Privet plant. Common privet is an ideal evergreen shrub for creating landscape compositions. Fertilizer for privet

The privet shrub is a flowering plant of the genus Privet. It has about fifty species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small to medium-sized trees. The privet shrub is used for hedges in personal plots as an excellent landscape decoration. The natural habitat of the flower is Europe, North Africa, Asia and Australia. Privet was originally the name for the European evergreen shrub Privet vulgaris and later for the more reliable evergreen Privet ovalifolium, widely used for hedges of closely planted trees and shrubs. Now the name is applied to all members of the genus. For the first time, the generic name was applied by Pliny the Elder to Common Privet.

Description of privet and its photo

Some types of privet shrub can grow up to five meters in height and have a stem diameter of 2-2.5 centimeters. The plant has a bark white color with a shade of gray and has a smooth texture. Winter buds are ovoid with two outer scales. Apical buds are present. We invite you to read more detailed description privet shrub with his photo in various variations.

The leaves are elliptical, as opposed to buds, and are arranged on thin twigs, which, in truth, can sometimes be thick and leathery. Flowers can be either male or female with a white corolla. Calyx small, four-toothed. Each flower has petals that coalesce into a tube just below the four individual lobes. Look at the photo of the privet in various options its use:

Privet bears flowers on small panicles along the line of the main axis and on short side branches. Flowering time - June-July. The fruit is a drupe containing one to four seeds. The fruit usually ripens in September or October and persists through the winter. A sexually mature privet can produce up to a hundred fruits. Most of them are eaten by birds. The plant is used as food for the larvae.

privet care

Caring for the biryuchina should begin with the selection of the right soil - in our case it will be fertile, but with slight salinity and good drainage. In the finished soil, you can add a little lime.

It is recommended to grow a flower in the open sun, but it will grow just as well in partial shade. Also, privet tolerates both drought and slight waterlogging (but only in small quantities). It endures winter frosts, but severe frosts and severe winter cold can destroy the bush.

You will need less effort in the process of caring for privet if you loosen the ground in time and remove weeds at the place where the privet grows. By the way, you can reduce the number of weeds (and at the same time protect against overheating) with the help of mulching procedures - it is recommended to carry it out not earlier than spring, when the soil has already warmed up enough.

Without regular watering in the process of caring for privet, especially in hot weather summer period, the earth begins to crack and the plant slowly fades. Therefore, we recommend that you do not forget about this procedure and constantly water and additionally moisten the privet shrub, especially in the summer and during the growing season. It is better to water the flower less often, but in large volumes - you need to moisten the soil surface by 50 centimeters. During growth and development, the amount of moisture is 30-40 liters, and the number of repetitions is 3 or 4.

One of the methods of caring for privet shrubs is pruning, which is necessary for the plant to maintain its shape and prevent further spread. During the growing season, it is necessary to carry out this procedure at least once and as close to ground level as possible. Subsequent cuttings just help control the process of propagation and growth of the flower, but do not eradicate it. For the first three years, about 1/3 of the trunk needs to be removed - after that, you will only need to maintain the shape and size of the privet hedge.

Propagation and planting of privet

Most varieties of privet are propagated by cuttings and seeds. The plant grows very quickly and, as a rule, adds 60 centimeters per year.

Seeds for planting privet are extracted from fruits that ripen in late October. Basically, this method of propagation of privet is used for mass, industrial production. Seed germination is 60 percent, so they are used very, very rarely in private gardens and apartments. The bush matures within five to six years.

Cuttings for propagation of yuryuchina can be woody or summer. We advise you to use a more efficient option for planting privet, which guarantees almost 100% germination. The stalk should be picked up only after flowering - it should be a young and developed shoot. It must be removed under the internode. You can grow it in any way - there are a huge number of options on the Internet now. We offer you an old and proven method - place the shoots under a plastic bottle, cut off its neck and do not forget to make 10-115 small holes that will allow air to penetrate inside. Planting privet for rooting is under the shade of large trees, so that the plant is in partial shade - the light should only enter through the prism of the leaves of the tree. After a couple of months, the bottle can already be removed, and the newly grown bushes can be left until next spring.

