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    Home » Garden » Gardening How To

    Planting a Privet Hedge

    By: Jane · Updated: 20 Jan, '18 · This post may contain affiliate links · 35 Comments

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    We've been planting a hedge at the Crossroads. You see, we live where two heavily traveled roads cross, and we've been thinking now for a few years that a hedge might add a little more privacy to our corner.

    Planting a privet hedge

    We debated about what type of plant we would use, but we settled on waxleaf ligustrum. It's a tough,  old-fashioned plant that's been around forever. It's evergreen here in the South, grows rapidly, and requires little care.

    Planting a privet hedge

    It will get tall and bushy rather quickly, particularly if you keep it pruned. Ligustrum, sometimes called privet, will grow in part shade and full sun. Ligustrum is so commonly used as hedges they've become known as privet hedges.

    Planting a privet hedge

    In late spring, they produce white flowers that are magnets for bees. After they flower, you can start shaping them up. We are very familiar with these plants as we had some growing as a hedge at our former home. They excel as a hedge but are not pretty foundation shrubs.

    Planting a privet hedge

    Leo has been planting these shrubs for the past two weeks. He had to get out the ax to chop through a few roots while digging the holes.

    Planting a privet hedge

    He dug the holes nice and deep, about twice as large as the container that they came in.

    Planting a privet hedge

    Next he filled the hole with water.

    Planting a privet hedge

    Now here's the secret to successful planting of shrubs-peat moss! Peat moss retains moisture around the plant roots and keeps the soil loose.

    Planting a privet hedge

    After adding water to the hole, he pours in the peat moss and then adds the plant to the hole.

    Planting a privet hedge

    Then he takes his foot and presses the plant into place.

    Planting a privet hedge

    And he comes around to the other side and does the same.

    Planting a privet hedge

    Bless his heart! He did that 27 times! But we have a hedge now, and with the rain that we've been having this week, it will be tall and bushy before we know it.

     

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    1. Paul

      September 23, 2020 at 10:29 am

      For a tall hedge what was your spacing ?

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        September 29, 2020 at 8:36 pm

        We spaced the shrubs about 3 1/2 feet apart.

        Reply
    2. LAH

      November 17, 2017 at 5:09 pm

      Do you have any picture of the hedge now? I would love to see updated pictures!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        November 17, 2017 at 10:25 pm

        I was just thinking when we recently trimmed the hedge that we needed to show what they look like now. I will try to get some photos tomorrow.

        Reply
        • Dave M

          June 23, 2018 at 10:53 pm

          Hello, we are considering planting these but are unsure of the growth rate. Do you have any updated pics?

          Reply
          • Jane Windham

            June 25, 2018 at 2:39 pm

            Dave, I will post some updated pics soon, but in the meantime, I'll send you a few by email.

            Reply
        • liz linnemeyer

          December 03, 2018 at 12:39 pm

          I’d love to see an update, we are considering planting a privet hedge

          Reply
          • Jane Windham

            December 03, 2018 at 1:18 pm

            Sending you some recent photos by email.

            Reply
            • Ken

              January 29, 2019 at 10:18 pm

              I would also love to see how the hedge turned out and how long they've been planted, if you could be so kind. Thank you!

    3. Brian McNeil

      April 26, 2017 at 6:48 am

      Just a quick note about .insect damage. If you take a white piece of paper and place it under a branch, then tap the branch and see if anything is moving . If the leaves start to brown and they ]have a spotted look to them then you need to treat for mites.

      Reply
    4. Tim Moore

      March 06, 2015 at 1:38 pm

      I see it's been a few years since Leo planted your Privet hedge. Any chance of updating your photo's to show the 2 year growth? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        March 06, 2015 at 10:20 pm

        Tim, we will be fertilizing them soon and plan to take some photos when they are blooming again. Thanks for asking about their growth!

        Reply
        • Michelle

          August 21, 2016 at 12:04 pm

          We're about to plant a hedge soon and would love to see the results too! How far apart did he space each one? Were these 5 gallons?

          Reply
          • Jane Windham

            August 22, 2016 at 8:48 pm

            Michelle, we planted them about 6 feet apart. Some of them have grown and filled in beautifully yet others have been slow to grow. Right now I don't like the irregularity of the hedge but we'll just keep fertilizing and shaping until they all fill in.

            Reply
    5. bob craven

      February 10, 2015 at 8:57 am

      Privet is beautiful as a hedging. in Victorian times in England most houses and parks had privet sheltering their gardens and yards. it is close growing and is ideal for the smaller birds to basically live in . unfortunately its being replaced in England by Laylandii and that's a rubbish plant offering no protection for small birds and animals and dries out the soil quite a distance around. but privet roots go down deeper and allows a close flowering plant and protects it. That encourages bugs also which is food for the birds. I don't plant impatients , though they look brill they do not have any nectar for bees and other insects that birds like to eat. so they are really a bad thing for ecology. I am trying to get more privet used in road safety as it is a good thing to fall againt say if knocked off a bike or scooter. it gives whereas a solid fence or wall doesn't give. there would be less injury if more privet was used at junctions or bends. It also cuts down sound. a good all rounder.

