I want to place a tree/bush about 10' away from my kitchen window (it's at the front of the house and I need some privacy). What is the quickest growing plant that I can place quite close to the house?
Have you considered bamboo? It is fast growing and you can usually get plants already at about six feet from specialist nurseries (they're much cheaper than garden centres). I've used it for screening and it's excellent, evergreen etc. Otherwise something like laurel is pretty quick, but avoid the dreaded Leylandii.