If the privet gets curled leaves in the spring, the garden owner must assume that a pest has infested the shrub or hedge. Why do the leaves curl up and how dangerous is that for the privet?
Curled leaves are an indication of aphid infestation
Privet - leaves curl up
The problem of privet leaves curling, drying up and eventually falling off occurs primarily in spring.
The sight is not very pretty, but you don't have to worry that the privet is suffering from a serious illness. The cause is a pest infestation by the privet aphid.
Healthy privet hedges can cope quite well with an infestation on their own. So you don't necessarily have to do anything as long as the privet aphid does not appear in epidemics.
Control privet aphid
If the pest infestation is very severe, you can try to use special pesticides. It is even better if you rely on natural enemies of the louse, ladybugs and lacewings.
Usually, however, the spook is over after a few weeks and the privet drives out new, healthy leaves.
Cut off affected shoots
If you are very bothered by the sight of the rolled, withered leaves, cut off all affected shoots generously. Privet also tolerates severe pruning without any problems.
Do not throw the trimmings in the compost, but dispose of them in the household waste. This also applies to the fallen leaves, which you should rake up and put in the dustbin.
It can hardly be prevented
The curling up of the leaves of the privet by an infestation of the privet aphid can hardly be prevented. Make sure the shrub is healthy. Do not plant the privet in the hedge too densely and thin out the bushes regularly:
- ensure a balanced supply of nutrients
- Don't let the privet dry out
- Avoid waterlogging
- Thin out plants regularly
- do not plant too densely in the hedge
In the case of very nutrient-poor soils, you should apply additional fertilization from compost and horn shavings (€32.93). This strengthens the privet so that it can overcome the infestation without any problems.
tips
If the privet loses its leaves in autumn and winter, this is a natural process. The shrub is not evergreen. In the spring the foliage will sprout again.