Varieties of privet for hedges

Basically, varieties are cultivated in the culture that have high decorative properties and do not require special care during the growing process. As a rule, varieties of privet for hedges are selected taking into account their specifications, such as bush leafiness, trunk height and decorativeness throughout the growing season. We are offering to you short descriptions some varieties of privet for hedges in your area.

Common privet and her photo

Common privet is also sometimes referred to as wild privet, common privet, or European privet. The species is native to Central and Southern Europe, North Africa and southwestern Asia, from Ireland and southwestern Sweden to southern Morocco, from eastern Poland to northwestern Iran. They are semi-evergreen or deciduous shrubs up to three meters in height. The stems are stiff, erect, with grey-brown mottled bark and small brown lenticels.

The leaves are arranged in cross-shaped pairs - shiny, oval in shape, up to 6 centimeters long and 1.5 centimeters wide. Look at the photo of an ordinary privet:

Flowers appear in mid-summer in the form of panicles 3-6 cm long, and each flower is creamy white with a tubular base and a four-lobed corolla up to 6 mm in diameter. The flowers produce a strong, pungent fragrance that many find unpleasant. Fruits in the form of a small black glossy berry with a diameter of 6-8 mm with 1-4 seeds in each of them. The berries are very poisonous to humans, but are readily eaten by thrushes. that scatter seeds.

Plants from a warmer habitat are more likely to remain evergreen. Sometimes they are even considered as a separate variety. In the British Isles, it is the only privet cultivar common for use in hedgerows and woodlands in southern England and Wales, especially in the chalk areas. Less common in Scotland, northern England and northern Ireland.

Privet oval-leaved

Oval privet is also known as California privet. This type is native to Korea and Japan, which is why it is often called Japanese privet (but confused with Japanese privet). Often oval-leaved privet is used for tall hedges.

It is a fast growing, dense deciduous shrub. It grows up to 3-4.5 meters in height and width.

Privet oval has thick, fleshy leaves that are green above and green-yellowish below. It blooms in mid-summer with profuse white flowers that produce a unique tart aroma that is unpleasant to some. The flower has four curly petals and two tall stamens with yellow and red dust particles, between which a low pistil appears. The petals and stamens fall off after fertilization of the flower, leaving the pistil in the calyx. Flowering begins after a year of cultivation.

All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans - be careful when caring for privet.

Japanese privet

Privet is used not only to create hedges, but also for the ancient Japanese art of bonsai. Of all the varieties of the plant, Japanese privet is the most suitable for this.

It is a large shrub or tree, which usually reaches four meters in height, but can also reach more significant sizes - six meters or more. Attractive evergreen leaves have an unusual pear shape with a sharp tip. They have six to eight veins. In spring, white flowers form panicle-shaped clusters up to 20 centimeters long. The plant produces a smell that not everyone will find pleasant. And a huge amount of pollen will just bother people.

The flowers are initially green, but change color as they mature. They remain on the plant for most of the year. The older and larger tree, the more open its shape becomes and the more attractive the limbs look, creating a bonsai-style tree.

Several colorful varieties of Japanese privet can always be found in some large supermarket. For example, the Rotundifolium variety is a dwarf plant that grows very slowly and usually does not grow above one and a half meters. It has large, rounded leaves and is often used to create a low hedge.

extremely tolerant of various types soil and is a strong, robust plant that requires special care (other than pruning to maintain the desired shape and size).

Japanese privet will grow well in full sun or partial shade. When planting in the shade, air circulation must be ensured, otherwise you will have problems with whitefly and sooty mold. This problem can still be solved with soap splashes. One of the most important mistakes is planting bushes at a close distance from each other - the space between them should be at least one and a half meters.

privet golden

Golden privet is a variation of Japanese privet or oval-leaved privet with bright golden leaves. The semi-evergreen plant has the brightest leaf colors of any species, especially in winter period. Fast growing, they are most often used for urban garden hedging, but also make an excellent shrub. If cut and shaped well, privet can be very inexpensive and picturesque decoration your garden.
Golden privet will grow well in almost any soil except damp. It is tolerant of winds and pollution, but the plant should be in a well-lit area.

