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How to grow a Privet Hedge
In Australia, the privet plant has been on the noxious weed list for quite some time and is unavailable to buy from nurseries. The reason: it grows too well in our conditions and can grow so easily from seed that it is taking over our native Australian plants and kill them.
Each privet plant produces thousands of blue-black berries that are irresistible to birds. They carry them off and wherever the seed falls it will most likely germinate. As the privet is a dense forming plant, the reason we grow them as a hedge, they will block out the sunlight from other plants and eventually smother them.
If you have inherited a privet hedge or you had one growing prior to the privet being registered as a noxious weed the responsible action to take would be to ensure that they are pruned prior to setting seed. If you are hedging your privet already this shouldn't be an onerous task merely part of your current hedge maintenance.
If you want to grow a privet hedge in Australia the species you need to grow is Ligustrum undulatum. This variety doesn't grow berries and is not invasive.
For those who don't live in countries where privets are outlawed read on for how to successfully grow and prune privets as a hedge.
The privet, Ligustrum, is a native of china and comes in a few varieties. The two most popular types are the small-leafed privet, Ligustrum sinense, and the large-leafed privet, Ligustrum lucidum. They both produce spring-flowers that are widely known for causing grief for hayfever sufferers.
How to plant a privet hedge
To plant a privet hedge select at least year-old stock and space them about 30cm (12in) apart and at least 45cm(18in) away from a boundary. To plant them, follow the guidelines in this article watering well.
The best time to plant your privets would be in the spring and this is also a good time to fertilise using a good slow-release fertiliser (sheep manure is ideal). You shouldn't need to mulch the soil as the hedge when it's grown but as it begins to grow this may be helpful for water retention and suppression of weeds.
How to prune your privet hedge
The start of spring is also the ideal time for pruning your hedge. The ideal site to look at in terms of pruning is Purdue University's Department of Horticulture, which gives a 6 year pruning diagram for hedges.
Each year your privet hedge will require pruning after the initial shaping and this can be done easily with a mechanical hedge trimmer or pair of pruning shears.
These articles may also be helpful...
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Comments
Yes, these are invasive here, too, and we have one in our yard. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: nelumbo | May 14, 2006 6:08 AM
Stuart, I have privet popping up all over my block. Can you advise the best way to kill the offshoots quickly please?
(Came here via Australianblogs.com newspage - very good blog you have here!!)
Thanks, GMT
Posted by: genevieve | June 14, 2006 8:26 AM
Genevieve - I'm guessing that the privet you have growing is not Ligustrum undulatum as this is not an invasive privet. If this is the case, I ould seriously consider removing the whole plant or hedge and recreating it with the privet I already mentioned or with something new. Otherwise you will continue to have the same problems every season.
If this is too radical, then try pruning your hedge before the flowers and subsequent berries arrive. This is the cause of the 'offshoots'.
To control the privet seedlings you can mow directly over top of them and this will keep them at bay but won't remove them completely.
Burning top-kills or repeated applications of glyphosate (aka Roundup) during autumn and spring can elimnate them or you could remove them manually.
Hope this is helpful.
Posted by: Stu | June 15, 2006 6:02 AM
Thanks for that. I think it is a privet, a treefeller suggested it was. I will get rid of those berries tout de suite.
Posted by: genevieve | June 16, 2006 2:41 PM
I have a ligustrum hedge about 90 metres long 3 years old and now dying and no one can tell me why is there a disease or insect that could kill this hardy plant that we are not seeing. please help
Posted by: Tresa Quarisa | December 14, 2008 4:58 PM