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Leggy privet

dylan.hughestHvqweHydylan.hughestHvqweHy Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hi my new privet i bought for a hedge arrived yesterday but is very leggy and bare apart from the top. They are approx 1m. Will the bottoms bush out or what can i do to encourage the bottom to sprout new growth.
Thanks
Dylan

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I would refuse them if they’re all like that.
    just cuttings the tops out will only promote growth at the cut,  I wouldn’t like to say what to do with that one.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're far worse than the ones on the other thread you posted on.
    I agree with @Lyn. They're poor specimens.  You'll struggle to get growth lower down on those. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • dylan.hughestHvqweHydylan.hughestHvqweHy Posts: 3
    Thanks for the advice Lyn 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    If they were mine,  and I’m not giving you advice on this,  but if I couldn’t return them I would get them in the ground as quick as possible and cut them down to 30cms,  that would cut all the green off and they would shoot out from the bottom,  I won’t advise you to do that though as it sounds an horrendous thing to do.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • parrotfeather*parrotfeather* Posts: 188
    I think you should send them back if you can because the bare stems are more suitable for pleaching than hedging...but if you can get them in the ground and growing healthily you could do as Lyn suggests and cut them down.  Privet is amazingly robust and if you water and feed it regularly it will sprout quickly and make a decent hedge soon.  We inherited a very old, leggy and gappy privet hedge years ago and cut it right down to the ground.  We fed it with some garden compost and rotted manure, watered it well and were pleasantly surprised by the speed of growth.  It is now a dense and healthy hedge.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    Privet was made for the quote 'tough as old boots'.
    Southampton 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree that you can cut them back hard, and I would also do as @Lyn describes, but it's a different thing entirely when you're advising someone else to do that, rather than doing it to your own plants. It would be better to return them if possible.
    I've done it to hedges in the past without any problem   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Thank you for the back up folks,  it’s difficult to advise people on the drastic action you would do yourself. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If they can't be returned for a refund I would do what @Lyn said, chop them back to about a foot. They are very poor specimens particularly if you've paid a premium price for that height.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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