute for a properly designed acoustic barrier where significant noise reduction is required.

Leylandii vs Thuja Maintenance

This is one of the most important differences.

Both need trimming if they are to remain controlled hedges.

Leylandii's greater vigour means missed maintenance can become a problem relatively quickly.

Thuja is still fast-growing but may provide a somewhat more manageable long-term hedge.

How Often Should Leylandii Be Trimmed?

The frequency depends on the desired finish and growing conditions.

A formal Leylandii hedge may require more than one trim during the growing season to maintain tight dimensions.

The key is regularity.

How Often Should Thuja Be Trimmed?

Thuja also benefits from regular trimming.

A consistent maintenance programme encourages dense growth and prevents the hedge becoming unnecessarily broad.

Can You Cut Leylandii Back Hard?

This is an important limitation.

Leylandii should not generally be cut back beyond the green foliage into old brown wood because it may fail to regenerate satisfactorily.

This makes preventative maintenance extremely important.

Can You Cut Thuja Back Hard?

Thuja also has limitations when cutting deeply into old bare wood.

It should not be treated like Yew, which has an exceptional ability to regenerate from old wood.

Again, regular maintenance is preferable to major renovation.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Low Maintenance

Neither should be described as genuinely low maintenance if kept as a tightly controlled hedge.

Thuja may have an advantage because its growth is generally somewhat less aggressive.

If low maintenance is a major priority, slower-growing Yew may be worth considering.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Keeping a Hedge Narrow

Both can be kept reasonably controlled through regular pruning.

However, this needs to start early.

Do not allow either hedge to become several metres wide and then expect it to tolerate severe reduction back into bare wood.

How Wide Does a Leylandii Hedge Get?

As wide as you allow it to become.

Unmanaged Leylandii can become extremely substantial.

A maintained hedge can be kept much narrower, but the desired dimensions need to be established and maintained from an early stage.

How Wide Does a Thuja Hedge Get?

Thuja can also become broad when left untrimmed.

Regular clipping allows it to be maintained as a much more controlled hedge.

Leylandii vs Thuja Root Systems

Both develop substantial root systems appropriate to their eventual size.

Planting positions should therefore take account of:

• Available rooting space

• Boundaries

• Paving

• Existing vegetation

• Underground services

• Soil conditions

Appropriate positioning is more important than simplistic claims about one species having inherently problematic roots.

Leylandii vs Thuja Near a Fence

Both can be planted close to a boundary, but sufficient space should be allowed for:

• Growth

• Trimming

• Access

• Fence maintenance

Planting too tightly against a fence can make future hedge maintenance difficult.

Leylandii vs Thuja Near Paving

Both can be used near paths and paved areas where adequate planting space is provided.

The future hedge width should be planned from the outset to prevent constant encroachment.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Security

Both can create substantial physical and visual boundaries.

Their dense foliage can discourage casual access.

However, neither is thorny.

Where intruder deterrence is a priority, species such as Holly, Pyracantha, Hawthorn or Blackthorn may be more appropriate.

Leylandii vs Thuja for Privacy From Neighbours

Both provide excellent evergreen privacy.

Choose Leylandii where speed is particularly important.

Choose Thuja where a slightly softer appearance and somewhat more controlled growth are preferred.

For elevated overlooking, consider combining lower hedging with screening trees instead of simply allowing the hedge to become extremely tall.

Leylandii vs Thuja Cost

The cost depends heavily on:

• Plant height

• Plant specification

• Root type

• Quantity

• Access

• Ground preparation

• Delivery

• Planting requirements

Smaller plants are less expensive but require longer to create substantial screening.

Larger specimens cost more but provide more immediate privacy.

Rootballed Leylandii vs Thuja

Larger field-grown conifers may be available rootballed during the appropriate planting season.

These can provide substantial immediate height.

Their size means careful handling, planting and establishment are particularly important.

Container-Grown Leylandii vs Thuja

Container-grown plants provide greater flexibility over planting times.

Both species are available in a range of sizes.

Larger container-grown plants still require careful establishment watering.

Mature Leylandii vs Mature Thuja

Where privacy is needed quickly, consider the size being planted rather than growth rate alone.

