Fast growth, robust cutting tolerance and evergreen foliage make privet the ideal hedge plant. Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is hardy as a native wild species and gives us the 'Atrovirens' variety, the undisputed favorite for the perfect privet hedge. Oval-leaved privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) inspires with the most beautiful foliage for the formal hedge in locations with mild winters. In this tutorial you will learn everything you need to know about trimming a privet hedge.

Between March and September only small beauty cuts are allowed

Table of Contents

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  1. Types of cuts and dates
  2. plant cutting
  3. build-up cut
  4. topiary
  5. taper cut
  6. Conservation cut as bee pasture
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. When and how is it cut? - Types of cuts and deadlines in a nutshell

    In creative garden design, the privet hedge has emerged as a premium solution for representative enclosures. In all sunny to shady locations with normal garden soil, the deciduous shrubs form a decorative room divider, flank the entrance gate as a green wall or are useful as a privacy screen. Annual pruning guarantees that the hedge will grow nice and thick and bushy. If you note the following cutting types and dates on the care plan, the privet hedge becomes a successful gardening project:

    cut type aim Appointment Option I Appointment option II Appointment Option III
    plant cutting dense branching at the base after planting the following spring (February) none
    build-up cut compact growth and dense foliage February to early March late June to mid-July mid to late August
    topiary neat appearance February to early March late June to mid-July mid to late August
    taper cut revitalize old privet hedge November to February none none
    Conservation cut bee pasture Preserve vitality and willingness to bloom February to early March none none

    Modern research results have redefined the best time for hedge trimming. For a long time, St. John's Day (June 24) was considered the ideal date for central pruning of deciduous and coniferous hedges. Several years of trials by the Saxon State Horticultural Institute have demonstrated the benefits of pruning in February. Your privet hedge will grow denser and more compact if you mid to late February reach for the hedge trimmer (77.00 €) for the first time. end of June and mid to end of August two time windows open for light care cuts, which focus on this year's growth.

    Plant pruning instructions - start to the perfect privet hedge

    You can plant a privet hedge made from inexpensive, bare-rooted goods from October to March. The young plants usually have a strong central shoot and several, weaker side branches. A plant cut is aimed at better branching in the lower area. Inexperienced house gardeners have serious scruples about this radical measure, because the clippings were paid for at the same time. If you don't cut the plants, you will struggle with a bare hedge base in the long run. How to do a skilful pruning on the day of planting:

    • Stretch cords along the freshly planted privet hedge as a guide
    • Cut young bushes in half on all sides
    • side branches in trapezoidal shape intersect with a narrow crown and broader base

    on the Plant cut effect you should also rely if you Potware use for your new privet hedge. The pruning can be done on the better branched young bushes in the container one third be reduced in length. The weaker the side shoots, the stronger the cutting scope. In this early phase of cutting care, the trapezoidal shape, which will later be so important, is at least roughly defined. If a wide hedge base tapers towards the crown, the upper parts of the branches cannot shade the lower shoots.

    A vigorous pruning after planting gets the branching going. Cut back all shoots by half.

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    Sap accumulation causes the shoots to sprout

    The high importance of plant pruning for the perfect privet hedge is based on a close connection between sap pressure and growth. In a privet, the juices with important nutrients in their luggage always strive upwards. The top bud receives the greatest sap pressure so that it grows towards the light as quickly as possible. The deeper a bud is positioned, the weaker the juice pressure and resulting growth. The law applies equally to a bush as a whole and to each individual shoot. After planting, cut off the top buds of the shoots, the remaining buds will benefit from the increased juice pressure and will sprout vigorously. The more buds are removed, the stronger the sprouting from the remaining eyes.

    Pruning technique on buds perfects the plant pruning

    For an exemplary plant cutting we recommend a clean, freshly sharpened one One-hand secateurs. At this stage of trimming, manual two-handed and motorized hedge trimmers are far too big. It is up to your individual judgment whether you use bypass or anvil scissors. Correct pruning is more important for exemplary plant pruning. That is how it goes:

    • Look for an opposing pair of leaves or buds on each shoot
    • Position the scissors at a slight angle a few millimeters above the chosen cutting point
    • Do not cut into the leaves or buds and do not leave a stub larger than 5 millimeters

    A competent pruning of the plant undoubtedly takes more time than if you briskly and imprecisely shorten all the young shoots. Follow the recommended one Pruning technique on buds, the additional effort results in a vital budding at the base of the plant with a lasting effect, as the growth law of top support teaches us. At the same time, there are no long shoot stumps above the cutting points, which dry out and serve as a target for pathogens.

