We have already spoken on other occasions about shrubs and ways of pruning them to make a hedge that defines the garden or plot. Today we bring another very famous species among the hedges for its evergreen foliage and its relatively restrained care.
El Aligustre. It is also widely used for outdoor pots and is seen forming pruned cups in the shape of a ball. You want to have one? Go ahead.
A bush from which you can get a dense hedge
There are no exceptional things that make this genus of shrubs stand out. It is known as privet but the truth is that there are quite a few varieties of it (around 50) and they come from Europe and Asia.
Gender is Ligustrum and within it, the varieties that most are used for ornamental purposes are for example Ligustrum vulgare, Ligustrum ovalifolium o Ligustrum lucidum, each with different sizes and for different purposes. The first two are used more for gardening and hedges.
The third has a more arboreal bearing and its planting as a tree is more common. It can reach considerable heights (10m) with time.
Most species used for ornamental purposes have their white flowering in midsummer or some like L. lucid o L. lucid “Excelsum Superbum” that are somewhat later and bloom in early autumn. For this reason, the variety lucidum It is also appreciated in gardens where you want to prolong the blooms of the environment until autumn.
The height that the privet can reach is between 1,5 and 2 meters in 5 years making them fast developing hedges to form hedges without much delay. We speak from sowing so if they are bought in a nursery with a development time, we can have a formidable hedge in 3 or 4 years.
A curiosity that you should know about the flowering of the privet. Its flowers are fragrant and in some varieties more than others. The smell can be somewhat annoying according to the perception of each one. That is something that everyone should value.
General privet care
Weather
It is found in humid forests and prefers medium climatic situations. Severe frosts cannot be tolerated well, but neither can very hot temperatures in summer. Exposure can be in full sun or in semi-shade.
Land
One of the reasons why this shrub is widely used may be its great adaptation to different soils. It is clear that the fresher and more fertile the soil is, the better it is going to do, but it can handle all kinds of soils without problems. Clayey, heavy, light, fresh, limestone, heavy … It is very rustic in this aspect.
Irrigation
Irrigation should be moderate. It is easy to maintain and therefore irrigation could not be something that takes us too long. The summer can be the pcritical. It is not good for the soil to dry out excessively.
Pruning the privet
Pruning is not advised to be severe. They should be cuts that lighten up but we can’t load half a bush. Two and up to 3 prunings are usually done a year, especially if the intention is to shape it to make a hedge
Multiplication
Privet multiplication can be done by seeds or semi-woody cutting. For the second option, the time will be spring or summer. They take root without problems and it is not difficult to get it. Good results are also achieved by seeds.
