How to Plant Privet in your Garden: Complete Guide [Step by Step]

The privet or privet (Ligustrum vulgare)it is a shrub that can reach a height of between two and three meters when pruned and if not it can grow to the size of a medium tree.

Its leaves are dark green with white flowers.

As a fruit it produces a type of purple berries that areToxic for consumption.It serves as an ornamental plant for the garden or the sidewalks of the houses.

It is a plant that is especially resistant to air pollution, so it is ideal if you live in a densely populated city or for street decoration.

It is native to Asia, more specifically from areas in China and Japan. However, it also does well in Europe in parts of North Africa. One advantage is thatdoes not need much careas it grows quickly and easily.

Important Points when Planting Privet:

When? Preferably in fall or spring. To avoid intense heat or frost.
Where? It needs partial shade. They favor humid climates and average temperatures. Areas with very intense rains are not recommended.
How do we prepare the land? Loose soil with good drainage. With a pH between 4.5 and 8, although it prefers neutral (7) or slightly acidic (values less than 7).
How do we water? At first daily. Ideal drip irrigation. Once it has grown, we can space out the watering depending on the rainfall.
How much does it grow? It can reach between 2-3 meters.
How do we sow? By cutting or by seed.
Favorable associations? Other ornamental plants.
Plagues and diseases? Fungi, mainly due to excessive moisture in the soil.

When to sow privet? The time

It is worth remembering to sow the privet infall season or early spring.

It is better if you sow it in autumn when it is not so hot or very low temperatures because if the winter is too cold it can stop the growth of the roots and even the death of the seed.

You can sow it by seed method or cuttings.

Where to do it? sun and temperature

The privet tends to develop better inhumid climates and average temperatures.

It isa half-shade tree,so it tries that the sun’s rays do not hit it directly or that at least it does not receive many during many hours of the day.

In ancient times it grew without the need for cultivation in humid forests. Although it is a shrub resistant to changes in temperature, it does not support severe frosts or very hot climates.

It is also not recommended that you expose the privet to very rainy areas since it can get waterlogged.

The problem with too much moisture is that fungus, mold, and bacteria can grow. Other types of insect pests also develop better in places with high humidity and poor water filtration systems.

How to prepare the land? Compost and soil type

The land is essential for the good growth of the privet.

The privet originally develops favorably in humid areas, so you have toProvide soil with good drainage.

The type of soil can vary depending on the area where you live; however, make sure that the soil allows water to run off easily.

Avoid completely clay soils as they will cause the plant to flood and on the other hand do not plant it in very arid areas as it is difficult to retain moisture.

You also don’t need to worry so much about the soil since, as mentioned before, it is a fairly resistant tree. Just make sure you don’t go to extremes.

Another important factor in plant growth ispH levels in the soil.

The privet grows in soils with a pH between 4.5 and 8, although it prefers neutral (7) or slightly acidic (values less than 7).

To take the pH, small measuring bands are required which are submerged in moist soil (or with a little water) and later the marked color is compared with the graph that comes on the package.

So that the land is ready for sowing seeds, it is also advisable to eliminate weeds, that is, remove the herbs that have grown without you having planted them.

Likewise, if it is a large piece of land, you have to loosen the soil so that the privet can take root effectively. It is not recommended that you do a very aggressive pruning, try to make it a maximum of three times a year.

How do we water the privet?

When the plant has just been planted, it is better to water daily, but in small quantities.

It all depends on the area where you live.

In general, the privet has moderate water needs. In the rainy season you do not need to provide water unless you notice the soil is cracked or very sandy.

On the other hand, in cold and windy seasons, increase irrigation so that the soil looks black and is moist to the touch.

Our recommended option, as usual, isdrip irrigation.We will avoid flooding and keep the soil moist.

How to plant privet step by step?

sowing by seed

Place the seeds apart from each other at adistance of 60 centimeters.
You can place about three since it may be that only one does not germinate. Don’t plant too many though, as they will compete for nutrients from the soil.
Also make sure that the depth at which you bury them is twice their diameter.
Cover with soil without crushing it.
Make sure you have compost and substrate in place before you bury the seeds.
Water daily without letting the stream of water fall directly on the seeds.
The privet is a semi-shade plant, so it ensures that the sun’s rays do not hit it directly. If you don’t have space, you can put a thin mesh on it so that it can be shaded.

To learn more: sow by seed.

Planting by cutting

If you have a privet branch you should make sure it has been cut from a healthy tree.
If you already have bushes in your house, you can cut a bouquet that is young and preferably from those that are closer to the ground.
The first thing you have to do is moisten the cutting and bury it in the seedbed or pot.
You must ensure that the land has enough organic matter and substrate for it to take root.
Many times it happens that the cutting germinates, but has not taken root.
In these cases, the transplant cannot be done because it would not resist the change, so you have to continue watering and add some ecological rooting agent.
If, on the other hand, it already has roots, you can transplant and follow the same care as if you had planted seeds.

To learn more: sow by cuttings.

What favorable associations does it have?

The privet is a resistant tree so you can plant it together with other ornamental plants ( such as lavender, boxwood or cactus) or alone to form a fence that adorns your garden.

What pests and diseases does it have?

It is normally attacked by fungi due to heavy rains, excessive irrigation and poor soil aeration. You can use a compound with copper or sulfur and prune all the leaves and branches that are sick to prevent the spread of the fungus.

verticillium wilt

Verticillium or Verticillium wilt is a common soil fungus that thrives in temperate climates around the world and can be present in the soil for decades.

Verticillium wilt overwinters in the soil as dormant mycelium or tiny dormant black structures called microsclerotia, waiting for favorable conditions to return.

They enter damaged plant tissue through the roots and multiply. Many common weeds, such as dandelions and weeds, can be Verticillium host species.

Verticillium wilt is a disease that affects more than 350 species of eudicolous plants. It is caused by six species of Verticillium fungi: Verticillium dahliae, Verticillium albo-atrum, Verticillium longisporum, Verticillium nubilum, Verticillium theobromae, and Verticillium tricorpus.

Many plants with significant economic weight are susceptible, such as cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, oilseed rape, aubergines, peppers, and ornamental plants, as well as others in natural vegetation communities.

Many species and cultivars of eudicots are resistant to the disease, and all monocots, gymnosperms, and ferns are immune. To know more: Verticillium wilt in the Orchard: What is it? How do we identify it?