CTA-arrowEPCExplore-IconMap-01Transportaccount-icon arrow-back arrow-leftarrow-rightarrowbath bed-bigbed close documentsdownload facebook-darkfacebookfloor-planfullscreen houseinstagram-darkinstagram-darklivingroom location-bigmailofficephoneprice-bigproperty-type-bigsavesearch-iconstampstreet-viewtwitter-darktwitter

Garden Guru: Perfect Privet

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could all return the space in front of our homes to garden? When our north London suburbs were built the front garden was the show off bit, the face you showed to the public, full of elegance ...

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could all return the space in front of our homes to garden? When our north London suburbs were built the front garden was the show off bit, the face you showed to the public, full of elegance and greenery. Back gardens were generally more workaday spaces used for general household tasks and storage.

The hedging of choice for Victorian city dwellers was privet, Ligustrum ovalifolium. (also known as Californian Privet). This was a type of privet first introduced from Japan in 1885 which was much more dense and lustrous than our native Ligustrum vulgare.   It’s a feature of our suburbs which is slowly disappearing but one which is very much part of our architectural history.
Why was it so popular? I would suggest that, besides being a handsome and mainly evergreen shrub, it was because it is unfussy about growing conditions (happy to be in clay) and very tough – managing well even in polluted areas. Remember in Victorian times pollution was a big problem.
This is a bit of a plea to consider dear old privet if you are thinking of restoring your garden frontage. Here are 10 reasons to use privet as outlined by the hedging specialist Best 4 Hedging  https://www.best4hedging.co.uk
1. Privet is the ideal plant to create a traditional, classic looking hedge as its roots stem all the way back to Victorian England when it was a popular choice for gardens in inner city areas.2. Ligustrum hedging is valued for its ability to be clipped into a range of different forms, including smooth curves and sharp, split level designs.

3. Common Privet, also known as Ligustrum ovalifolium, is available in all root types, including instant troughs, so you can plant all year-round.

4. Privet hedging is a very diverse plant and can handle a variety of different planting sites, including coastal and exposed positions, and is suited to all but very wet soils. Perfect if you struggle with problem planting sites in your garden.

5. Ligustrum plants are semi-evergreen which means the lush, green foliage will hold through all but the very coldest winters.

6. Although not recognised as one of their most standout features, Privet hedges offer seasonal interest in the form of creamy, white flowers that appear in summer and appeal to a variety of wildlife.

7. Privet is a fast growing hedge plant so you won’t have to wait long for a vibrant, attractive screen. It requires tri-annual pruning to keep it looking neat and tidy but looks just as wonderful when left to develop a more natural aesthetic.

8. One of the best pollution tolerant hedging plants, Privet will thrive in even in built up, urban areas.

9. Golden Privet offers an alternative foliage colour to Common Privet, with bright leaves margined with a buttery yellow shade providing lasting colour in your garden.

10. Wild Privet is a great wildlife friendly hedge as the foliage is a favourite choice for nesting birds and the pretty, white flowers are popular with both butterflies and bees.

What’s not to like – plus, and it’s a big plus – it is probably one of the cheapest hedging plants you can buy. Sit back and enjoy!

Subscribe to our blog

Latest News