The evergreen privet is a popular privacy screen in domestic gardens. We show you what to look out for when buying, planting, cutting and more.
If you are looking for an easy-care and durable privacy screen, the privet (Ligustrum) is the right choice. The plant makes a beautiful hedge and is an excellent alternative to plastic or wooden privacy screens.
Fortunately, the privet requires little effort. And yet it has more to offer than you think. In summer it shows its fragrant white flowers and in autumn and winter it presents itself with shiny black berries. If you want, you can even try your hand at being an artist on the privet, because the plant can be pruned into a wide variety of shapes. Whether as an accurate hedge, in artistic forms, as a bonsai or even as a wild shrub - privet can be used in many ways.
Privet: characteristics and origin
Privet is a widespread genus of the olive tree family (Oleaceae), the individual species often come from Japan or China. Only one species is native to Europe, the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare). Privet is an evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub or tree. The plant has long established itself as an ornamental plant in European gardens. Its good pruning tolerance has helped it become widespread as a garden hedge. Between June and August it also forms white and often fragrant flowers that attract numerous native butterflies, bees and fly species. The berries that appear afterwards are no less popular. Birds can therefore often be observed on the privet hedge in winter.
Privet Types
With over 40 species, the privet is versatile. In German-speaking countries, semi-evergreen species are used as ornamental plants - they only lose their leaves in very cold winters and therefore offer sufficient privacy even in the frosty season. Significant species arefor example the common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) or the oval-leaved privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium).
You can find out more about the different types and varieties of privet and possible uses here.
Buy privet
The purchase of privet plants needs to be well thought out, because a privet hedge is long-lasting. It therefore makes sense to go to a tree nursery to compare various species and varieties.
We have put together tips for buying privet for you here.
Plant privet
For the planting of privet, it is particularly important to keep the planting distance. There should never be more than three plants per linear meter in a hedge. Once the young privet plants are in the ground, an adequate water supply is required before they are properly rooted.
You can find more about planting privet here.
Propagating privet
Propagating the privet is very uncomplicated, because you have three options here: In the spring with cuttings and in the summer with sticks and offshoots, with the last method being a little more complex.
You can find out in detail here how to grow your own privet hedge.
Maintain privet
Privet is fairly undemanding, which makes it an easy-care addition to the garden. Only the cut requires your attention and should be done at least once a year.
Water privet hedges
Right after planting, privet plants are of course still very needy and their root system is not yet fully developed. For this reason, they cannot yet fetch water from the wider area. Therefore, water freshly planted or young plants regularly so that they develop well. Older specimens only need a little water from time to time when it is very dry. However, too much water and waterlogging must be avoided at all costs, as this can lead to root rot.
Pruning privet hedges
Privet is very tolerant of pruning. This makes it relatively easy to train them to form a beautiful, dense hedge or even a ball or pyramid. Pruning should be done once or twice a year to encourage branching. The ideal time for this is in early spring or early October. A radical pruning is also possible in the case of a balding.
Everything you need to know about pruning privetfind out here.
Fertilize privet hedges
Long-term fertilization in March or April is completely sufficient for the privet. It is best to use a long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. Alternatively, compost or manure are also suitable. Incorporated into the soil, the fertilizer application is saved until the next time. Unfortunately, mineral fertilization does not last as long. A second dose at the beginning of August is recommended.
More details on how to fertilize privet can be found here.
Privet Hedges: Common Pests and Diseases
Privet is an extremely hardy plant. It is rarely afflicted by diseases or pests and even then they usually do no significant damage.
The most important pests and diseases of privet:
- Leaf spot diseases: These are caused by different types of fungi. The most common pathogens are representatives of the genera Ascochyta, Septoria, Colletotrichum and Phyllosticta . The mushroom Cercrospora ligustri is often found on the privet. You can easily identify leaf spot infestations by the irregular spots spread across the leaves. However, distinguishing between the different pathogens is a real challenge. Most of the annoying fungi like to settle in high humidity. So in a dry or windy location, leaf spot infestation should not be a problem.
- Root rot: Waterlogging can lead to root rot, which can only be prevented by choosing the right location. When planting the privet, make sure that you do not put the plant in the ground where the puddles collect when it rains. If the soil is particularly impermeable to water, you should mix some sand under the soil before planting or even create drainage using gravel.
- Privet Aphid (Myzus ligustri): As a result of an infestation, the leaves curl up, turn yellow and eventually fall off. A strong pruning is usually helpful here.
- Powdery Mildew (Microsphaera penicillata): The dreaded fungus can appear in rare cases, but does no further damage. It only appears in late summer and has a whitish coating on theto recognize leaves.
But all in all, privet is very hardy and can handle most diseases and pests on its own.
Privet Moth
In individual cases, the caterpillar of the privet hawkmoth (Sphinx ligustri) can also be discovered on the privet. The caterpillar of the large moth is bright green with distinctive markings and a stinger of sorts at the rear end. You can find out why her appearance is no cause for concern, even though she looks so huge, in our special article on privet hawk moths.
Is the privet poisonous?
Privet is only slightly poisonous. But you should still be careful, because even if birds benefit from the berries in winter, they can cause symptoms of poisoning in humans. Also not every animal can eat it without consequences.
Learn more about the toxicity of privet and what to do in case of poisoning.