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Poorly privet hedge
Peanuts3
Posts: 759
I went to trim out privet hedge (no risk of nests, it's too rubbish) and have seen th leaves are going yellow and curling under. Any ideas what it might be and how to save it. It is our boundary hedge out the front of our house. It struggles under a massive sweet chestnut but this was always the bushier one compared to the other side of the drive which is under a huge beech tree. Any ideas On what it is and how to treat it. I have put bug spray on and a granular feed just to give it a boost.
Thank you.
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Posts
does anyone have any ideas on this for me ? Thank you.
Possibly an aphid infestation combined with poor growing conditions. A hefty prune down to about 30cm and a good feed might get you going again but growing under major trees is always going to be difficult. Do you ever water the hedge? It shouldn't need it in an open situation but might need help because of the trees sucking up all the moisture.
I have a similar problem, a privet under a big tree.
I did/do the following:
I had the tree thinned out by 30% and its crown reduced by 50% to get more light through to the hedge and garden.
I then severely cut and thinned out the privet hedge.
Lots and lots and lots of regular water and lots and lots of Horse manure and or chicken pellets but stop feeding in late July, early August. Continue watering though until October. As the manure disappears replace it with fresh (3 to 4 times a year).
2yrs later and it's doing well, another 2 it'll be perfect, I hope.
Privet is a thirsty and hungry plant and does well like so many other plants in full sun.
Cut the hedge more often, at least 4 times a year and snip all growing tips longer than 6" at the tip in the spring / early summer that the hedge trimmer misses to encourage more bushy growth.
Last edited: 30 May 2017 10:19:07