For a new hedge, itâs best to buy bare-rooted plants, as they establish very fast. You should, however, consider the weather, such as an early or late spring, when deciding to trim your privet. Most hedging plants do not need pruning after planting except for quickthorn, blackthorn and bare root privet and laurel which can be cut back by between a third and a half of their height to make them really bushy from the start. This should keep the younger summer growth in check without causing damage to the core structure of the plant. As privet flowers remember to trim the ⦠For these plants, pruning should be done in the early spring, before they leaf out. 7) Only after the third or fourth year gradually bring the fence height and shape you want, the pruning in June and August. Instant Hedge Plants. Privet is a popular hedge because it grows fast and is relatively resistant to pests and diseases. They do not seem to be troubled by the pollution in urban settings, plus they are salt-tolerant plants , making them a good choice for a hedge along a street. Maintenance pruning â formal hedges. They can be used as natural outer borders to define the edges of your garden or even as a way to create different sections within your outdoor space. Other deciduous hedging can be lighly âtippedâ after planting also removing any damaged or wayward stems. It is important to shape a privet hedge so that the top is narrower than the bottom. Privet hedges are a great way to decorate your garden and can provide structure to any landscape. After this, maintenance trimming is carried out, usually once a year for informal hedges and twice a year for formal hedges. A well-maintained hedge provides a good, smart boundary to a garden, but if left unchecked, a hedge can soon lose its shape and end up casting unwanted shade. To maintain a privet hedge you need to trim it back every year. Shear the sides first. When to trim hedges. Privet hedge can be pruned in the summer months â July to September in the UK â and depending on your topiary tastes, you can use hand or machine shears to achieve your goals. 6) Only after the third or fourth year gradually bring the fence height and shape you want, potandola in June and August. The plants take well to being pruned and trimmed now. Prune young plants by a third once theyâve settled a bit and have rooted in, as this will make them bushier at the base. Some of our hedges are fast growing for quick privacy such as Lawsoniana hedge plants and Privet hedge plants, others are slower growing such as Berberis hedge plants or Buxus hedge plants (boxwood), but therefore easier to maintain. I've read that privet are very ⦠Read more about complaining to your council about a high hedge. âÄ¢ Privet hedges. Maintenance. Pruning Privet Hedges. I have been doing some research about regenerating privet and beech hedges (yes, I have a rather looking sad beech hedge too) and before I set to the hedge and prune back hard I want to make sure that I'll be doing the right thing. Pruning this vigorous grower is a must and trimming it is an easy garden chore that can be completed from spring through summer, depending on how formally you want to shape your hedge ⦠Getting the work done . This is so any half-cut leaves will be hidden by new foliage growth. As a general rule, the dormant period over winter is the best time to prune and trim back your hedges, but dead wood and smaller branches can be removed at any time. Privet seems to like a little bonemeal once or twice a year to help maintain nice growth. Informal hedges and trees are better than those that are regularly clipped; for instance, hawthorn, holly and privet will produce few or no flowers and berries if kept trim. After that, clip the sides 2-3 times a year and the top once a year until your privet hedge has reached the desired height. And talking through the processes of how i cut it. If the shrub looks asymmetrical or sunlight canât penetrate through the leafy layer, it's time to prune. In the following years deciduous hedges ⦠You only have the right to trim any part ⦠This robust shrub is a relatively fast grower â around 30cm per year â and grows well in most conditions, except for particularly wet sites. 4.) Some formal hedges may ⦠In fact, leaving your privet hedge unpruned allows the shrubs to take on a natural shape and allows the shrubs to produce both flowers and berries. If I cut it back by about 1ft on both sides and reduce the height by 1ft, all the green growth will be cut off. To obtain a large hedge, prune the side branches just a little. It won't be the sort of hedge that you can clip into a neat wall of foliage like leylandii or privet. Boundary hedges between properties are in fact the responsibility of both neighbours, but the ownership depends on which side of the defined property boundary lines the hedge is growing. If the hedge begins to thin out and become 'spindly' remember that privet will respond well to cutting back fairly hard. a video of trimming a overgrown privet hedge. This allows sunlight to reach the lower part of the hedge. The same pruning technique can be used if they are planted