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Privet hedge

Greg4Greg4 Posts: 91
in Problem solving
Last spring I planted a new privet hedge, after digging a trench I back filled the plants when in their final position. Through the summer the plants rooted well and showed new growth and pruned as recommended. With the onset of winter the leaves have turned pale in colour with some plants losing their leaves. Have I lost the hedge? Our top soil is rather shallow in parts.
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  • gardenjeanniegardenjeannie Posts: 360

    I agree with Verdun. Once well established, your privet will toughen up and may then become evergreen. It is tough as ould boots! I have an old existing hedge in the back that I half hoped would die after I had fun with a hedgetrimmer. No Chance, it's back stronger than ever.  In my front, an old hedge was removed yrs ago, stumps and all. But one piece kept growing back. The previous occupant tried all ways to kill it. I am now training it into a twisted stem standard tree. It suffers severe pruning, drought in summer (It's roots are near a southfacing wall on very poor, stony soil), and gale force winds every winter. I have taken numerous cuttings to use as topiary, and the young plants all lose thier leaves in the first 2-3 yrs, but have then been mostly evergreen, just losing a few. While young, don't let it dry out in summer, otherwise, neglect it a bit. It should do fine.

  • Greg4Greg4 Posts: 91

    Thanks for your answers both, there's hope yet then?

  • Magical MeerkatMagical Meerkat Posts: 311

    I've just taken a gander at my privet hedge which we dramatically cut back last winter and it dropped all it's leaves looking dead. However in spring it sprang into action and is growing well and bushing out. This winter it's dropped only about half of the leaves and the ones left are multiple shades of yellow, green and purple. I wouldn't worry. I'm sure it will be fine. image

  • Bruce CarruthersBruce Carruthers Posts: 1

    I planted 25 1.5m plants in the summer and i live near the sea on the Isle of man. very wind most of the year around. My bushes are just twigs now. But i believe next spring they will come back to life. fingers crossed. Just leaving them to do their own thing.

  • jbainbridgejbainbridge Posts: 6
    Hello Bruce I’m in the same boat 8 years later  with my young privet hedge plants I planted a couple of years back mine are like twigs this winter after looking good for past two years how’s yours doing now any reinsurance that they’ll be fine would be gratefully 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    @jbainbridge. Your Privet just needs a good cut back to below the height of the fence. It will thicken out and grow very quickly for a cut. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • jbainbridgejbainbridge Posts: 6
    I don’t really want to cut too low as I want it for privacy ,I was going to take off about a foot off the top around February they were doing so well this year here’s a picture below.
  • jbainbridgejbainbridge Posts: 6
    Was wondering could the big storm we had contributed to the leaves falling?or letting them flower as they where covered in flowers and the bugs and insects sucking the life out the leaves?the change in them is very worrying 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,106
    They've most likely suffered from dry conditions, as we said on the other thread. They don't have a lot of width to grow into a broader hedge. The grass will be a major source of competition for moisture. 
    Rough weather doesn't bother privet, nor does flowering/insects    :)
    As @Lyn says though - they'd have benefited from cutting back, which produces better, bushier growth. 
    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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