Glossy oval leaves up to 6 centimeters in length. The center is green, and the edges are a bright golden yellow hue. Grayish-brown bark with lenticels. Tiny tubular creamy white flowers form a panicle up to 10 centimeters long. Then clusters appear with black glossy berries, which are very poisonous to humans.

Privet shiny

Brilliant Privet is a species of flowering plant in the Olive family. It is originally from southern China, but has become native to different countries: Spain, Italy, Algeria, Canary Islands, New Zealand, Lesotho, South Africa, Japan, Korea, Australia, Norfolk Islands, Chiapas, Central America, Argentina and the southern United States (California, Arizona, Maryland and from Texas to North Carolina).

The name shiny in this case refers to the glossy leaves. Brilliant privet for hedges is the most best option for any climatic conditions. Look at the photo shiny privet:

This small evergreen tree reaches 10 meters in height and width. The leaves are opposite, glossy, dark green in color, up to 17 centimeters long and up to 8 centimeters wide. The flowers are very similar to other types of privet, white or almost white.

Privet variegated

Privet variegated is a variety of Chinese privet. The flower has long and pointed leaves with golden margins. In autumn, creamy white flowers bloom in clusters and are a very functional addition to this extraordinary tree.

Privet round-leaved

Privet round-leaved is an evergreen shrub with colorful leaves that retain their color even in winter. Creamy white flowers bloom in mid-summer and may produce honey. The plant takes root well on any soil, but absolutely does not tolerate frost, so it must be grown in a place that will be well protected and insulated.

Privet "Sinense"

Privet "Sinense" is a small evergreen plant native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam (its second name is Chinese privet). A shrub with falling leaves reaches 7 meters in height and has dense hairy shoots. The leaves are opposite, up to seven centimeters long and three centimeters wide.

Cultivated as ornamental plant for hedges. Often used as a bonsai. It is known that this variety occupies approximately one million hectares of land and is cultivated everywhere.

Growing evergreen common privet in the open field is the most acceptable option for creating perennial garden landscape compositions. This article is all about varieties and varieties, proper fit, proper care, methods of reproduction of ligustrum. Magnificent photos of the shrub will help you get acquainted with the variety of varieties of this plant.

Common privet, its varieties and varieties

The Olive family includes an extensive range of evergreens. It also includes an evergreen shrub common privet (ligustrum).

In nature, culture grows in the southern regions of Russia and East Asia, on the Australian continent and North Africa, as well as in Australia, Japan, and China.

The shrub has small, hard, leathery, glossy leaves. Ligustrum blooms with panicles of white small flowers that have a pleasant aroma. After flowering, bluish-black fruits are tied, which can winter on the bushes.

privet fruits

In height, the bushes of common privet reach 3 meters, the width of the bush can be more than 1 meter.

There are three varieties of common privet:

1. Deciduous - sheds leaves in a cold climate zone.
2. Evergreen cultivars - hibernate with non-falling leaves.
3. Mixed - leaves from the shrub fall partially.

The plant is widely used in landscape design for creating hedges, it has a rather slow growth. During flowering and fruiting, privet bushes acquire additional decorative effect.

Privet is great for creating hedges.

Landscape decorative forms (ball, cone) are easily formed from ligustrum, but the plant does not develop quickly, it takes considerable time to create an ideal compositional form. A photo of privet bushes formed in the form of a ball attracts attention - the plant looks very decorative.

The following are popular:

• "Aureum" - reaches a height of up to 1.5 m, leaf blades are green with a golden border. For full expression decorative coloring a sunny location is required, when growing this variety in the shade, the leaves will lose their yellow edging. The variety is quite winter-hardy, it requires shelter only in very severe winters.

• "Glaucum" - the variety does not grow above 1 m. The crown of the bush is spreading, the leaves are narrower than those of other varieties, have a bluish bloom and white edging.

Variety Glaucum

• 'Atrovirens' is distinguished by its considerable size and dark color of the leaves without spots and edging with other colors.

