Growing and caring Privet in your garden

We have already spoken on other occasions about shrubs and ways of pruning them to make a hedge that delimits the garden or plot. Today we bring another very famous species among the hedges for its evergreen foliage and its relatively restrained care.

The Privet. It is also widely used for outdoor pots and is seen forming pruned cups in the shape of a ball. You want to have one? Go ahead.

A BUSH FROM WHICH YOU CAN GET A DENSE HEDGE

There are no exceptional things that make this genus of shrubs stand out. It is known as privet but the truth is that there are quite a few varieties of it (around 50) and they come from Europe and Asia.

The genus is Ligustrum and within it, the varieties most used for ornamental purposes are, for example, Ligustrum vulgare, Ligustrum ovalifolium or  Ligustrum lucidum , each with different sizes and for different purposes. The first two are used more for gardening and hedges .

The third has a more arboreal bearing and it is more common to plant it as a tree. It can reach considerable heights (10m) with time.

Most of the species used for ornamental purposes have their white flowering in mid-summer or some such as L. lucidum or L. lucidum  “Excelsum Superbum” that are somewhat later and bloom in early autumn. For this reason, the lucidum variety is also appreciated in gardens where the flowering of the environment is to be prolonged until autumn.

The height that privets can reach is between 1.5 and 2 meters in 5 years which makes them fast developing hedges to form hedges without much delay. We speak from sowing so if they are bought in a nursery with a development time, we can have a formidable hedge in 3 or 4 years.

A curiosity that you should know about the flowering of the privet. Its flowers are fragrant and in some varieties more than others. The smell can be somewhat annoying according to the perception of each one. That is something that everyone should value.

GENERAL PRIVET CARE

WEATHER

It is found in humid forests and prefers medium climatic situations. Severe frosts cannot be tolerated well, but neither can very hot temperatures in summer. Exposure can be in full sun or in semi-shade.

I USUALLY

One of the reasons why this shrub is widely used may be its great adaptation to different soils. It is clear that the fresher and more fertile the soil is, the better it is going to do, but it can handle all kinds of soils without problems. Clayey, heavy, light, fresh, limestone, heavy … It is very rustic in this aspect.

IRRIGATION

Watering should be moderate . It is easy to maintain and therefore irrigation could not be something that takes up too much time. The summer may be the p daub critical . It is not good for the soil to dry out excessively.

PRUNING THE PRIVET

Pruning is not advised to be severe. They must be cuts that lighten up but we cannot carry half a bush. Two and up to 3 prunings are usually done a year, especially if the intention is to shape it to make a hedge

MULTIPLICATION

Privet multiplication can be done by seeds or by semi-woody cutting . For the second option, the time will be spring or summer. They root without problems and it is not difficult to get it. Good results are also achieved by seeds.

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