My privet is dying... help!

Hi, Just wondering whether anyone might have any ideas as to why my privet hedge is mysteriously dying. Until about 6 months ago is was flourishing, then the leaves on a small patch of it started to turn yellow, then mottled brown, and then dropped off, and this has now spread to cover two thirds of the hedge! I asked my local garden centre for advice and they said to make sure I kept it well clipped and fertilised, which i've done, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Any ideas? Is there such a thing as privet blight? I thought it was supposed to be pretty hardy...

 

Is the hedge on a public footpath? If so the local authority gardeners have a bad habit of being careless when spraying weedkiller!

 

Rebecca, privet is known for showing signs of stress in drought conditions and when hungry. But if it seems to be a problem area which is spreading...it does sound a bit worrying. I can't help wondering about the dreaded honey fungus. It might be worth scratching off some bark on an affected plant and looking for a white fungal sheath. Also, in the soil around the hedge bottom, the give away 'black bootlaces' by which the disease spreads. Are there signs of any other woody plants in the vicinity showing dieback?
I hope it's not this, because there isn't anything other than removing the affected plants and the soil as far as possible and replanting with plants which are less prone to the disease. (an evergreen option to privet would be laurel or yew)

 

Privet is quite prone to showing signs of stress when dry or in need of a good feed. Unfortunately, if the area has spread in this way despite your attention, it does sound as though it could be something else. I hate to suggest honey fungus, but it is one possibility. Look in the soil for the give away 'black bootlaces' and scratch off the bark of an affected plant and see if you can see a white fungal sheath? Unfortunately, if it is Honey fungus, removing and burning is the only option. Some plants are less likely to be affected by the disease and an option to your privet would be Laurel or yew hedge.