Variety Atrovirens

Planting privet according to all the rules

It should immediately be noted that privet is distinguished by its unpretentiousness. The culture grows well and develops even under adverse conditions: ligustrum is able to put up with a shady location, but does not tolerate acidic soil.

Advice! When preparing places for planting privet, a small amount of lime must be added to the soil.

The soil for planting shrubs should consist of humus and leafy soil, peat, coarse sand. It is necessary to immediately select a site for planting without excessive moisture, providing reliable drainage. Otherwise, the roots of the shrub will get wet, which will affect the overall development of the plant.

Planting privet bushes

In summer, ligustrum requires fairly frequent watering, but without excessive overflow. By autumn, the volume of irrigation water is dosed, and the frequency of irrigation is reduced.

Attention! Privet is easier to put up with underfilling than with overwatering.

Ligustrum varieties with variegated leaves need direct sunlight, so the area for planting the crop should be well lit. It is undesirable to plant shrubs under mature trees that have a formed dense and wide crown.

Separate pits are prepared for planting a bush, the depth of which depends on the development of the root system of seedlings, but should not be less than 50 cm.

When planting shrubs, it is necessary to provide for the laying of long-acting fertilizers at the bottom of the planting pit.

Common privet care

Privet needs simple care:

• timely watering;
• weed removal;
• shelter in cold winters;
• applying the necessary fertilizers.

Take care of shelter privet for the winter

The soil under the shrub requires mulching (to prevent drying out) and periodic loosening (to improve aeration). When mulching the near-trunk circle, moisture will not only be preserved in the soil, but germination will also decrease. weed grass. In addition, the mulch protects the roots of plants from overheating during the especially hot summer months.

In winter cold, some varieties of plants can freeze, so you should take care of sheltering the privet in advance. Sometimes it is enough to cover the bushes with snow, but in especially harsh winters, spruce branches are laid on top of the snow.

Privet in landscape composition

Separately, it is worth touching on the trimming of ligustrum bushes when forming three-dimensional forms. Although the culture does not grow very quickly, periodic pruning helps to form a spreading dense crown of the shrub. The first pruning of privet is cardinal - the branches of the shrub are shortened almost to the ground. The following pruning maintains the shape of the bush, they are carried out up to 3-4 times per season.

Advice! Ligustrum bushes should be pruned during the growing season, before the onset of autumn.

Ligustrum fertilizer

To reduce the acidity of the soil under the privet bushes, it is useful to add chalk, lime, dolomite flour. Soil deoxidation is carried out with the onset of autumn, embedding lime in the soil. At the same time, it is useful to apply potash and phosphate fertilizers, as well as organic matter.

The plant needs top dressing 2 times a year

In summer, complex fertilizers are applied 2 times per season: foliar top dressing mineral fertilizers run over the leaves. Take a look at the photo - timely fertilized privet bushes look very decorative and give good growth.

Reproduction of ligustrum - ways and methods

Ornamental shrubs can be propagated by all known methods:

Diseases and pests of ligustrum

Ligustrum is resistant to diseases and pest invasions. The culture can occasionally be damaged by a scale or false scale. To prevent diseases, the crown of the shrub is more often sprayed with water in the summer months. A preventive shower will also save the plant from the attack of the spider mite.

Inspect the crop regularly for pests

The plant may suffer from fungal diseases that develop from improper care. So with acidic soil, the leaves are covered with spots of pale green color. To prevent the development of fungal infections will allow compliance with all the rules for growing ligustrum. In case of lesions with fungal infections, the treatment of the bush with foundationazole will help to remove the infection.

In general, common biryuchina is very hardy plant which perfectly complements the landscape of gardens and parks.

Cutting privet bushes: video

Privet in landscape design: photo

This variety is often called wild or European privet. Deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs reach three meters in height.

The erect stems are covered with small lenticels. The leaves are oval in shape, length - up to 6 cm, width - up to 1.5 cm.

Flowers with a pleasant creamy-white shade are collected from the panicle. The aroma is sharp, sharp.

