Achieving perfect privacy planting is a genuine challenge. You must strike a delicate balance between blocking prying eyes and maintaining curb appeal, all without completely burying the house in greenery.
After two years of studying how celebrities handle this, I assumed I had seen it all. However, Goldie Hawn’s hedging proved me wrong. It demonstrates that thoughtful landscaping can actually celebrate a home while providing seclusion. I discovered her privacy planting in an archival 1978 image of her Los Angeles home, featured on a vintage postcard of Hollywood estates.
Even though the image is decades old, it remains an ideal blueprint for 2026. As we move into the spring planting season, there are several lessons we can learn from Goldie’s approach to landscaping with hedges.
Article continues below
You may like
First, privacy planting should always complement the architecture of the home. Goldie’s manicured hedges are a flawless match for her Tudor-style house. These homes draw inspiration from early 20th-century romanticism, imitating the characterful exteriors of medieval dwellings. Hedging was extremely popular in the Tudor era, serving both practical agricultural purposes and high-fashion ornamental functions, making it a smart choice for her period home.
(Image credit: Nextrecord Archives via Getty Images)
Shop the privacy planting edit
Highly-Rated
These Felco pruning shears feature hardened blades for effortless trimming, making even tough rose pruning jobs feel easy. A must-have for every type of garden, they are a reliable essential for keeping your plants in top shape.
Fast-growing
Japanese boxwoods are low-maintenance and provide lasting structure and formality in the garden. They are an excellent choice for beginners and can be planted together to create an effective, elegant privacy screen.
Full Coverage
Skip Cherry Laurel Shrubs
This evergreen shrub is ideal for creating a lush, private hedge in a cozy, secluded backyard. Maximize your comfort just like Goldie and start building your own garden paradise.
Expert Choice
Kviter American Arborvitae Tree Seeds
The classic American Arborvitae is a perfect starting point for recreating the look of Goldie’s home. Its rich green foliage and upright growth make it ideal for adding height and structure to any outdoor space.
Decorative Potential
Wintergreen Boxwood Shrub
These Wintergreen Boxwood shrubs are versatile and well-suited for topiary designs, bonsai, or decorative pots. They grow just 2 to 3 inches per year and reach about 3 feet tall with a 4 to 5 foot spread, offering year-round beauty with minimal maintenance.
Hardy
The American Boxwood Shrub is a dependable favorite. Easily shaped and trained, it makes a striking foundation hedge when planted in a row or adds year-round privacy and greenery when lined by your front yard.
Goldie’s garden also highlights the importance of pruning hedges into a variety of shapes. While it is tempting to stick to a single uniform style, she utilized both rounded and angular forms.
Rectangular shapes sit against the boundary wall and the house, while two spherical hedges flank the front door like living sculptures. This contrast creates immediate visual interest, making the outdoor space feel far more grandiose as the summer bloom approaches.
Another key takeaway is to work in harmony with hardscaping. Her front hedges act as a natural extension of the brick fence, making the boundary feel more substantial while softening the stone with lush greenery. Other hedges line the driveway to create striking, strong borders. Instead of clashing, these elements work together to form a cohesive layout.
Goldie’s front yard landscaping idea proves that the most effective privacy happens across multiple levels. Taller hedges along the fence line block street-level views, while shorter hedges against the house create a welcoming facade. An arching tree provides shade and privacy, making the entire property look beautiful and intriguing. Even with years of experience, looking to the past remains one of the best ways to stay educated on timeless design.
