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Cut back the height of the hedge to at least 15cm (6in) below the desired height ; Cut back harder where the upper portions of the hedge are open and patchy ; Mulch and feed in spring to encourage vigorous re-growth ; Allow a full growing season for recovery ; Water well in dry spells in the first growing season following renovation; Hedge laying With flowering shrubs and vigorous non-flowering ones (hawthorn and privet) hedge pruning should begin as soon as the hedge has been planted. See the best equipment to use and know the right time to prune the plants. Loppers are designed for branches up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter; a pruning saw is needed for anything larger. Full Sun or Some Shade – Evergreen Shrub Regular Water. Hand shears may have 6- to 18-inch-long blades to make the job go more quickly, but power shears are useful for large hedges, although they give you less control. The first step in privet hedge pruning is to trim out crossing branches. This allows sunlight to reach the lower part of the hedge. That is, removing damaged branches or opening the interior of the shrub should be done before spring growth begins. Shear the top of the privet along the string line, then shear the face of the hedge down to the bottom in a diagonal downward slope. is an excellent shrub for hedges. Patricia Hamilton Reed has written professionally since 1987. Every time your privets put on a foot of new growth, trim them back 6 inches. Fine Gardening: Ligustrum Vulgare and Cvs. Do this in late winter. Once established, an informal privet hedge – in which individual shrubs keep their natural shape – is pruned after the plant's fragrant white flowers bloom in midspring. 7. To rejuvenate a privet hedge, cut the entire hedge back to within 12 inches (30 cm.) You need to do this so that new lateral branches will grow. National Gardening Association: Annual Growth Rate of Privet Hedge, Purdue University Extension: Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. It is easy to produce a very neat hedge with this. You'll often stand back and realize how wobbly the hedge really looks after doing this! Shear formal privet hedges to about 1 inch above the point where new growth begins and shape them so they're narrower at the top than at the base to allow light to reach all branches. Naturally prolific, they will respond well to efforts to encourage them to grow fast. You’ll need to wear gloves since privet sap causes irritation and rashes. Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) and other invasive privets in the genus Ligustrum are a serious problem for many homeowners, farmers, foresters, and land managers in Alabama.Privet control often seems insurmountable because of its aggressive growth, prolific root and stump sprouting, copious seed production, and widespread seed dispersal by birds and other animals. When cutting into the stem (or ‘pleacher’), you … 2 Find long stems that grow out of hedge, and snip them close to the ground. The formal sentinel hedge says "privacy, please" in a manner far more civilized than a stockade fence. Photo by Nancy Andrews. Laurel - a vigorous evergreen with large waxy leaves. Should I cut the sides back or lower the hedge … The best time to start your privet-pruning regimen is based on the age of the plants. Pruning privet hedges requires some effort, but it is worth the time and energy. Sign up for our newsletter. Privet - a very formal, semi deciduous hedge that requires two or three trims per year. Young privets need pruning from the start to grow full and healthy over the long haul. A fixture of the suburban landscape 50 years ago, fast-growing privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium and L. amurense) remains a fine choice where conditions are right: To thrive, this deciduous shrub requires a temperate climate and a homeowner willing to wield sharp … Reed was editor of the "Grand Ledge Independent" weekly newspaper and a Capitol Hill reporter for the national newsletter "Corporate & Foundation Grants Alert." How to grow a privet hedge – taking privet cuttings. In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to prune a privet hedge. Remove them at their base with loppers. Since you always leave at least an inch of new growth when you prune a privet hedge, it eventually grows taller than you want it to or are able to easily reach, making it a candidate for renovation pruning. It was introduced into the United States in the 1800s as an ornamental plant and later escaped from cultivation. Pruning them back 6 to 8 inches from the ground in early spring as new growth begins promotes branching at the base of the plant and encourages root growth to help new privet shrubs establish themselves in your garden. I have a mature privet hedge which runs north/south and is 80 yard long. You can of course do the job by hand, but a powered hedge trimmer will almost certainly save you time and energy. They bounce right back after pruning and seem to grow back faster and thicker than before. As with young plants, expect to shear privets several times until late summer; every time they grow 6 inches is recommended. She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Michigan State University, is an avid gardener and volunteers at her local botanical garden. Privet is incredibly tough, if you're going to hack a hedge - privet is the one. Privet is an evergreen bush in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Use the electric hedge trimmers to shear the sides and tops of the hedge for a more formal look. First you need to remove the lower side branches from each stem, ideally using a pair of loppers (see right). You should prune juniper bushes in early spring for best results. When Is a Good Time to Prune Nellie Stevens Hollies? Can be hard pruned. Split the application by applying one half of this amount to each side of the hedge, lightly scratch into the soil surface and water it in well. Treat your privet hedge for pests like aphids, scale insects, whiteflies and mites by applying an appropriate insecticide or miticide. We’ll provide tips on cutting back privet. A neat and tidy hedge is a joy to see, but it does need work to achieve that smart finish. But if you plant a hedge, you’ll find that privet hedge pruning is a must. 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. Then get several stakes of that height and plant them in the ground toward the center of the hedge. Privet is tough and easy to propagate. It is important to shape a privet hedge so that the top is narrower than the bottom. The old saw that the best time to prune is when the shears are in your hand is true for common privet hedges (Ligustrum vulgare, USDA zones 5 through 8). When to prune privet by trimming the outside of the hedge? Low-Moderate Once Established We think Ligustrum is the best Hedge we grow. Tie a string between the stakes. Agree with Fairy, keep it watered & even a sprinkling of Fish, Blood & Bone/liquid seaweed will do it no harm if you're apprehensive. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. United Kingdom . I do really like privet as it gives good screening and sparrows like it. To reduce the width prune back one side at a time allowing that side to recover before pruning back the other side of the hedge.In both the cases of yew and privet both can be cut back to the original central stems and will produce new growth from dormant buds in the stem to form a new hedge on that side.Its important once the hedge is cut back to water it well through the spring and summer months and feed … If you are wondering when to prune privet hedges or how to prune a privet hedge, read on. An inherited privet hedge that was poorly pruned and is leggy at the base can also be saved with renovation pruning. An inherited privet hedge that was poorly pruned and is leggy at the base can also be saved with renovation pruning. Privet hedge pruning involves cutting back privet shrubs. Hedge trimmers can offer a greater level of accuracy for this sort of project than can a chain saw. But stop pruning in late summer to avoid encouraging fall growth that may be damaged by cold. Use bypass pruners for this, cutting back each branch to a side branch. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! It is one of those shrubs that make good hedges 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall or taller. How Far Back Can Japanese Boxwoods Be Safely Cut Back? Dense, compact growth habit to 6-9 ft. but can… You can trim leaf-bearing hedges with a chain saw. You’ll also want to keep cutting back privet to remove damaged or dead branches. Note that privets are considered invasive in many areas. Once they get to the height you want trim them in a keystone shape. Deadheading the white flower clusters in late spring can prevent them from going to seed. A privet hedge running along a property border is a classic look. Am not sure either where to cut back first. The very name seems to say "privacy," as if a line of these bushes could form the ideal screen for those seeking a more private setting. 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