Glossy berries adorn the plant until the end of December-January. The fruits are poisonous. The seeds are carried by thrushes.

In regions with a cool climate, plants shed most of their leaves; in warmer regions, common privet belongs to evergreens. In Wales and the south of Britain, this variety of ligustrum is the only one that has taken root well in local climatic conditions.

Shrubs are used for arranging hedges. This variety of privet grows quite slowly.

Photo of common privet (ligustrum).

Landing and care

How to care for common privet? The plant is quite unpretentious. Many varieties are shade tolerant. In summer, watering is plentiful, in winter in room conditions reduce the amount of moisture.

The soil needs fertile, with a small amount of lime. The plant does not like acidic soils.

Privet grows well in soil prepared from a mixture:

• humus - 2 parts;
• turf - 4 parts;
• leaf land - 1 part;
• sifted sand - 1 part.

Provide good moisture removal. It is impossible to waterlog the soil, it is better to water weaker.

In open ground, water less often, but in sufficient volume. With a lack of moisture in the heat, the earth cracks, the bushes wither. Monitor the condition of the soil. Loosen the soil in time.

Privet grows well in a well-lit area. A small shadow is also harmless.

Many varieties tolerate winter cold well, but severe frost can kill the plant. To protect the bushes, cover the plants for the winter.

Mulching will protect the plant from overheating and prevent the development of weeds. In late spring, spread mulch under hedges or solitary plants. Both beautiful and useful for privet.

In autumn (once every 2-3 years) potash fertilizers are applied - up to 15g / sq. m, phosphorus and nitrogen - from 10 to 15 g / sq. m. Be sure to add dolomite flour, lime or chalk. Best time to reduce the acidity of the soil autumn.

Important! Be sure to prune during the growing season. The first 3 years - at least a third of the trunk. In the future, you will only maintain the shape of the hedge. Pruning reduces the number of flowers, but the shoots will grow faster.

reproduction

There are two methods of propagation of the privet shrub. Each method is in demand in certain conditions.

Ligustrum breeds cuttings and seeds. Many shrubs and trees grow quickly, and can add about half a meter per year.

There are varieties that are used as bonsai. dwarf plants With beautiful flowers and shining leaves adorn many houses.

seeds

This method is used for large volumes of landings. The fruits ripen at the end of October. Seeds give germination at the level of 60%.

Owners of private gardens rarely use seeds to propagate privet. Amateur flower growers who keep ligustrum at home also prefer a different method.

Reproduction by cuttings

Experienced gardeners recommend the best option landings common privet. This method guarantees almost 100% germination:

• after flowering, select a strong young shoot;
• carefully remove it under the internode;
• prepare a plastic bottle;
• make 10-15 holes in it at different heights for ventilation. Cut off the neck;
• plant the cutting in the shade of spreading trees. Direct Sun rays in no case should they get on the run;
• cover the stalk with a bottle;
• remove the cap after two months;
• leave the young bush until next spring.

Berries

The fruit is a berry-like drupe, the number of seeds is from one to four. Berries stay on shrubs until mid-winter.

The shiny black or dark blue fruits are poisonous. In no case do not try privet berries!

Interestingly, for thrushes that willingly eat and carry ligustrum seeds, the fruits do not pose a danger.

Varieties

Ligustrum varieties- more than fifty. In landscape design and for decorating rooms, varieties with high decorative qualities are used.

Many varieties of privet keep their shape perfectly, are suitable for creating bonsai and original compositions with a curly haircut. Check out the popular varieties of privet (photo and description).

Privet shiny

Evergreen shrub or small tree. Grows in the southern regions of Russia. Height: 6–15m.

The leaves are oblong, longitudinally ovate, glossy, up to 15 cm long. The crown is spreading.

Flowers are almost white. Panicles up to 17 cm long. In autumn, the tree is covered with dark blue fruits.

Privet brilliant ideally took root in cities. It grows quickly, tolerates shaded areas and frosts down to -15C.

Photo of brilliant privet.

oval-leaved

The wild species of such privet grows in the vastness of Japan. The shrub grows up to 4 m both in width and in height.

