I want to start a privet hedge this year, but I'm not sure when to trim it.
I want the hedge to be thick all the way down to the ground.I have seen some privet hedges that are thick and square, but also some that have gaps and exposed trunk at the bottom.I don't want this.How should I deal with the fact that privet grows well from cuttings?Should I buy plants from a nursery?How could I make sure there were no gaps at the bottom of the plants I bought?
There is a question and answers message board on the website of the BBC.I am sure you will get the answers you are looking for.
It will grow 2 little sideways shoots from the tip of each shoot that you cut, thus doubling the number of shoots each time you trim it.privet will always grow back to where you cut it, even if this is into bare wood, as it has many dormant buds on its bare stems which will come to life if the green shoots are cut off.You won't want to cut it back that far, but it's worth remembering in the future.If it were my hedge, I would trim it all the way down, removing 3-4 inches of the lead shoots on the sides and the top, so they wouldn't bother you anymore.Keep it well watered and give it a good liquid feed.In a month's time, and a third time at the end of the summer, trim it again.If you want a dense bushy hedge, don't just let it grow upwards.Privet grows very fast but if you don't encourage it to grow dense at the base from the first year, it will be very thin and spindly.It will take a few years to get to the size you want, but will be with you forever.
The only way to make the hedge thick to the bottom is to cut it back so that the new shoots don't grow too far away.
Many people think that they should wait until the bush is the right height before cutting back.The new shoots will always appear near the tip of the branch and the buds further in will not develop so if left to grow un-checked you will get a hollow center and it will grow in height but not thickness.
The bush will grow thick at the base if you cut it hard back each year.You will get the hedge you want after several years of good trimming.
It will take a long time to get a small hedge and a large hedge as privet is not the fastest of growers.
If you want a faster growing hedge, you could try one made of Grissellinia, it's a much faster grower, but the pruning still applies.
People are impatient and have gaps in their hedges.They don't want to wait for the hedge to reach the required height so they let it grow to the height with little care.
You can get good thickness right to the ground if you plant young plants severely.By the time you get to the finished hedge height and width, you'll have eight stems and a mass of stems.
The sun can penetrate to the bottom of the hedge from the sides with the other tip.You get gaps if the plant has no sunlight on parts of the shrub because it can't feed from that area.
You should be able to get the hedge you want from privet if you have adequate water, soil, and drainage.
If you are allergic to flowers, make sure to check to see that it isn't a problem for you or your family.Hope you succeed!
If you want to make a start on your hedge, you should get your plants from a nursery.It will take a few years longer to grow a hedge than it will be if you buy more established plants.
In order to promote an even growth from the base to the top, the initial training of a hedge is essential.
1.Prepare the ground for your hedge.Add well-rotted manure to it.Don't be afraid of it.
2.Purchase your plants.If you buy in bulk, you should get a good discount.Make sure your plants aren't pot-bound by getting bushy, healthy plants.
Feed for another 3 years, top dress with a mulch, and cut them back by one third.The oblique base is the widest point on the sides.I hope this is helpful.
Do you want to hedge or get it now?Garden centres have pots of bare root hedging plants in stock at the moment and are a good buy.There should be about 10 plants in each pot.If the weather stays warm, you can plant bare root plants until March.You would have to buy individual potted plants so that you don't disturb the roots when planting.A double staggered row is needed for a good thick privet hedge plants.Prepare ground by digging and mixing in bone meal or rotted farm manure.Plant the plants the same depth as they were in te pot.mulch with composted barkThey will get a good kick start when they do this now.
A beech hedge is slow to start but once it gets going it is a lovely thick hedge and only needs to be clipped once a year.I hope this helps.cheers