Brief Guide On How To Grow Privet Hedges

When it comes to diversifying the landscape in your garden, evergreen hedges can make a fine accent. Ligustrum plants, also known as privets, tolerate a wide range of conditions and are among the easiest shrubs and small trees to grow. Because of their versatility and undemanding nature, they are used extensively in home landscapes. Plant them as hedges, foundation plants, patio trees or in shrub borders or just as screens ensuring a bit of intimacy on your back terraces. Let’s learn more about how to grow privet hedges and their care.

The shrub is native to East Asia but can now tolerate any climate, hence its versatility in being a decorative plant of choice for public spaces. It is important to know for a start that the privet hedges are little demanding when it comes to the soil type, even though it develops ideally in a drained loose one. It is also a drought and frost resistant plant, but it is good to know it can keep its foliage over the winter if the temperatures don’t go below 0. More specifically, the foliage is unaffected unless temperatures go below 5 degrees Celsius, but the plant does fine even when they drop to -10 degrees, even though it loses the foliage. Anyway, from -10 degrees below there’s a risk of root freezing. Also, don’t plant them near roadways that are treated with salt in the winter or on ocean-front property where the foliage is likely to be sprayed with salt.

The shrub thrive in full sun or partial shade, but planting it in a dense shade area will lead to weak plants with a rare foliage. It also does very well in a humid atmosphere which helps it grow a thick and healthy dark green foliage and even more flower buds. The shrub needs watering in spring before leaves pop out or in the severe drought, otherwise the plant is content with the amount of rain water it gets.

Plating is recommended to be done during the vegetative dormancy or stagnation stage, in spring or fall, when the soil is not frozen and temperatures do not go below 5 degrees Celsius. To get a fine looking thick hedge, horticulturists recommend planting five seedling per every meter. They do not need chemical fertilizers, but you can help them grow more vigorous and thicker by sing organic fertilizers every two years. Prune to control the height and prevent the plant from overreaching its bounds. Privets tolerate severe pruning.