This variety has bright green, oval leaves, about 6 cm long. The flowers are white, the panicle reaches 10 cm. Flowering time is July. Glossy black fruits are poisonous.

The plant is semi-evergreen or evergreen. Suitable for creating tall hedges.

Golden

Highly decorative common privet with bright golden leaves. A semi-evergreen plant adorns any garden both in summer and in winter.

Unpretentious shrub requires sufficient lighting on the site. Does not grow well in waterlogged soil.

Oval leaves reach 6 cm in length. In the center of the leaf is green, along the edges - a pleasant golden hue.

Cream flowers, collected in a panicle, up to 10 cm in size. Glossy berries are very dangerous for a man!

Landscape designers use this variety to hedge urban gardens. Golden privet easily takes the desired shape. Advantages- acceptable cost of the plant and excellent decorative properties.

Japanese

The evergreen shrub reaches a height of 3–4 m. It is quite demanding on the composition of the soil. Frost-resistant shade-tolerant variety.

Flowers are small. The flowering period is shorter than other varieties.

Keeps its shape perfectly. Well taken root in urban gardens.

A highly ornamental plant. Dark leathery leaves Green colour, the crown is compact, the top is blunt.

The variety has been used in landscape design since 1845. Japanese privet is suitable for alley and single plantings, decorating edges, creating beautiful hedges.

Many are familiar with this variety of privet. Planting and caring for the plant are the same as for ordinary ligustrum.

Aurea (aureum)

A valuable variety of privet with variegated leaves is popular among landscape designers. Shrub about 3 m high and up to 2 m wide looks great in any garden.

Dark leaves with a yellow border have the shape of an ellipse. Delicate cream flowers are collected in neat panicles.

The variety is unpretentious to the composition of the soil. Tolerates some drought well.

Frost-resistant look, but in the central strip of Russia it is desirable to cover the plant. If the winter is not very cold with the presence of snow, ligustrum aureum often does not shed its leaves.

Sinense

This variety of privet is often called Ligustrum Chinese. One of the most popular varieties. It is known that about a million hectares of land have been given under this variety in different regions planets.

Evergreen shrub grows up to seven meters. The original appearance made privet sinense in demand among landscape designers. The plant is suitable for bonsai.

The leaves are opposite, green in color, about 7 cm long, 3 cm wide. The leaves fall off in winter.

Variegated

A shrub with dark green leaves is a variety of the popular Chinese privet. Creamy white flowers form in clusters, giving the plant a pleasing appearance.

The leaves are pointed, along the edges there is a golden border. Garden shrub reaches a height of 1.2 to 1.5 m.

Here is a video review of another variety of privet.

Evergreen varieties

If you are looking for this variety, pay attention to these varieties of privet:

• round-leaved;
• Japanese;
• sinense;
• brilliant;
• variegated;
• light.

To create hedges, topiary compositions, standard and alley plantings, feel free to choose such a popular plant as privet. Planting and plant care even for a novice gardener. Ornamental shrubs and trees all year round will delight the eye in the city and private garden.

How to properly plant and grow privet on the site and in the conditions of a city apartment.

