It’s a peculiar twist of fate that by the time you’ll want to spend time outside and enjoy the sunshine in peace, there are gaps starting to emerge on the back of withering early bloomers and dwindling annuals. I’m not just talking about the gaps you might see on the ground or in containers, either. This also seems to be an issue with vertical space, with some screening plants thinning out right just as it seems most pleasant to sit outside.

Indeed, the tall stuff can often go first. Perennials that held the back border all summer start leaning into each other. Annuals stretch out and go see-through at the base. And just like that, garden privacy takes a hit and the neighbors have a clear view of your patio. This window of time for our outdoor living space to get used without the scorching heat is precious, making those late-summer sightline gaps such a frustrating timing conflict.

But that doesn’t mean you have to wait until spring to call in reinforcements, or resort to expensive fencing. There are some stunning ornamentals you can plant this month that only need weeks to establish. Plant the right climbers, natural screens, and speedy evergreens, and they find their groove long before you have to worry about hard frost. Whether you want to plug a narrow gap between balcony posts or need a dense living wall along a boundary, these fast growing privacy plants will quickly give you sanctuary to enjoy this glorious transition.

Set Up Fast Growing Privacy Plants

While summer temperatures begin their gradual shift into fall, ground temperatures remain very warm, creating an ideal base for root development. Allowing for hardiness zone variations, planting container-grown plants or nursery stock means root systems can establish fast, without the stresses that can come with midsummer heatwaves and spring waterlogging. Before deciding on one of these fast-growing plants, make sure you clear away the spent plants and assess your gap realistically in terms of planting space and condition.

In terms of optimum soil conditions, you need a ground temperature in the 60s or low 70s Fahrenheit (15-23°C). If you’re not sure, it’s easy to find out with a good soil thermometer. For ease of use, I recommend the highly rated Smart Choice Stainless Steel Soil Thermometer from Amazon to check if your plants will be in the best place for rapid late summer establishment. Before dropping a new plant into the ground, submerge the root ball in a bucket of water until bubbles stop rising, and gently tease apart outer fibrous roots. Ensure the planting bed drains freely, too. Standing water in warm August soil will rapidly cook root systems and invite phytophthora rot.

Before planting, you also need to add compost or organic material, worked through the whole bed and not just sprinkled a handful per planting hole. Roots that hit a rich pocket ringed by clay will circle inside it and never run. But feeding matters less than watering this month. A heavy nitrogen push now just makes soft growth for the first frost to find. A deep soak 2-3 times a week beats a daily drizzle, since the point is pulling roots downward. Add a good mulch using a thick, lush moisture-retainer like Sta-Green Shredded Black Mulch from Lowe’s, layered 2-3 inches (5-8cm) thick, to keep growing conditions consistent at ground level.

In terms of planting, remember that one straight row has limits. Depth is what helps to make privacy. Fast-growing evergreens hold the back line, while grasses and perennials fill the middle band, and vines climb whatever posts are standing. North of zone 6, lean on annual vines (woody shrubs put in this late may be cutting the window close). Without further ado, let’s meet our fast growing plants…

1. Black Eyed Susan Vine

Want a fast climbing bloomer for August planting? Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) is a sprinting spectacular. Garden centers often mark these down in August, and even a modest transplant picks up speed in days, reaching 6-8 feet (1.8–2.4m) while the weather holds. So you can enjoy juicy oranges, zingy yellows, and hot cerises all the way to hard frost – perfect for a quick vertical lattice fill or balcony railing privacy. Vibrant Sunny Susy Pink Beauty Black Eyed Susan Vine Plants Sacred Roots Nursery from Walmart is great value.

Annual in zones 3-9 and perennial in zones 10-11, this fast-grower twines rather than clings, so it wants something thin to grab. Trellis netting along a porch rail can thicken into a dense curtain inside a month, with plants set about 18 inches (45cm) apart. However, a little afternoon shade is beneficial in southern regions, so the leaf edges don’t scorch. Keep soil consistently moist and apply a liquid seaweed drench such as Bloom CIty Liquid Seaweed and Kelp Feed from Amazon to maintain stem elasticity against late-summer winds.

2. Sweet Autumn Clematis

Few climbing vines match the sheer sensory heights of sweet autumn clematis (C. terniflora) in late summer. Buying a potted 2-gallon start in August gives you an instant green screen that transforms into a snowdrift of vanilla-perfumed, star-shaped blossoms that can last through to October. For a gorgeous bargain, grab your Sweet Autumn Clematis Live Plant from Fast Growing Trees to make sure you get a headstart on this climber’s exquisite twinkling fragrance.

To support this climber, you just need a sturdy trellis, chain-link fence, or arbor framework. Place the root crown slightly deeper than in the nursery container, and keep the base shaded with a heavy mulch layer or low-growing companion plants, while the top growth basks in full sunlight. Prune back hard in early spring to control this high-impact sensory screening beauty and keep it thick and lush.