    Construction pruning instructions - step by step to a magnificent hedge

    In the first few years, trimming a privet hedge is characterized by a gradual build-up. On the way to the desired final height, the growth in height is deliberately throttled for an optimal one Distribution of the sap flow on all branches and buds. A cut twice a year is recommended for weaker-growing privet species. Fast-growing common privet and its varieties benefit from pruning three times during the build-up phase. How to grow a densely branched and richly leafed privet hedge:

    • Stretch cords along the course of the hedge as a guide for the advantageous trapezoidal shape
    • Include the hedge crown, side surfaces and flanks in the cut
    • Trim so that 10 centimeters remain from the previous growth

    The figure below illustrates the step-by-step build-up cut of a privet hedge. Undoubtedly, the recommended course of action will require years of patience. It is important to slow down the sap pressure with every pruning and to force it into the side shoots, which are criminally neglected by nature in uncut shrubs. By directing the flow of sap to these shrub regions, your privet hedge will thrive as an opaque green wall.

    A vigorous pruning after planting gets the branching going. Cut back all shoots by half.

    Shape cutting instructions - this is how the accurate hedge cut succeeds

    When the final height is reached, the maintenance of the cut leads to a regular shape cut. The main deadline is in February, because at this time pruning can be carried out to any desired extent, including clearing deadwood. Optionally, cut back the current growth on your privet hedge on St. John's Day and at the end of August for an accurate appearance for the rest of the year. From the beginning of September, no more pruning should be done so that privet branches mature before winter. How to do it right:

    • To maintain a conical hedge shape, stretch strings or set up wooden slats
    • Initially cut back the crown of the hedge, if necessary from a stable, stable ladder
    • Trim the sides and flanks of the hedge either from bottom to top or vice versa
    • In February, also use scissors or a saw to thin out dead wood and inward-facing shoots

    When trimming the hedge sides and flanks, choose a position that gives you a view of the uncut foliage and provides orientation. You can achieve a smooth cut without dents with an electric hedge trimmer, which you guide parallel to the surface with your arms stretched out and out of your shoulders. Trim the crown of the hedge with slight swinging movements from behind. Bent arms leave a more uneven cut.

    Trim your hedge in spring and summer. Strong-growing privet varieties remain beautiful well into winter after a last topiary in August.

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    Cutting with muscle power or machine power?

    With 5 to 6 centimeters long leaves, privet is in the lower midfield of popular hedge shrubs in terms of leaf size. The adverse effect of mechanically operated hedge trimmers, such as when cutting cherry laurel, is not to be feared on a privet hedge. Privet leaves are small enough not to get caught between the cutter bars and shredded. Furthermore, the extremely flexible shoots make cutting with an automatic hedge trimmer child's play. For cutting a large hedge more than 10 meters long, the motorized hedge trimmer is effective, energy-saving and time-saving. You can cut smaller privet hedges either by hand or with the help of electric hedge trimmers.

    Rejuvenation cut instructions - this is how the green restoration succeeds

    An old, aged privet hedge doesn't mind a radical rejuvenation cut. On the contrary, vigorous pruning is rewarded with vigorous growth of young shoots. The floral masterpiece succeeds because privet has numerous sleeping eyes. The dormant buds are rarely visible to the naked eye and act as an iron reserve for lost parts of the plant. By putting a privet hedge on the stick, you activate dormant eyes and revitalize the shrubs. How to do it:

    • The best time is a frost-free, overcast day in late winter between January and the end of February
    • Examine the privet hedge carefully for overwintering animals and postpone the appointment if necessary
    • Cut or saw off all dead shoots at the beginning
    • Cut back remaining branches by half to two-thirds

    After a rejuvenation cut, fertilize the hedge shrubs with three liters of compost and 100 grams of horn shavings (€32.93) per square meter. Exactly at the beginning of the vegetation period, strong growth sets in, which you accompany with a perennial pruning.

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    The Federal Nature Conservation Act has the last word when it comes to cutting

    The situation of our 248 native breeding bird species has deteriorated dramatically since the late 1990s. Previously widespread songbirds such as tree pipits or goldfinches are now threatened. With a view to the impending "silent spring", the Federal Nature Conservation Act specifies strict regulations for pruning. A radical cut, such as putting on a stick, tapering or thinning out, is allowed from October 1st to February 28th. With the beginning of the breeding season on March 1st, a summer grace period begins, which prohibits pruning of bushes and hedges until September 30th. Slight grooming cuts are permitted, provided that it can be ruled out that nesting birds will be disturbed by the measures. Anyone who does not comply must expect a hefty fine of up to 50,000 euros.

    Rarely cut privet hedge as bee pasture

    Privet bushes are not limited to life as a strictly formal hedge. Their pretty, white panicles of flowers are a popular destination for excursions in early summer bees and bumblebees. In general, there is a lot going on in the dense, flexible branches, because nesting birds prefer to build their nests in privet. When fertilized flowers turn into black berries in the fall, the feathered residents have one valuable food source right in front of the beak. The privet hedge only fulfills its task as an ecological gem when the gardener practices cautious pruning.

