Privet ? - how to control?

Hi there,

For the past 12 months I've been gradually working my way around our new'ish garden. My mother-in-law tells me that the bush on the LHS is a Privet .... as you can see it's quite overgrown and after a little investigation on the web, they only seem to be useful as a hedge. Should I .... ?

a) Trim back and keep it ....
b) Cut it right back to a single stem and shape the bush when it grows back
c) Plant something better

All thoughts appreciated ...



A closer shot ...



Thanks, Nick

 

Hi Nick it seems to be taking over your corner if it was me I would crop it down, dig it up (which is not too hard to do) and replant the area with something nicer. After all it will save you having to trim it every few weeks as no sooner does our privet hedge have a cut it appears to need another one after only a very short time! Hel.xxx.

 

Me too Nick, the same as Hel, I'd chop it down. 02

 

Hello Nick i would probably remove it and either put a small paving/decking area in corner or plant something that is colourful and striking to the eye.

 

Don`t listen to them,Nick. Cut it back to a more managable size. Privet is not just a hedging plant anymore, they are also used as dot or specimen plants. You have a very useful evergreen plant which not only produces masses of highly scented flowers, but is very good for attracting bees and butterflies into the garden.:thumb:

 

I agree with Daitheplant, All green is good green and the clippings are good for the compost. Shred the initial woody clippings before adding to compost bin and the subsequent soft clippings will break down a lot easier and quicker.
G.man

 

I'd get it out.
Privet is a very good hedging plant, and I like it.
But in a smallish garden where you want interest privet is not the plant for you.
You only really get the scented flowers if you dont clip it, so it may flower this year if you dont cut it.
There are probably loads of shrubs that would look good in that space.

 

Out with it. Brugmansia with a Pasiflora behind on a trellis.:thumb:

 

I say it depends what you want from the corner of your garden!

If you want to block the view of the house behind, it's doing a good job. I think I would get creative and do something topiaric with it - I have a lovely wavey privet hedge at the back of my garden - it does need cut back twice a year, but is a great evergreen backdrop. (and i LOVE the smell of privet flowers - we always get a few, even though it's kept neat).

If the topiary didn't work, I'd reconsider altogether!

 

If you keep it be brutal, hedge trim it to the size you want, dont mess about you certainly wont kill it.

cutting it to one stem wont work as it will simply shoot from the base.

Personally Id get rid.

 

Oh dear, your privet doesn't seem to have many friends and I regret I am not a great privet lover either. I honestly believe that once a privet has been allowed to grow that big it is never really successful in cutting it down to size. Alas I too would remove it.

 

I would leave it there. Try and keep it under control though!

 

Thanks for the replies - it came out this weekend.

I'm thinking about planting a tree in it's place. Maybe apple or cherry

 

Multi stemmed Silver birch!