Privet Shrubs, Bushes&Hedges

Questions and Answers About Privet Hedges

The privet bush, whose botanical name is Ligustrum, grows as high as six metres tall, so it can also be considered a small tree. There are many types of privets, including the Chinese, Common, and Amur. Because it grows quickly and is easy to take care of, the privet is often used as a hedge.

The privet hedge growth rate is notorious for its rapidity. Privet hedge plants can grow 61 centimetres a year. However, many gardeners control the height of their hedge through privet hedge pruning. The plants take well to being pruned and trimmed now. The trimming also encourages new, strong growth and allows you to remove branches that are dead or diseased. Pruning also allows air to circulate around the plants. Not only does the privet plant grow quickly, but the seeds germinate readily. Bare root privet hedge plants and cheap privet hedge plants are easy to find. You can easily buy an affordable privet hedge for sale on eBay.

Privet hedge cuttings are easy to grow. The plants are not fussy about soil and can tolerate some drought. Privet hedge planting is best done in the fall in warmer climates and in the spring in cooler climates. Experts recommend that the plants be spaced about 31 centimetres apart. They do best in full sun and when they are watered regularly. Privet hedges blossom in the summer, and the flowers attract bees and other pollinators in great numbers.

The characteristics of a privet hedge include:

• Attractive foliage: The privet has narrow, oval leaves that are about 3.81 cm long.
• They are deciduous: This means many privets drop their leaves in the fall, though some varieties are evergreen in warmer climates.
• Attractive flowers: In the summer, the privet produces off-white flowers borne in panicles that are about 5.08 cm long.
• Berries attract birds: The flowers are followed by small, black berries that are eaten by birds.

The plants that make up a privet hedge are hardy. They are resistant to deer and don't mind the salt spray that comes from being planted near the ocean. Their tolerance for pollution makes them a favourite in urban gardens and parks. Privets are also resistant to diseases and pests that usually attack other outdoor plants.