    A privet bush blooms on its annual shoots in June and July. The best time for a maintenance cut is in February. The pruning extends to the thinning of dead or unfavorable shoots. A hard pruning could destroy most of the buds already established. The following overview summarizes the most important framework conditions for cutting a privet hedge as bee pasture:

    • Cutting the plant in half initiates dense branching
    • Ideally, build each hedge shrub with 7 to 12 bottom shoots as a framework
    • Remove remaining shoots at the base
    • Thin out a free-growing privet hedge every 3 to 5 years
    • Branches that are too long or heavily branched indicate a young side shoot in the lower branch area
    • If necessary, cut back lanky long shoots by a third in June or August
    • Cut off branches that are inclined to the ground and have roots there

    The lower shoots of a privet bush remain vital and willing to flower for 5 to 8 years. Write a cut down on the grooming regimen every few years and leave that natural growth grant. It is advantageous if you combine maintenance pruning with the replacement of 2 to 3 of the oldest trellis shoots with young ground shoots. In this way, you subject a free-growing privet hedge to continuous rejuvenation, which saves you radically putting it on the stick.

    If the focus is on the abundance of flowers on a privet hedge, cut more cautiously than with a formal hedge. Thin out deadwood and weak shoots every 3 to 5 years. Shorten branches that are too long to maintain a slight trapezoidal shape.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are privet bushes poisonous?

    The Federal Ministry for the Environment and Nature Conservation regularly publishes an official list of poisonous plants in the Federal Gazette. All plants that can cause moderate to severe poisoning after contact are listed. Privet is not included on this list. Nevertheless, the consumption of berries and can cause nausea and vomiting. Sensitive gardeners sometimes complain about itchy eczema, the so-called privet eczema, when they come into contact with the plant sap. Regular topiary prevents a privet hedge from blooming and fruiting. So there is nothing to be said against cultivation in the family garden. If you wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing when cutting, contact with the slightly toxic juice is prevented.

    I would like to plant a privet hedge as a privacy screen. How big should the distance to the neighboring property be measured?

    The first question to be clarified is how high the hedge should ultimately be. A privet hedge with a height of 200 centimeters in the recommended trapezoidal shape offers reliable privacy protection. In the lower area, a width of 80 to 100 centimeters should therefore be taken into account. If your neighbor allows the hedge to be trimmed from his property, the legal distance is 50 to 60 centimeters (more or less depending on the state). If you are forced to cut the side of the hedge facing the neighboring property from your garden, add another 80 to 100 centimeters distance so that you can maneuver the hedge trimmer unhindered.

    What does "bare root goods" mean when buying privet for hedge planting?

    Bare-root trees do not have a solid earth ball. Tree nurseries offer the trees at the same time as the best planting time from the beginning of October to the end of April. Due to their low weight and uncomplicated processing, bare-root privet can be offered more cheaply than potted or container plants. In contrast to shrubs with earth balls, you cannot store bare-root goods for long. In addition, pruning is strongly recommended to compensate for the loss of root mass through clearing.

    I found out at the garden center that oval-leaved privet does not tolerate severe frost. My garden is in a winter-harsh region with up to 2-digit minus temperatures. Do I have to do without a privet hedge now?

    If the thermometer falls well below -10 degrees Celsius in winter, Ligustrum ovalifolium loses its foliage and most of the shoots freeze back. Although the shrubs do not die off completely, they noticeably lose their beauty.It is better to use the frost-hardy variety 'Atrovirens' for the privet hedge. The local wild species was the inspiration here and guarantees reliable winter hardiness without any compromises. The leaves fall off in the 2-digit minus range. Just in time for the beginning of spring, fresh foliage sprout on the undamaged shoots.

    In our garden in the Rhineland there is an 8-year-old privet hedge. Every year we ask ourselves when the hedge has to be trimmed at the latest. A stronger pruning must be completed by the end of February due to the beginning of the breeding season. Does it damage our privet hedge if it freezes again in March or April?

    It does not harm a privet hedge if it gets a stronger frost after it has been cut back in February. This applies primarily to common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and varieties derived from it. Although oval-leaved privet is somewhat more sensitive to frost, it can withstand a cut in February without damage. In the Rhineland, the thermometer in March and April does not usually fall so low that frost damage could occur.

    The 3 most common cutting mistakes

    A much too loose privet hedge that is bare at the base and on the inside is the result of incorrect trimming. The following table shows the 3 most common pruning errors with tips for effective prevention:

    cutting error damage picture prevention
    no pruning done sparse branching at hedge approach Cut back all shoots by half after planting
    rectangular hedge shape bare hedge from below and inside Cut the privet hedge into a conical shape
    Let privet hedge grow too fast loose branching, little privacy gradual construction in 10 cm steps
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    tips

    A young privet hedge does not yet fulfill its privacy function. You should install reed mats or a fence so that you are still protected from prying eyes during the transitional period. You can build a wooden privacy fence yourself with a little manual skill. Alternatively, set up a chain link fence (€34.49) and plant annual climbing plants on it until your privet hedge has reached the desired final height.

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Garden design