How to Trim a Privet Hedge

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery

Trim a privet hedge two or three times between spring and autumn to keep it dense and neat — privet is fast and vigorous, so it needs cutting more often than most hedges. It is semi-evergreen, very tough, and tolerates hard renovation if it gets out of hand.

When and how often to trim privet

Privet (Ligustrum) grows quickly, so it needs two or three cuts between spring and early autumn to stay sharp. The more often you trim, the denser and tidier it gets. Leave the main cut until after birds have finished nesting.

How to trim a privet hedge

1. Set a string line for a level top.
2. Keep a batter, wider at the base, so light reaches the bottom.
3. Privet has small leaves, so shears or a hedge trimmer give a clean finish.

Renovating an overgrown privet hedge

Privet is one of the easiest hedges to renovate. Cut it back hard in spring — even into thick old stems — and it reshoots vigorously. Feed and water well afterwards and it will quickly refurnish.

Feeding and a few notes

Privet is hungry and its roots are greedy, so feed in spring and mulch, and keep it watered while establishing. It is semi-evergreen — it holds most of its leaves but may drop some in a hard winter. If a hedge is thin and bare at the base, trim the top and sides harder to push growth lower down.

Browse our privet hedging, or read about when you can cut hedges.

FAQs

When should I trim a privet hedge?
Between spring and early autumn, with the main cut after nesting. Because privet is fast-growing it benefits from two or three cuts a season.

Can you cut a privet hedge back hard?
Yes — privet is one of the easiest hedges to renovate. Cut it back hard in spring, even into old stems, and it will reshoot vigorously.

Is privet evergreen?
Privet is semi-evergreen: it keeps most of its leaves year-round but may drop some in a hard winter.

Why is my privet hedge thin at the base?
Usually too little light at the bottom or not enough trimming. Keep a batter (wider at the base) and trim the top and sides to encourage denser low growth.

About the author: Paul Watmore is a director at Grasslands Nursery, a family-run plant nursery near Knutsford, Cheshire, growing hedging, pleached trees and specimen plants since 1984. Meet the team →