Cheap evergreens for privacy screen

looking for a cheap fast growing evergreen to compliment a patchy seasonal privacy screen.

I was thinking clumping bamboo but it's biether cheap no fast growing...

 

Just a word of caution: fast growing is a great idea *if* ... you don't mind the work that goes with it to keep it in check. For "fast growing" read "will need lots of trimming"

I used pyracantha as a privacy hedge (plus the thorns would rip anyone to shreds who tried to scramble over it). Took two seasons before it gave the coverage I wanted but that wasn't too much of an issue. Plus, pretty white flowers in spring and lovely, long lasting berries Autumn (and maybe winter too if the birds haven't gobbled them all up )

I'm sure others will have more suggestions for you

 

Here are a few ideas...Photinia 'Red Robin', Viburnum tinus, Escallonia, Eleagnus ebbingeii
Whatever you plant, the key will be in the soil preparation. The better start you give the plants, the quicker and healthier they'll grow. Watering them through their first two summers will also make a big difference.

 

I like Cherry Laurel - largish oval leaves, white spike flowers in Spring and fairly fast growing - they are however poisonous. I purchased some which were 2m tall - specifically grown as hedging units. They were £45 each and have taken well to a heavy clay soil.

 

Eleagnus x ebbingei is the fastest growing plant I've ever tried. Lovely scented flowers in autumn and edible tiny fruit in spring too. Relatively cheap too. Pruning frequency will depend on whether you want a 'formal' hedge. I grow mine in a container and prune it once or twice a year but if your hedge is formal you may need to prune more frequently.

Whereabouts are you?

 

I'd go for Vibernum Tinus too. Vigorous but not really a thug. Easy to prune. Nice white/pink tinged flowers from about November with me and tough as old boots. I have a couple of very large specimens (well over 70 years old) and they have both been flowering since well before Christmas and STILL flowering and the flowers don't seem to have minded some humdinger of frosts we've had recently unlike my Magnolias. Camellias, Rhododendrons and Azaleas...sob!