      Reply
    6. sarah

      August 22, 2014 at 9:10 am

      Hi! I just found your site through Pinterest when I searched for privet hedges. Everyone says they grow quickly, and easily, but I was wondering how tall, on average, they will grow per year? Do you have any follow up pictures to this post? I searched through your blog from today, 8/22/14, to this how to post and didn't see anything. I live in Baltimore County, MD, also live on a corner lot with zero privacy, and would really like to have a living fence but I'm sure I would need close to 100 of these bushes like your other reader had to plant! Thanks for the great tutorial and I look forward to updated pics if you can please!! 🙂 Thanks!

      Reply
    7. Deb Carlton

      March 22, 2014 at 3:32 pm

      Beautiful, I want to plant these as a hedge, how far apart did you plant yours? Lowe's says 6 feet, other sites say 3 feet so they will fill in fast. Thanks Deb

      Reply
    8. marcelle katsadoni

      February 26, 2014 at 1:08 pm

      Thanks for the step by step instructions. This has really encourged me to get digging! Good job both of you! About trimming the hedge, should it be done at a certain time of the year?

      Reply
      • Jane Windham

        February 26, 2014 at 8:30 pm

        Marcelle, the bushes can be trimmed after they bloom in early spring. They can grow as tall as 10-12 feet, so to control the height and to make them bushier, they will need to be trimmed several times over the summer as well.

        Reply
      • Ed

        March 07, 2018 at 1:49 pm

        Privet should be trimmed when the shears are sharp.

        Reply
        • Jane Windham

          March 08, 2018 at 9:29 am

          Thanks for that tip, Ed.

          Reply
    9. Vickie

      July 07, 2013 at 5:12 pm

      And an added bonus is that the bees are crazy for the blooms on this tree-so they will maybe stay around and pollinate your vegetables!

      Reply
    10. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage

      June 21, 2013 at 9:58 pm

      Ah, I love hearing a good old southern Bless His Heart!

      We have 50+ year old privet in our yard - a huge hedge giving us privacy. My neighbor used to handle the pruning and shaping but since he's moved, it's become my hubby's job!

      Give Leo a massage asap!
      Kelly

      Reply
    11. Patty

      June 14, 2013 at 12:07 pm

      Hi! I just found your blog while visiting Southern Hospitality and I am your newest follower! I love hedges, they provide so much privacy and there are beautiful to look at can provide an amazing backdrop to other plants. I would love for you to stop by my blog sometime at http://homeandlifestyledesign.blogspot.com
      I just did a post on a tour of a lake home you might enjoy.
      Now I need to check out your home tour on this page!
      Thanks, Patty

      Reply
    12. Gretchen

      June 11, 2013 at 7:58 am

      That hedge is going to be the perfect solution to give you privacy and the flowers on them are pretty too. Poor Leo. I'm the planter here (most of the time) and I know what hard work that had to be. Send that man for a massage!

      Reply
    13. [email protected] Designs

      June 10, 2013 at 2:29 pm

      We had that a line of those shrubs in Florida and yes, they grow very quickly and I love their blooms....that Leo...what a guy...that was a hard job planting 27 shrubs!!!!...The privacy hedge will be beautiful!

      Reply
    14. Cynthia

      June 10, 2013 at 1:23 pm

      This looks like a very big job but it will be a satisfying one when you are finished.

      Cynthia

      Reply
    15. Harriett

      June 10, 2013 at 10:30 am

      Do you have any plans I could use to build a small deck on the back of my house ?

      Reply
    16. Harriett

      June 10, 2013 at 10:29 am

      Don't they also have a good smell when they bloom? Keep Leo Busy girl!
      Love yall !

      Reply
    17. Gail

      June 10, 2013 at 9:42 am

      This hedge will grow to 8 or 9 ft if you let it. We planted over 100 plants around our yard at our first house..we were young and couldn't afford a fence ...we used 1 gallon plants ( then $0.99 ) apiece and in a few years we had to have a ladder to trim them down! Have kept up the tradition at our next house but with a fence we only needed them in certain spots. They don't seem to be prey to any bugs either. Good luck!

      Reply
    18. Jean Windham

      June 10, 2013 at 9:23 am

      Wow this is a huge undertaking but I think you will have great rewards for doing this when it all fills in to make a hedge. The choice of plant is pretty.

      Reply
    19. Dawn

      June 10, 2013 at 8:56 am

      Wow, that's a lot of planting, but it will look beautiful when it all fills in:)

      Reply
    20. Ann

      June 10, 2013 at 8:41 am

      Great advice about the peat moss! I love privet hedges and you are brilliant to plant something that blooms too. Can't wait to see it grow.!

      Reply
    21. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

      June 10, 2013 at 8:08 am

      Your hedge will be gorgeous!

      Reply
    22. Mary

      June 10, 2013 at 5:10 am

      Hi Jane~ Bless Leo's aching back! Thanks for the tip on adding the peat moss. You're right about them not being a pretty foundation plant but you should have a full hedge in no time. At least no one will have to water them with all our rain, I groaned when I heard the forecast this week 🙂

      Reply

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