A larger Thuja may provide more privacy immediately than a smaller Leylandii despite Leylandii's faster future growth.

This is why species + initial plant size should be considered together.

Planting Leylandii and Thuja Hedging

Successful establishment requires:

• Appropriate planting depth

• Good soil preparation

• Suitable drainage

• Adequate rooting space

• Thorough watering

• Weed control

• Correct initial pruning

Large plants may also require temporary support.

Watering Leylandii and Thuja

Newly planted evergreen hedging requires reliable watering.

Because foliage remains on the plants throughout the year, moisture loss continues outside summer.

Large specimens require particularly careful establishment watering.

Mulching Leylandii and Thuja

Mulching can help:

• Retain soil moisture

• Reduce weed competition

• Moderate soil conditions

Avoid piling mulch directly against stems.

Leylandii vs Thuja vs Laurel

If rapid evergreen screening is required, all three may be considered.

Leylandii – fastest, substantial conifer screening.

Thuja – fast-growing evergreen conifer with softer foliage.

Cherry Laurel – vigorous broadleaf evergreen with large glossy leaves.

The desired visual character can be as important as growth rate.

Leylandii vs Thuja vs Yew

These represent three different approaches to evergreen conifer hedging.

Leylandii: speed and vigorous screening.

Thuja: fast but more refined screening.

Yew: slower, highly controlled, exceptionally long-lived formal hedging.

If budget allows, planting larger Yew can remove some of the disadvantage of its slower growth.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Is Best for Fast Screening?

Leylandii generally wins for outright speed.

Few conventional hedging plants can match its ability to create substantial height quickly.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Is Best for Appearance?

This is subjective, but Thuja is often considered the softer and more refined of the two.

Its flattened foliage sprays can create a particularly attractive evergreen screen.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Is Best for Privacy?

Both are excellent.

There is relatively little to choose between them once they have formed dense established hedges.

The more important distinction is how quickly you need the screen and how much maintenance you want afterwards.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Is Best for Small Gardens?

Neither should be selected casually for a very small garden.

Thuja may be easier to control, but both are naturally substantial plants.

Where space is restricted, Yew, Portuguese Laurel or pleached trees may provide better long-term solutions.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Is Best for Large Gardens?

Both can work extremely well.

Where a long boundary needs substantial evergreen screening, they can provide a relatively economical and effective solution.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Is Easier to Maintain?

Thuja generally has the advantage.

It still requires regular pruning, but Leylandii's greater vigour means missed maintenance can have more significant consequences.

Leylandii vs Thuja: Which Should I Choose?

Choose Leylandii if you want:

• Very fast growth

• Dense evergreen screening

• Substantial height

• Rapid privacy

• A strong boundary hedge

• Screening across a larger garden

Choose Thuja if you want:

• Fast evergreen screening

• Softer foliage

• A slightly more refined appearance

• Dense year-round privacy

• More controlled growth than Leylandii

• A formal or semi-formal conifer hedge

If you want slower growth, greater pruning flexibility and a more premium formal appearance, consider Yew as an alternative.

Professional Leylandii and Thuja Hedge Planting

Kirman Design supplies and professionally plants Leylandii and Thuja hedging across North West England.

We can help determine the appropriate species, size and planting specification based on:

• Required screening height

• Desired timescale

• Available garden width

• Soil conditions

• Exposure

• Maintenance expectations

• Access

Larger plants can also be specified where more immediate screening is required.

Leylandii or Thuja: Find the Right Hedge for Your Garden

Leylandii and Thuja can both create excellent evergreen privacy screens.

The difference is largely one of speed, appearance and long-term management.

Choose Leylandii where rapid growth is the priority.

Choose Thuja where you still want fast evergreen screening but prefer a softer and somewhat more controlled hedge.

Most importantly, choose the hedge according to what you want it to look like in 10 or 20 years, not simply according to how quickly it grows during the first few seasons.

Kirman Design supplies and professionally plants Leylandii, Thuja and other privacy hedging across North West England.

Contact us to discuss your boundary, the level of screening required and the hedge species and plant sizes most appropriate for your garden.