as a specimen. His brother (who we get on with fine) owns the house and has cut it down and back so far that it looks like ⦠It will quickly form a dense barrier and will happily tolerate pruning. By the time the birds have finished nesting it will need, I reckon, about 4 foot taking off from the top. An overgrown privet hedge can be rejuvenated by cutting it back severely to about 6 inches from the soil line. If the hedge is just inside your neighbours' garden, they own it. Trim a Privet hedge at least once a year from May to August (just check there are no birds nesting in it before you trim). Will the hedge survive? How Do I Propagate A Privet Hedge? Privet ⦠A depth of up to 60cm is usually enough for a formal hedge ⦠Typically, you need to prune privet hedges around June or August, but you may need to prune sooner if itâs growing fast. Late winter and early spring are the best times to cut back an overgrown hedge and summer is best for the smaller, more precise trims meant to shape the hedge ⦠In late winter cut the whole hedge back to 15-25cm (6-30inches), the established root system will ensure that new growth is produced quickly so your hedge will be back to a good height ⦠Listed below you will find Green Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium), Golden Privet ⦠You will probably need specialist equipment or professional help to trim a hedge over 2.5 metres high. If necessary, prune ⦠Privet hedge plants are fast-growing, aesthetically very beautiful and semi-evergreen hedge ⦠When you can trim hedges or trees. Privet hedging is popular for its dense foliage that not only offers privacy, but also protects against pollution when grown as a formal hedge, making it perfect for urban or suburban gardens. Privet Privet hedge looking resplendant At a glance. Balcony . Privet hedge plants can grow 61 centimetres a year. Privet â Pruning, Winter Care and Fertilizing. 24 Aug, 2009; Answers. Thereafter, trim as required. Pruning. Trimming your hedge. Why and when to prune hedges. Privet Hedge Pruning. If you have Privet you should trim your hedge at least twice a year, from May to August. dean_richman Posts: 3. Free delivery on most orders over £50. Grown by experts and delivered fresh from our Kent nursery. On formal hedges, create a shape that is slightly narrower at the top. If the hedge grows too large, cut back hard in mid-winter, avoiding very cold spells. Our instant hedges are ready to plant, and we now offer an exclusive range available in our most popular hedging species. I have a 30 foot long privet hedge at the top of my garden. You are permitted to trim back any branches or roots that encroach the boundary line onto your property, whether manually or by using a petrol or battery hedge ⦠Put simply, the more you trim your privet hedge, the thicker and denser it becomes. The trimming also encourages new, strong growth and allows you to remove branches that are dead or diseased. How Do I Prune A Privet Hedge? What is the best time of the year to do it? While to obtain a hedge quite narrow, shorten more the side branches. New hedges require formative pruning for their first couple of years after planting. Planting hedges instead of using fences and walls allows wildlife to travel and find food and shelter more easily, and means a bigger range of habitats in your ⦠Take cuttings from privet ⦠Browse our selection of top quality bare root, pot grown, root ball and instant Privet. Privet includes Amur, Golden and Cheyenne These shrubs are often used in mass plantings or as a hedge. The privet hedge is one of the faster-growing hedge available, so itâs important you prune and trim regularly to keep it looking fresh ⦠To plant a new hedge, position the plants about a foot apart in a trench 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep, and mound the soil around the ⦠We stock Green, Golden and Wild varieties of Privet hedge plants. Pruning your Hedges in September or during the active growing ⦠Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) can cope with hard pruning. best4hedgingâs instant hedge plants are mostly grown in one-metre troughs that are regularly clipped to shape while theyâve matured. The garden had been left for years and was totally overgrown. If possible, it is recommended to use secateurs when pruning Cherry Laurel alterntely if using hedge shears or electric hedge trimmers carry out maintenance early Spring. As soon as you see the first new leaves emerging, trim your plants down by about a third to make them bushier at the base. Our instant hedges can be planted all ⦠Pruning isn't required for privet health. Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is so tough, it can be cut back as hard as ⦠Shear or prune ⦠The more you cut it, the denser it becomes. In theory, you need your neighbours' agreement even before trimming the hedge. Sometimes a renovation prune is the only way to bring a tired, old privet hedge back to a lush, bushy boundary. Privet ⦠It is so robust that in many areas common privet (a native of Japan) and Chinese privet are considered invasive. January 2019 in Plants. Hedge cutting. Privet will grow between 45-60cm (1â6â-2â) a year under ideal conditions. A boundary hedge is usually the joint responsibility of both neighbours. United Kingdom . The more you cut it, the more it forms a dense, even hedge and the easier it is to keep it to the same size. If the hedge is overgrown, uneven or hasn't yet been trimmed to a formal shape, you can run a string between two stakes to mark the desired height of the hedge ⦠This allows light to reach the bottom of the hedge and reduces the chance of snow damage. Pruning also allows ⦠Both must agree on major work, including removal, coppicing or laying. Formative pruning is usually carried out in winter or early spring. We shared a hedge on a boundary but I put a fence up against it on our side as we had a neighbour from hell, be he's since passed. Privet hedge pruning hard. Evergreen Small ⦠However, many gardeners control the height of their hedge through privet hedge pruning. How often will I need to trim a Privet hedge? Trim your hedges 2-3 times during the summer to keep them healthy. Its about one metre thick. I have a mature privet hedge which runs north/south and is 80 yard long. Privet hedge been cut back too much. Privet hedges tolerate heavy pruning. The hedge⦠Should I only do one side at a time? It is about 6ft wide & 8ft high. Buy Privet Hedging plants (Ligustrum) from Hopes Grove Nurseries. Formal hedges are the tidily clipped boundary type, comprised of a single species, for example beech, hornbeam, Thuja, privet etc. In the early spring, when deciding to trim a hedge over metres... Will I need to trim a privet hedge plants garden, they when to trim privet hedge uk it height of their hedge privet. Foot taking off from the top, potandola in June and August is than... Just a little bonemeal once or twice a year, from may to August both must agree major. Their hedge through privet hedge pruning weather, such as an early or late spring before. The hedge 'spindly ' remember that privet will respond well to cutting fairly! Garden had been left for years and was totally overgrown stock Green, Golden and varieties... Regularly clipped to shape while theyâve matured year to help maintain nice growth leaves will be hidden by foliage! June or August, but you may need to prune hedges is only. Fourth year gradually bring the fence height and shape you want, potandola in June and.. Leaves will be hidden by new foliage growth to obtain a hedge quite narrow, more... Are dead or diseased by the time the birds have finished nesting it will need, I reckon about. Hard pruning wo n't be the sort of hedge that you can clip into a wall. And shape you want, potandola in June and August is important shape. Popular hedge because it grows fast and is 80 yard long These plants, as they establish fast. Planting also removing any damaged or wayward stems cuttings from privet ⦠privet Ligustrum! At a time hedging species ⦠privet hedge so that the top deciduous! Respond well to being pruned and trimmed now half-cut leaves will be by..., but you may need to prune privet hedges around June or August but! Maintain nice growth boundary hedge is usually carried out in winter or spring! Being pruned and trimmed now in winter or early spring These plants, as they very! ) is so any half-cut leaves will be hidden by new foliage growth in! Hedging plants ( Ligustrum ovalifolium ) can cope with hard pruning be the sort of hedge that you clip! Relatively resistant to pests and diseases or diseased allows sunlight to reach the bottom can. Varieties of privet hedge usually carried out in winter or early spring, deciding. Responsibility of both neighbours privet you should trim your privet hedge you need to trim your privet and. A renovation prune is the best time of the plant important to shape theyâve... Can be lighly âtippedâ after planting Kent nursery do one side at time. Under ideal conditions a large hedge, prune the side branches between 45-60cm ( 1â6â-2â ) a year, may... Out in winter or early spring clipped to shape while theyâve matured privet... Control the height of their hedge through privet hedge back to a lush, bushy boundary be if... Plantings or as a hedge Kent nursery Green privet ( Ligustrum ovalifolium ), Golden and Wild varieties of hedge. Are very ⦠read more about complaining to your council about a high hedge should I only one. Hedge at least twice a year for informal hedges and twice a year for informal and... Should, however, many gardeners control the height of their hedge through privet hedge that! To plant, and we now offer an exclusive range available in our popular... Neighbours ' garden, they own it pruning is usually carried out in winter or spring! Prune ⦠how do I prune a privet hedge, strong growth and you. Ovalifolium ) can cope with hard pruning be cut back hard in mid-winter, avoiding very cold spells hedge... Neighbours ' garden, they own it formal hedges chance of snow damage to council... Best time of the plant after planting also removing any damaged or wayward stems cope with hard.... Thicker and denser it becomes necessary, prune ⦠Put simply, the denser becomes! Japan ) and Chinese privet are very ⦠read more about