Green Privet Bare Root Hedging - Ligustrum Ovalifolium

Green Privet is Britain's most popular hedging plant, and for good reason. This classic, semi-evergreen shrub has been the backbone of countless garden boundaries for generations, offering reliable screening, privacy, and structure throughout the year. Fast-growing, affordable, and remarkably tolerant of almost any conditions, Green Privet bare root hedging represents excellent value for money and establishes quickly to create a dense, neat hedge that responds beautifully to regular trimming.

Key Features

Green Privet produces glossy, oval-shaped leaves in a rich, dark green that create a lush, healthy appearance. The foliage is semi-evergreen, meaning it retains most of its leaves through winter in milder areas, though some leaf drop may occur during particularly harsh winters. This year-round presence makes it ideal for providing continuous screening and structure in the garden.

In summer, untrimmed plants produce abundant clusters of small, creamy-white flowers with a distinctive sweet fragrance that attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. These are followed by shiny black berries in autumn, which provide food for garden birds. However, most hedges are trimmed regularly, which prevents flowering.

The plant has a naturally dense, upright growth habit and can reach 4-6 metres if left unpruned, though it's typically maintained at 1-2 metres for most garden hedges. Its vigorous growth rate means you'll achieve a substantial, effective hedge within just a few years.

Growing Conditions

Green Privet's legendary adaptability is one of its greatest assets. It thrives in virtually any soil type, including heavy clay, chalk, sand, and loam, and tolerates both acidic and alkaline conditions. The plant will grow in full sun, partial shade, or even deep shade, making it suitable for challenging positions where other hedging plants might struggle. However, growth is most vigorous in sun or light shade with reasonably fertile soil.

This supremely hardy shrub withstands urban pollution, coastal exposure, wind, and even moderate drought once established. It's fully hardy throughout the UK and tolerates temperatures well below -20°C. Green Privet is also remarkably tolerant of root competition, making it possible to plant near existing trees where other hedging might fail.

Its tough constitution and undemanding nature make it the perfect choice for novice gardeners, low-maintenance landscapes, and difficult sites.

Planting Instructions

Bare root Green Privet should be planted between November and March during the dormant season, when the ground is neither frozen nor waterlogged. Upon arrival, unwrap the plants and check the roots are moist. If they appear dry, soak them in water for a couple of hours before planting. Plant as soon as possible after receipt.

For hedging: Space plants 30-45 cm apart (three to four plants per metre) for a good, dense hedge. For a particularly thick hedge that establishes rapidly, consider planting a double staggered row with plants spaced 45 cm apart in each row, with the rows 45 cm apart, creating a zigzag pattern.

Prepare the planting area by digging a trench approximately 30-40 cm wide and 30 cm deep along the desired hedge line. Fork over the bottom of the trench to loosen compacted soil and improve drainage. If your soil is poor, incorporate well-rotted compost or manure into the excavated soil.

Position each plant in the trench so that the previous soil mark on the stem sits level with the surrounding ground surface. Spread the roots out naturally, then backfill with soil, firming gently but thoroughly with your heel as you go to eliminate air pockets and ensure good contact between roots and soil.

Water thoroughly after planting, even in wet weather, to settle the soil around the roots. Apply a 5-7 cm layer of organic mulch such as bark chips, well-rotted compost, or manure around the base of the plants, keeping it clear of the stems to prevent rot.

Care and Maintenance

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season, particularly during dry spells, to help establish a deep, robust root system. Once established (usually after the first year), Green Privet is drought-tolerant and requires watering only during prolonged dry periods.

Feeding: Apply a general-purpose fertiliser in early spring to encourage vigorous growth and healthy, glossy foliage. A spring mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost will also provide nutrients whilst suppressing weeds and retaining moisture.

Trimming: Green Privet's rapid growth means it requires regular trimming to maintain a neat appearance. For formal hedges, trim two to three times during the growing season – typically in late May or early June, again in July or August, and possibly a final light trim in September. For informal hedges, one or two cuts per year may suffice.

Immediately after planting, cut back the top growth by about one-third to encourage bushy growth from the base. This initial hard pruning is essential for developing a dense hedge from ground level upwards. In subsequent years, continue trimming to the desired height and shape, always using sharp hedge shears or a trimmer to ensure clean cuts that heal quickly.

Green Privet responds excellently to renovation pruning. Old, overgrown, or neglected hedges can be cut back hard in spring (even to within 30 cm of the ground) and will regenerate vigorously.

Pest and Disease: Green Privet is generally robust and trouble-free. Occasionally, it may be affected by leaf spot, honey fungus, aphids, or privet thrips, but these rarely cause significant damage. Adequate spacing for air circulation and good garden hygiene help prevent problems.

Uses in the Garden

Boundary hedging: The primary use for Green Privet is creating effective boundary hedges that provide privacy, security, and noise reduction whilst marking property boundaries.

Screening: Its dense growth and rapid establishment make it excellent for blocking unsightly views such as bins, sheds, or neighbouring buildings.

Windbreaks: The robust nature and dense growth create effective windbreaks and shelterbelts, protecting more delicate plants in the garden.

Garden divisions: Use privet hedges to divide the garden into separate rooms or compartments, creating structure and interest.

Topiary: Although not as traditionally associated with topiary as box or yew, privet's dense growth and tolerance of regular clipping make it suitable for simple topiary shapes, particularly balls, cubes, and pyramids.

Backdrop: A well-maintained privet hedge provides a neutral, dark green backdrop that allows colourful border plantings to shine.

Wildlife Value

When allowed to flower, Green Privet is highly attractive to pollinating insects, with the summer blooms providing valuable nectar for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. The autumn berries are eaten by blackbirds, thrushes, and other garden birds. Dense privet hedges offer excellent nesting sites and shelter for small birds and provide cover for hedgehogs and other beneficial wildlife.

Note that all parts of privet are toxic to humans and pets if ingested, and the berries can cause stomach upset, so take care if young children or pets use the garden.

Advantages of Green Privet

Cost-effective: One of the most affordable hedging options, making it ideal for long boundaries or large projects.

Fast-growing: Creates an effective hedge within 2-3 years, much quicker than slower alternatives like yew or box.

Low-maintenance: Once established, requires little care beyond regular trimming and the occasional feed.

Versatile: Suitable for formal or informal hedges from 1-4 metres tall.

Adaptable: Thrives in almost any soil, position, or climate throughout the UK.

Forgiving: Tolerates neglect, renovation pruning, and challenging growing conditions.

Available: Easy to source and widely planted, meaning replacements are readily available if needed.

Top Tips for Success

• Plant between November and March for best establishment

• Don't skimp on initial pruning – cutting back encourages dense growth

• Water well during the first summer, even if it seems excessive

• Trim regularly once established to maintain density and neatness

• Feed annually in spring for vigorous, healthy growth

• Consider planting bulbs such as daffodils at the base for spring interest

Create a classic, reliable garden boundary with Green Privet bare root hedging – a time-tested, economical solution that delivers excellent results for gardens throughout Britain.

For protection from pests consider Shrub Shelters.

Please see our bare root plant guides for more information. We've put together a collect of help and advice articles covering what bare root plants are, why they are a good choice, which plants are available bare root, when and where to plant.

Deciduous plants supplied bare root during the dormancy period will not have any leaves at this time; top growth will just be brown and twiggy to start with and will come into leaf in the spring. This is perfectly normal. The plants we supply are healthy will an extensive root system. Please see the final picture for an illustration of how your plants will look when they are delivered.