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Problems with a new privet hedge

jackie.lyalljackie.lyall Posts: 14
in Problem solving
I planted a new ligustrum hedge last summer.  Most of the plants seemed fine until a few weeks ago the leaves started to go purple and now are turning brown.  I have over 500 plants so don’t want to lose them. I have sprinkled bone meal in the soil but packaging says not to use until April. Is there a possibility it’s honey fungus or just a lack of nutrition??

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think it’s just the effect of winter on young plants ... although we tend to think of privet as evergreen it can sometimes lose its leaves in winter, depending on conditions. 

    Dont feed them now ... they’re dormant and don’t need it. I’d feed with fish, blood and bone when they start back into leaf in the spring. 

    And dont worry ... my bet is that they’ll be fine  as long as they didn’t dry out last summer  :) 

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





  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I agree with Dove, most privet hedges look scraggy over the winter, which is nothing to worry about. In the spring they should start greening up and then you can feed them.

    By the way, if that is bonemeal accidentally sprinkled over the leaves, I would wash it off.  When you feed the hedge in spring, you need to pull away any mulch/debris and sprinkle on the exposed soil about a foot around the stem.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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