Privet (Ligustrum) is a favored choice for creating a dense, living boundary screen. This shrub is highly valued for its rapid growth rate and its ability to be tightly pruned into a thick, uniform hedge, providing excellent privacy. The semi-evergreen to evergreen nature of many varieties ensures a substantial visual barrier that persists through much of the year. Establishing this robust screen requires careful planning and a sequential approach to planting.
Planning and Selecting the Privet
The first step involves choosing the right privet variety for your specific hedge requirements and climate. Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and California Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) are popular for their fast growth and dense, dark green foliage, which generally retains its leaves in milder climates. For a vibrant visual element, the Golden Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’) offers striking yellow-edged leaves, though its color is best maintained with ample sunlight.
You must also consider the form of stock you will purchase, which determines the best planting time. Cost-effective bare-root plants must be planted when dormant, typically between late autumn and early spring (November through March). Bare-root stock should be soaked in water for several hours before planting. Containerized plants are more established and can be planted almost any time of year, provided the ground is not frozen or the weather is not extremely hot.
Preparing the Soil and Trench
Once the plants and timing are determined, prepare the planting site. Begin by using stakes and string to mark the exact line of your intended hedge, ensuring a straight and consistent boundary. Clear all existing vegetation, including perennial weeds and grass, from this marked area, as they will compete with the young privet for water and nutrients.
Dig a trench that is substantially wider than the roots of your chosen plants, typically about two feet wide and one to two feet deep. This generous size provides loose soil for the roots to expand quickly. Amend the excavated soil with organic matter such as well-rotted compost or manure, which improves drainage and enhances fertility. Privet thrives in well-drained conditions, tolerating a soil pH range from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (6.0 to 8.0).
Planting and Spacing Techniques
Proper spacing is paramount for achieving a thick, impenetrable privacy hedge that fills in quickly. For a single-row hedge, privet plants are generally spaced between 12 and 18 inches apart (three to six plants per linear meter). This close spacing encourages the branches to intertwine rapidly, forming a solid wall of foliage.
To create an even denser, faster-screening hedge, consider planting a double staggered row using a zigzag pattern. This method requires a wider trench and involves planting one row, then offsetting the next row behind it, maintaining 12 to 18 inches of space between all adjacent plants. When setting the plants into the trench, ensure the root flare—the point where the roots meet the stem—is level with the surrounding soil line.
Backfill the trench with the prepared, amended soil, gently firming it around the roots to eliminate air pockets. Air pockets prevent root hairs from making contact with the soil particles necessary to absorb water and nutrients. After backfilling, immediately give the entire length of the newly planted hedge a deep, thorough watering to settle the soil around the roots and initiate establishment.
Initial Establishment and Watering
Consistent moisture is essential for a newly planted privet hedge during its first growing season. Water the plants deeply and regularly, aiming to keep the soil moist, but not saturated, particularly during dry or windy periods. Deep watering encourages the roots to grow downward, making the plant more resilient to drought conditions.
Apply a two-to-three-inch layer of organic mulch, such as shredded bark or wood chips, along the base of the hedge line. Mulch conserves soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, and suppresses weed growth. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the main stems of the plants to prevent moisture accumulation against the bark, which can lead to fungal issues.
To ensure the hedge develops into a bushy, dense screen from the ground up, an initial shaping prune is necessary. Shortly after planting, lightly prune the tops of the plants by about one-third of their height to encourage lateral branching. This action shifts the plant’s energy from upward growth to the development of side shoots, which is essential for creating the desired dense privacy screen.