Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Privet hedge slowly dying?

ClareannesouthClareannesouth Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hello, 
My first discussion on here and hope anyone can help! I've noticed over a period of time that there's lots of Web like residue over parts of the privet hedges and where these are the privet is bare as the leaves seem to be either eaten or destroyed. It's quite prevalent now and worried about the health of the hedge. It's been there for well over 50years an have like I mentioned noticed this for a while now. 
«1

Posts

  • ClareannesouthClareannesouth Posts: 7
    Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated thank you!!! 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I think it might be honey fungus. Privet is very susceptible. 
    Devon.
  • ClareannesouthClareannesouth Posts: 7
    Hi, that's what I dread as I read its a BIG undertaking to solve... 😔
    Was hoping something like a parasite... 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited January 2019
    I'm afraid I'd have to say you can't "solve" it. Once you've got it in the ground, you're stuck with  it. 
    google: plants resistant to honey fungus and just aim for those
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/honey-fungus-host-list.pdf
    Devon.
  • ClareannesouthClareannesouth Posts: 7
    It has just come to mind that since around September I saw a number of mushrooms growing in the lawn which hasn't happened before... I hand picked them an threw away in rubbish bin... Will that be of any relevance ?
    I can only imagine it will only get worse if it is left. My whole perimeter is privet and is in various places all the way around.... To remove all affected hedge it will all be gone.... 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I think we may have the same problem on an old privet hedge, in that bits seem to be dying off and the problem has been mentioned on this forum quite frequently these last few months. I'm wondering whether the long hot summer had anything to do with it, although you'd think a fungus would prefer wet weather. My solution, which does take a bit of patience was to weave and tie together strands of the "good" hedge each side of the dead bits, so they kind of knitted across and bridged the gap.  This may of course only be a temporary solution - only time will tell. I think also that a lot of these older privet hedges are just naturally coming to the end of their lives and we may all have to bite the bullet soon and replace them. You could always try replacing the dead plants with one of honey fungus resistant plants and gradually replace your hedge that way. It might look a bit odd at first but cheaper than replacing a long length in one go.  
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I fear  that if it is honey fungus, and it looks that way, it'll not be long , a season or two before the whole thing is a goner.
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    That's interesting Hostafan, perhaps ours is not honey fungus after all. We had maybe a 4-5 ft stretch right at the end of the hedge which died about 10 years ago, which I replaced with more young privet plants. These really struggled to survive but are now are doing okayish.  We then had another bit die off further up and now some more - all behind a new garage we had built some years ago which may have had something to do with it? I didn't realize honey fungus was so quick. I hope Clare and I don't really have to replace our hedges - it would be so expensive.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    There are some suggestions on this website to help identify honey fungus on privet. Try the bark test/smell.
    Fingers x'ed for you both

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ClareannesouthClareannesouth Posts: 7
    Truth be told I'd be guttered if it was fungus as its on a number of privet trees (for want of the technical term!) it's on all three sides, the right dude being the worst... Like I said there's the Web like substance over the area where there is no longer any leaves. Looking back on old photos it's was lush, now bare patches an barren. It would be a big undertaking and doubt I can manage it 🙁 I will look on said site to do a scratch n sniff test....!! Thanks for your kind responses! 
Sign In or Register to comment.