Planting privet: tips on location, procedure, etc.

Hardy privet is very popular with us. Let us show you what to consider when planting privet hedges in terms of planting time, location, etc.

Privet (Ligustrum) enriches the garden with its fragrant white flowers in summer and dark shiny berries in autumn and winter. The animals it brings into the garden are also a wonderful asset and a joy to watch.

Once you have acquired your seedlings, you can finally get started. Think carefully about which setting is right for your privet. Remember that when planting hedges, you must maintain certain distances from your neighbours. Once you have found the perfect location, get to work.

When to plant privet

The right time for planting privet is in the autumn, ideally in October. During this time, it rains a lot and the young plants need a lot of water in the beginning to grow well.

In a pinch, planting is also possible in the spring. However, this has the disadvantage that you may have to water a lot if the spring is dry. Choose to plant in the evening or on a cloudy day, when the sun will not affect the plants too much in the first hours after planting.

Planting privet: the right location

Privet has no special requirements to its location. The soil should be water-permeable, because the plant does not tolerate waterlogging. A slightly alkaline pH value is preferred by the plant. As for lighting, privet feels comfortable in the sun. However, it also does not mind partial shade. Theoretically, you can even plant your privet in the shade, but there is a risk of balding over time.

Planting privet: step-by-step

It does not take much to plant a privet plant. However, bare root plantlets should be placed in water for a few hours before planting. To plant, dig a hole about twice as wide and twice as high as the root ball. Then mix the excavated soil with compost, manure or slow-release fertiliser such as our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food. Then you can fill the lower part of the planting hole with some of the soil. Thus, the soil under the plant will be well loosened. The plant itself should be replanted at the same level at which it grew previously. You can now spread the remaining excavated material around the root ball and then lightly press it down. After that, all that is missing is watering.

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If you are not planting just a single privet, but a whole hedge, then be sure to check the recommended planting distance. Privet should be set at a distance of 40-50 centimetres, depending on how high you want your hedge. Smaller varieties such as dwarf privet (Ligustrum vulgare ‘Lodense’) can be planted a little more closely, about 30 centimetres apart. Make sure that you also leave enough space in front of and behind the hedge, because the hedge also grows in width. At least 50 centimetres should be given in each direction.

Summary: Propagating privet

• Put bare root plantlets in water for a few hours
• Maintain planting distance, mark planned holes if necessary
• Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball
• Enrich excavated soil with some compost, manure or our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food
• Fill the bottom of the planting hole with some loose excavated material
• Insert plant
• Fill the planting hole with excavated soil and press down lightly
• Water

Caring for privet after planting

After planting, the most important thing is to ensure adequate watering until the young plants are well rooted. Over time, you can then reduce the watering. Theoretically, you can prune quite soon after planting, although it is not necessarily a good idea.

Here, you can find out everything you need to know about proper privet pruning.