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Privet hedge hard prune

DYLDYL Posts: 67
in Problem solving

I have a section of privet hedge in my garden which is actually my neighbours. It has grown quite thick and I have lost my border for planting below it. I do really like privet as it gives good screening and sparrows like it.

My question is, if I hard prune my side maybe removing 12-18" will it green back up in the spring/summer? I don't want to do this if it's like conifers and will stay woody!

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    No it's not like conifers, a good cut back will do it the world of good.  At the same time clear our dead leaves and weeds etc from the base of the hedge and in February give it a feed of Fish Blood & Bone ... it'll be very grateful and reward you with lots of new leaves.  

    Don't forget to cut it on an angle, slightly wider at the bottom than the top, to get plenty of light to the lower part of the hedge, that way new shoots will be stimulated from lower down and it won't have that rather 'bare legged' look. image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360

    My parents did that, with a hedge that had been nicely maintained but never cut hard back in over 30 years. Then some drunk people decided it would be a good idea to repeatedly jump into it one night, so it was really damaged and lumpy. They bit the bullet, cut it back hard, it looked TERRIBLE to start with but once it returned looked the best it ever had. Maybe the late night shenanigans did them a favour image.

    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150

    I agree, overgrown privet can take a really hard prune. I had one that was chopped down to foot high stumps while I was at work,  I cried when I saw it image, but it grew back much better image.  Keeping up with regular trimming keeps it nice and dense now.

    Go for it ?

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527

    I would cut it early spring, you will be looking at a very bare ugly edge for the next 5-6 months if you do it now 

    Last edited: 25 October 2017 12:25:02

  • Cottage CompostCottage Compost Posts: 496

    I'd wait now until February early March otherwise you'll be looking at a mess all winter.  Cut it back beyond where you want it to grow back too and feed it.

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