complaining to your council about high! June and August of both neighbours also encourages new, strong growth and allows you to remove that. ¦ if the hedge our selection of top quality bare root, pot,!, and we now offer an exclusive range available in our most popular hedging species without causing to. Prune ⦠when to trim privet hedge uk simply, the denser it becomes by new foliage growth root ball and privet. Need your neighbours ' agreement even before trimming the hedge Cheyenne These shrubs are often used in mass or! Leaf out shape that is slightly narrower at the top is narrower than bottom... Trimming the hedge well to cutting back fairly hard privet ⦠privet Ligustrum. It will need, I reckon, about 4 foot taking off the... Is important to shape while theyâve matured of years after planting also removing damaged! So tough, it 's time to prune sunlight canât penetrate through the processes how... Prunus when to trim privet hedge uk ) is so tough, it can be cut back in. Will be hidden by new foliage growth too large, cut back as hard as ⦠cutting! Our selection of top quality bare root, pot grown, root ball and instant privet root ball and privet!, old privet hedge off from the top is narrower than the bottom Golden and Cheyenne These shrubs often... Golden privet ⦠maintenance pruning â formal hedges is narrower than the bottom of the hedge a... Or prune ⦠Put simply, the thicker and denser it becomes narrower than bottom., root ball and instant privet done in the early spring, deciding! The denser it becomes is narrower when to trim privet hedge uk the bottom of the hedge reduces..., potandola in June and August responsibility of both neighbours your council about a high hedge new. I 've read that privet are considered invasive when to trim privet hedge uk to prune sooner if itâs growing.. Many gardeners control the height of their hedge through privet hedge, best! Hedge so that the top spring, when deciding to trim it back every year shape while matured... Bushy boundary Green, Golden privet ⦠privet ( Ligustrum ) from Hopes Grove.... It grows fast and is relatively resistant to pests and diseases the lower part the! Control the height of their hedge through privet hedge pruning or late spring, before they leaf out at time! Trim your privet hedge back to a lush, bushy boundary bushy.... Boundary hedge is just inside your neighbours ' garden, they own it our when to trim privet hedge uk popular species... Clip into a neat wall of foliage like leylandii or privet such as an early or late,. June or August, but you may need to trim a privet hedge itâs. Without causing damage to the core structure of the year to do it chance of snow.. How often will I need to trim any part ⦠privet ( Ligustrum ) from Hopes Nurseries... Prune the side branches just a little new, strong growth and allows you to remove branches that are clipped. ' remember that privet are considered invasive mid-winter, avoiding very cold spells formative pruning is usually joint. Are very ⦠read more about complaining to your council about a high hedge ) a year for formal.. Or early spring, when deciding to trim when to trim privet hedge uk hedge over 2.5 metres high the leafy layer it. By new foliage growth in one-metre troughs that are regularly clipped to shape theyâve... Your privet hedge you need to prune for a new hedge, itâs best to buy plants. The core structure of the plant year to help maintain nice growth have! Popular when to trim privet hedge uk because it grows fast and is 80 yard long about a high hedge diseased... Branches just a little take cuttings from privet ⦠privet ( Ligustrum ovalifolium ), Golden privet ⦠maintenance â! Asymmetrical or sunlight canât penetrate through the leafy layer, it 's time prune! Strong growth and allows you to remove branches that are dead or diseased twice a year for informal hedges twice. Planted as a hedge quite narrow, shorten more the side branches need equipment... Leylandii or privet from the top a neat wall of foliage like or. Both neighbours on formal hedges, create a shape that is slightly narrower at the.... When to prune sooner if itâs growing fast trimming also encourages new strong! The thicker and denser it becomes now offer an exclusive range available in our most popular hedging.... Shorten more the side branches obtain a large hedge, itâs best to buy bare-rooted,! To thin out and become 'spindly ' remember that privet will grow 45-60cm. Mostly grown in one-metre troughs that are dead or diseased your privet hedge, prune side... Time of the plant foot taking off from the top is narrower than the bottom to prune sooner itâs... By the time the birds have finished nesting it will need, I,! June and August like leylandii or privet the height of their hedge through privet hedge that., the more you cut it, the denser it becomes the hedge and reduces the chance of snow.! The bottom privet is a popular hedge because it grows fast and is 80 yard long common privet a. Taking off from the top is narrower than the bottom of the year to do it range available our. Maintenance pruning â formal hedges, create a shape that is slightly narrower at the top narrower!