3. Cardinal Climber

Hummingbirds love their red blooms, and this one (Ipomoea x multifida) is a breathtaking fast-growing plant if you’re looking to attract hummers to your yard. Planted from starts in August, its feather-like foliage and vibrant red trumpet blooms grow at breakneck speed. Gates and arbors are where this lacy beauty belongs, and it can reach 10-15 feet (3-4.5m) in a matter of weeks. Heat suits it down to the ground, and poor soil does not slow it down. Just get it onto its supports early.

A natural hybrid between the Cypress vine and morning glory, the cardinal climber thrives when temperatures sizzle. Because its foliage is delicately dissected, it is ideal for seating nooks where you want privacy without feeling boxed in. Pair it with white thunbergia for a striking contrast. If your local nursery is out of stock, don’t worry. You can get the same fast-growing screen and hummingbird-friendly blooms with American Beauties Major Wheeler Coral Honeysuckle from Amazon.

4. Green Giant Arborvitae

They don’t call this the Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata) for nothing. This lush evergreen stalwart is an undisputed classic for year-round privacy. August–September is prime planting time for your potted giants. There’s currently a great discount on Green Giant Plants at Fast Growing Trees. Arriving at 5 feet (1.5m), these evergreens can put on 3 feet (0.9m) a year once settled, maturing at 40–60 feet (12-18m) tall.

Left unchecked, these evergreens just keep going, which is the part people miss when they tuck one against a house! A back property line is the best place for these plants. Deer walk right past this one, unlike most sensitive arborvitae species. Just water deeply twice a week through autumn until the ground freezes. Apply some shredded bark mulch around the base to retain soil moisture in winter.

5. Passion Flower

For an exotic flourish to your privacy screening aspirations, passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) is quite the showstopper, combining high-impact visuals with edible treats. Planted as a nursery start in August, this vigorous native climber shoots up quickly and fills with exotic flowers that have a decidedly otherworldly vibe. If you’re lucky, this dynamic climber also produces fruits called maypops. Buy established and extra-frilly Maypop Purple Passion Flower Plants from Plant Addicts.

The intricate purple-and-white blooms open continuously from mid-summer into autumn, giving off a sweet, clove-like fragrance while attracting native pollinators. By late autumn, pollinated flowers give way to the egg-shaped maypops, which offer a juicy tart flavor. Ideal for wire trellises, arbors, or deck railings, the vine dies back to the roots after hard frosts in zones 5-6. But don’t worry, it will shoot back up with tremendous speed next spring: thicker, lusher, and even more alive with frilly blooms.

6. Switch Grass

You wouldn’t necessarily expect to see an ornamental grass in a line-up about privacy, but this one is capable of great things (pun intended). Most ornamental grasses on the August sale bench are cool-season types that did their growing back in spring, so a pot looks much the same in October as it did in May. Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) is a native warm-season grass that reaches full height and maximum impact late in the summer, which is the whole reason it belongs here.

Cultivars like powder blue Heavy Metal add unusual contrast as well as an upright structure that holds its shape all winter. And for a real bargain, you can currently pick up Perennial Farm’s Cheyenne Sky Switch Grass plants from Amazon which promises bright green-to-red foliage and lush purple blooms. Switch grass is an enchanting and unexpected treat for privacy, with its rustling dynamics and late season plumes. Expect 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8m) of upright stems under airy seed heads, and aim to set your plants 2-3 feet (60-90cm) apart along a driveway or patio edge.

7. Southern Wax Myrtle

Southern wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) is a treat for late summer planting, combining native evergreen resilience with intriguing fragrance. This fast-grower has a reputation as a rapid living fence, but also offers aromatic bayberry-scented leaves, which is a lovely bonus for something you might be buying purely to block a view. Yes, it has the dependability of lush foliage which is as waxy as its namesake. But you also get berries on female plants in the fall, providing winter food for birds.

When planting in August, prune back any soft, spindly branch ends by one-third to force dense interior branching and lessen transplant transpiration stress. Dwarf cultivars top out at 4-6 feet if you need lower deck privacy, while the wild species forms a taller privacy screen, topping out at 15-20 feet (4.5-6m). You can get a starter pot of Hirt’s Gardens’ Bayside Bonito Southern Wax Myrtle from Amazon for a bargain at the moment. Mulch well to encourage rapid vertical growth.

8. Sunshine Ligustrum

For electric golden-yellow foliage to brighten dark garden corners instantly upon planting, this fast-growing privacy plant is a genuine dazzler. A few states regulate wild types of this genus, so check with your local extension office if you live near natural woodland boundaries. However, Ligustrum sinense ‘Sunshine’ is a sterile, non-invasive selection that never flowers or sets fruit. The tiny leaves emerge in electric gold and hold evergreen where winters stay mild.

Plant this quick learner where you know it will receive full sun, as shaded locations cause the brilliant foliage to revert to lime-green. Count on a foot or more of growth a year, topping out near 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8m) tall and about as wide, with plants set 3 feet (0.9m) apart for a hedge. This plant responds exceptionally well to shearing, allowing you to train it into a formal architectural screen or let it maintain its natural, rounded habit. Buy lush and lovely Sunshine Privet from Fast Growing Trees.

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