Privet, scientifically known as Ligustrum species, remains a highly popular choice for creating dense, attractive boundaries in landscapes. These fast-growing shrubs are known for their ability to form a solid, living wall, providing both structure and privacy. The primary factor determining the success and eventual appearance of this green barrier is the initial planting distance between the shrubs. Correct spacing ensures the plants have sufficient space to develop healthy root systems while still being close enough for their branches to interweave, creating a thick, uniform hedge.
Standard Spacing for a Dense Hedge
For those aiming to establish a classic, formal, and uniformly dense privet hedge, a single-row planting is the most common approach. The generally recommended distance to achieve this quick merging of foliage is to space the plants between 12 and 18 inches apart, measuring from the center of one plant to the center of the next. This close spacing is deliberate, forcing the young plants to compete slightly for light, which encourages them to grow upward and outward, quickly filling the gaps.
This spacing means planting approximately four to six privet plants per linear meter of hedge. This density allows the canopy to close up rapidly, often within two to three growing seasons, provided the plants are pruned correctly from the start. Privet tolerates this tight arrangement well due to its vigorous growth habit, ensuring the hedge forms a solid mass for effective privacy.
Adjusting Planting Distance for Specific Goals
The ideal distance between privet plants can be adjusted based on the specific outcome desired for the finished hedge. If the primary goal is extremely rapid privacy, especially with smaller starting material, planting the shrubs at the closer end of the spectrum, around 12 inches apart, will accelerate the merging process. While this creates a quick screen, it can lead to long-term crowding, demanding more aggressive pruning to maintain health and prevent the base from thinning out.
Double-Row Planting
For creating a thicker, more robust barrier, especially for security or noise reduction, a double-row planting pattern is often employed. This technique requires staggering the plants in a zigzag formation across two parallel rows, which should be offset by about 16 to 18 inches. The staggered arrangement ensures that every gap in the front row is covered by a plant in the back row, effectively doubling the density.
Informal Screens
Conversely, if the desire is a more natural, informal screen or if a larger-growing privet variety is used, the spacing should be widened. A distance of two to four feet between plants allows the shrubs to grow into their more natural, rounded shape, requiring less frequent trimming.
Preparing the Site and Initial Planting Steps
Proper site preparation ensures the new hedge establishes quickly and healthily. For long hedge runs, it is more efficient to excavate a continuous trench rather than digging individual holes for each plant. This trench should be approximately two feet wide and two feet deep to loosen the soil and provide an easily accessible area for root development.
Amending the excavated soil with well-rotted organic matter, such as compost, before backfilling will significantly improve drainage and nutrient retention. When placing the privet into the trench, ensure that the plant’s root flare—the point where the roots meet the stem—is level with the surrounding soil line. Planting too deeply can lead to crown rot, which hinders growth.
After setting the plants according to the chosen spacing, gently backfill the trench with the amended soil and lightly firm it around the roots. The entire planting area must then be soaked thoroughly with water to settle the soil and eliminate any air pockets that could dry out the delicate roots.