What is the lifespan of a privet hedge?
On average, a well-maintained privet hedge can live for 30 to 40 years or even longer. Proper care and maintenance play a significant role in the longevity of a privet hedge. Regular pruning, watering, and feeding help keep the hedge healthy and promote its overall lifespan. Because privet grows rapidly, a declining hedge could be cut to within a few inches of the ground and allowed to completely regenerate. If well irrigated and fertilized, one might expect 4-5 feet of growth in a single growing season.Most hedges will grow back if cut properly. Species like privet, hornbeam, yew, and boxwood tolerate hard pruning and often come back denser than before. But not all plants handle it well. If the hedge has no lower leaves or the branches are old and woody, it may take a long time to regrow—or not recover at all.Ideally cut back one side of the hedge one year, then the other side one or two years later to retain the screening effect and give the plant the best chance of recovery. Hard pruning is best done at the end of winter so you’re not looking at an unsightly hedge for too long, or disturbing nesting birds.You’ll want to trim the hedge right back and cut down a significant portion of its height using a chainsaw. You may even wish to cut it down to a height of just 1–1. This will encourage rapid new growth through the stems, which you can then trim back and shape as it grows.
What are common problems with privet hedges?
The most common pests that affect privet hedging in the UK include vine weevil, spider mites and scale insects. Common privet hedge diseases should be dealt with quickly to prevent your privet hedge dying, these include honey fungus, powdery mildew, rust and leaf spot which are common in UK gardens. The amount you prune is really up to you, as privet is such a tolerant plant. Some people cut it down halfway, but take care not to do this too late in the year, or the plant may struggle in the colder months.For privet hedges, it is best to trim at least twice a year between May and August. This is to maximise the chances of growth and make your shrub stronger throughout winter months. Put simply, the more you trim your privet hedge, the thicker and denser it becomes.Garden shears, secateurs and hand pruners are great for trimming privet hedge plants down to their desired shape. The pruning saw is useful for removing larger branches or sections of privet that need to be cut off completely.Privets are fast growing shrubs that can become weeds by overgrowth and self seeding in inappropriate places. Cut the shrub down to below the lowest green leaves and immediately paint the cut stump with Weed Weapon Invade Gel or Weed Weapon Stump Stop Gel.You can only cut back again in October, but a little more carefully than in spring. A problem with this second pruning, however, is that you can remove the berries which are valuable for birds. Older privet, fortunately, only needs to be pruned once a year. This preserves flowers and fruit for wildlife.
Is it hard to dig out a privet hedge?
Privet shrubs are popular landscape plants, but as an invasive species, privet can easily grow out of control. Physical removal is labor-intensive and may not be successful. Cease trimming in late summer as not to encourage fall growth, which can lead to winter damage. When should you prune a privet hedge? Privet hedge pruning is performed in late winter. This includes removing dead or damaged branches and opening the interior of the hedge.Privet will tolerate full sun exposure, semi shade as well as partial shade, and will grow well in coastal areas, urban areas and exposed sites. This quick growing evergreen hedging is a popular choice in UK gardens as it’s very tolerant to all weather conditions.Only wild privet is native to Britain; garden privet is native to Japan and Korea. The latter is a more popular choice for hedging as it can be clipped well into a formal hedge and is very tolerant of pollution. This makes it suitable for growing in very urban areas.Privet should be pruned twice a year – in early summer and late autumn. This will reduce the risk of damage from adverse weather conditions in winter, keeping your hedge neat and tidy.If you live in the north-east, then European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) also called common privet, is the main bad-guy. This is a plant that will grow rapidly and crowd out your garden, as well as producing some dull flowers that never the less seed profusely, and have already spread into many north-eastern forests.
Will a privet hedge grow back if cut back hard?
Through a process like hard pruning, you will essentially be able to cut back much of the plant to encourage the growth of newer branches in its place. We find that the best time to hard prune a privet hedge is by the end of winter. Privet hedges are very hardy and will tolerate being pruned throughout the summer. You can cut them back hard (both height and depth), but this is best done in the spring or early summer. This is so the hedge has time to regenerate before the winter.Solutions for Reviving Your Privet Hedge Soil Treatment: Add organic matter or compost to enhance soil fertility. Pest Control: Implement regular inspections and use suitable insecticides if necessary. Pruning: Conduct regular pruning to stimulate growth and shape the hedge.Garden shears, secateurs and hand pruners are great for trimming privet hedge plants down to their desired shape. The pruning saw is useful for removing larger branches or sections of privet that need to be cut off completely.If you’re experiencing some intense heat waves, this can cause leaf drop with a number of hedging plants. Watering your Privet hedge well, and mulching the soil to help it retain water, is the best way to fight back against hot weather. Waterlogged Soil.
How to cut back an overgrown privet hedge?
Stems should be cut at a 45 degree angle, just above a leaf bud. Start at the top of your privet hedge and gradually work down, trimming the sides so that they are even and creating the desired shape. Grasp privet stems by the base and pull upward, removing as much of the root system as possible. If the plant does not come up easily, it is likely a sprout from a lateral root and hand pulling will not be effective. Weed wrenches are effective for removing privet saplings up to 2 inches in diameter.Hand pulling is a good option for privet seedlings and small saplings. It can be done any time of year but is easiest when soils are moist. Grab the base of the privet stem with your fingers or a pair of pliers and pull upward, trying to remove as much of the roots as possible.
When not to cut privet?
If the privet does become overgrown, you can also cut it back radically. Ideally, do this in early spring, because birds like to nest in the branches of the hedge during summer. Too late in the year, heavy pruning will weaken the plant before winter. Several herbicides, including glyphosate, triclopyr amine, imazapyr, and aminocyclopyrachlor can be used. Fall is generally the best time for this treatment, but it may be used any time of the year. As with basal bark treatments, this treatment may take a few months to kill privet.