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When to prune privet hedge

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  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    Another 6 or 8 inches @JennyJ 😱 I’m not sure my nerves would’ve coped! 
    Thanks @Fairygirl. If it does come back nicely I’ll have to do the front of the hedge which is encroaching on the pavement, but I’ll leave that to next year
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    Just a couple of pics of the privet hedge nicely recovered from its trim. Might take some off it’s height in February to make it more in proportion with the rest of it


  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Looking good! You can be confident to cut it back as hard as you like now that it's demonstrated its capacity to grow back  :)
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2022
    In Feb '21, I said:"any time".  Having experience of privet hedge cutting (came from a town where 95% of hedges were privet).  I would better say: "all the time".

    Your cut-back is just enough.  back a a further foot would have been better (in my opinion).

    What is the hummock on the left?  Is it another privet?  If so removing the taller privet completely would be OK.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    Update on my privet hedge.  I tackled the height this year and reduced it down to fit in with the rest of the hedge. It’s already showing signs of leafing up

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    A great illustration of why privet is such a good hedging plant even though many people don't like it. You could never have done that with most conifer hedging.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 175
    Very true @JennyJ and it looks smart too at the moment.. the new green leaves are so lush and vibrant.  It was quite difficult to cut, had to resort to a combination of loppers, shears and secateurs but it was worth it. Last major cut will be next year as it sticks out into the pavement way too much
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Good stuff @JAC51. It'll be much easier  for you to maintain now   :)
    As @JennyJ says  -the big advantage of it is the fact that you can be quite harsh with it and it comes back.
    I've noticed that all the very badly affected ones around here are starting to get some new growth again. The really mild autumn meant they had new growth until much later in the year, so were affected far more than usual, especially as lots of folk were obviously giving them another late trim. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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