Privet hedge not very thick / bushy?

[sandspider]

Hi all

Not exactly a veg question I know, but I couldn't find another forum devoted to hedges! So. I planted a garden privet (LIGUSTRUM OVALAFOLIUM) hedge in February 2012. It survived well and seems happy. However, the plants are growing tall and thin, particularly near the base of each main stem where there are only a few leaves / side branches. Plenty of light is getting to the base still, and the grass is competing quite hard near the bases, despite my trimming it back from time to time and mulching. The plants are now 3 - 4 foot tall, and I've never trimmed them. I want the hedge to grow thicker, but also taller, so I don't want to cut it back too much. Should I just be patient and wait, or will a bit of delicate trimming encourage the plants to grow thicker and taller? I do feed occasionally feed the hedge with general plant food, and some homegrown compost from time to time. Is there anything else I can do to encourage it to thicken up?

Thank you.

[veggiechicken]

I'm no expert on hedges but I expect the usual principles will apply. Cut the tops off to encourage more shoots below. I don't think you can hope for "tall" and "bushy" in the early stages. You need to go for one or the other.

[WendyC]

You need to prune the tops of your hedge or it will be just tall and thin. The main shoots are dominant over the side shoots, remove the tops and this will allow the side shoots to grow. You can't just let it get to the height you want and then prune as it will be thin. If it is quite sparse you might need to be quite radical and cut it down to a foot or so and let it gradually build up to the height over several years.
Definitely keep the grass away from the base and mulching is a good idea. There's probably something on the RHS website about growing hedeges.

[sandspider]

Thanks both.

I'll do a bit of delicate trimming, and check the RHS website too.

[cheops]

It might be revelant to your case. Privet hedges require a lot of water - so in dryish periods I would water well and if eventually you have a flower bed at the base of this hedge you will find it needs watering more often than elsewhere as the privet roots will use up a lot of theavailable water/moisture.

[rustylady]

Cut it back hard, give it a feed. When it starts growing again trim frequently with shears. This will encourage it to bush up.

[sandspider]

Thanks both.

Given it a trim and a feed. I'll cut back the grass tomorrow and see how it goes. Rather not cut it back hard unless I have to...

Unfortunately its not yet able to outcompete the brambles and other undesirables!

[rustylady]

Thanks both.

Given it a trim and a feed. I'll cut back the grass tomorrow and see how it goes. Rather not cut it back hard unless I have to...

Unfortunately its not yet able to outcompete the brambles and other undesirables!

Then you really need to work on getting rid of the brambles and undesirables

[sandspider]

It's a never ending task - they keep coming back! Don't know why things that I encourage to grow and look after do pretty well, but things I actively attack and try and kill grow like lightning!

Actually, I suppose I do... Perhaps I'll try and kill off the plants I want and see if that encourages them to greater efforts...!

[rustylady]

Brambles need to be cut back to ground level and then dig the roots out.

[Kristen]

Given it a trim and a feed. I'll cut back the grass tomorrow and see how it goes. Rather not cut it back hard unless I have to...

Unfortunately its not yet able to out-compete the brambles and other undesirables!

For a young hedge you need to provide decent irrigation in dry periods, and lots in drought, otherwise you will be a year or two longer getting to "required height". I put a length of leaky-hose along the hedge (weaving it in/out of each plant so that it keeps snug to the plants, when the root system is still narrow diameter). I hook that up to the hose once a week during the Summer, and twice a week in really dry periods, and give it a good watering each time (put a long-and-narrow dish under the leaky hose and leave the water on until you have a good 2" depth in the dish)

Then you need to mulch the hedge to keep the moisture in, and suppress all weeds. Any grass / weeds / brambles will be competing for moisture and nutrients. I use a woven weed suppressing fabric which keeps pretty much 100% of the weeds at bay. Brambles will be strong, so you might not succeed by just covering them.

For all young, non-conifer, hedges I pinch out ALL shoots during the dormant season. That's the leader and every side shoot - I just remove the end bud - say 1/2" if using secateurs to nip each shoot. I do this until it becomes too much of a chore - by which time the hedge is "hefty" and well on its way to becoming "Mature".

If you have not done this then I expect that the bottom of your hedge is "thin" and probably the only thing that is going to encourage growth, low down, is to cut it hard back to force new buds to break at the bottom. However, if you decide to do that, the extensive root system, which has been created during a couple of years of growth, will enable the plant to grow back much more strongly (than it did first time around). Make sure to give it a good feed if you cut it back, and plenty of water as it is a drastic measure.

[Bill HH]

I dont know about privet but hawthorn needs to be laid, cutting into the base and leaning the stem over whilst weaving it between stakes.If I had a pound for every yard of hawthorn I have laid I would be a rich man. I still think to look back at a well laid hedge at the end of the day is one of the most satisfying things there is. I am not sure if it works for privet though.

[Kristen]

If it works for Privet that would solve the "thin at the bottom" issue, withOUT sacrificing much height. Plants may be too young, as yet for laying though?

Can't think I have seen it done with Privet - but usually its rural field-perimeter hedges that I see laid, rather than garden perimeter ones

[Bill HH]

If it works for Privet that would solve the "thin at the bottom" issue, with sacrificing much height. Plants may be too young, as yet for laying though?

Can't think I have seen it done with Privet - but usually its rural field-perimeter hedges that I see laid, rather than garden perimeter ones

It would need to be 4 or 5 feet tall to lay, but it certainly cures the lack of bottom growth.

[sandspider]

Thanks people.

I have done some hedgelaying, but don't think the hedge needs that yet. Glad to see it getting more popular. I'll give it a bit longer and see what my trimming has done so far...