Recently, amateur gardeners have paid special attention to appearance their summer cottages. They want not only to grow vegetables, berries and fruits, but also to decorate their garden or household plot beautiful plants, unusual herbal compositions. The issue of improvement is decided by gardeners based on personal preferences - the arrangement of lawns and flower beds, hedges and rock gardens. It looks like a flowering privet in the garden. Many ideas of gardeners-experimenters will help to realize the perennial privet shrub. Our article will tell you how to plant, grow, propagate and apply privet in garden design. Privet common description and features Common privet is a representative of the genus of plants of the Olive family. The family includes about fifty species of deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen shrubs and small trees. Translated from Latin, the name means “to bind”, which indicates the astringent properties of the bark of the plant, and in Russia it is called “wolf berry” or “private berry”, because poisonous properties fruits. Common privet is the most popular and unpretentious of all varieties, thanks to many features: grows up to 3 meters in height and width; blooms in early summer for 20-25 days; not demanding on soils, but prefers neutral or slightly alkaline soil; resistant to pest attacks and diseases; does not require complex care; privet breeds well in several ways; can grow in a polluted and smoky atmosphere, therefore it is actively grown in an urban environment; drought and frost resistant; tolerates a haircut, quickly recovers after it, keeps its shape well; during the season, the growth of green mass is up to 30 centimeters in height and width (depending on the variety). life expectancy is 70 years. Among decorative forms one can distinguish pyramidal, weeping, gray-gray, golden, golden-motley. All decorative specimens are less winter-hardy, undersized, but deserve attention due to their beautiful foliage and are used in the design of low borders (30 cm) or in single plantings. How privet is used in garden design Planting privet From how the planting of privet seedlings in open ground, will depend on further development plants. This process is simple, but requires a few mandatory steps: privet care Caring for privet is no less important stage and involves the implementation of standard actions: Soil loosening under plantings to improve breathability. Loosening is combined with weed removal. Mulching soil to protect the roots from overheating, from the appearance of weeds. The layer of mulch should be at least 5 cm. The soil is mulched at the end of spring, after the soil has warmed up sufficiently, while there is still enough moisture in it. Watering infrequent but abundant. Each bush is assigned at least 3 buckets of water for one irrigation, trying to wet the soil to a depth of 0.5 m. top dressing privet is carried out in two stages: Root top dressing is carried out in the spring, after the soil has warmed up (a bucket of humus and a pinch of urea per bush). Fertilizer is distributed around the bush, slightly dug up and watered. To get rid of pests wintering on shrub branches, bushes are sprayed with a 5% solution of carbamide in early spring (500 g of fertilizer is diluted in 10 liters of water). In autumn, for better wintering (once every 2–3 years), potash fertilizers are applied at 15 grams per square meter. m, phosphoric - from 10 to 15 g / sq. m. Then the soil is deoxidized with lime (1 time in 3-4 years). You can replace it with dolomite flour or chalk. Plant pruning. During the season, it is necessary to prune twice: at the end of spring and at the end of summer. For decorative trimming use trellis scissors, stencil, twine. Bushes of two years of age are subject to pruning. In order for the crown to grow thick, young shoots are first shortened by half. At the next pruning, shorten by two-thirds. Because of this, flowering is delayed, but the shoots grow more actively. The crown is lush and dense. Reproduction methods cuttings The most common method of propagating privet is cuttings. The survival rate of planting material of the current year is close to 100%. Cutting preparation. Planting material can be prepared independently: to prepare the cuttings, shoots of the new season will be needed; after flowering, cuttings are cut 10-14 cm long; the cut is made under the internode, the lower leaves are removed; cuttings should be planted in a greenhouse with light shading or by arranging mini-greenhouses from plastic bottles. Several holes are made in the bottles for ventilation. This will prevent mold from forming on the cuttings; after 2 months, the cuttings start to grow and the shelter can be removed; seedlings are left alone until next spring, weeding them regularly; next spring, you can plant young bushes in a permanent place. Propagation of privet by layering At the beginning of summer, the lower shoots are pressed to the ground with staples and sprinkled on top with moist earth. Gradually, the root system is formed in buried shoots. Layering formation The following year, the layers are separated from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place. From one mother liquor, you can get 10 - 15 layers. seeds Privet can also be propagated by seed. Samples not younger than 5-6 years old are suitable for collecting seeds. The method of planting privet with seeds is long (the bushes will acquire a commercial appearance only after 2-3 years) and labor-intensive, moreover, about 60% of the seeds germinate. Therefore, this method is more often used for propagating privet on an industrial scale. Seeds require a long (6 months) stratification. When planting in the fall, stratification will be natural; when planting in the spring, it is necessary to place the seeds mixed with a moist substrate in advance in the refrigerator for 6 months. Privet hedge Hedge from privet can change the landscape of any garden plot or a park. A green screen can be used to enclose recreation and play areas for children, gazebos, paths and other areas for various purposes. The main components in the creation of a green privet fence are planting material and its proper fit: The following conditions contribute to the formation of a thick and dense crown: outdoor cultivation sunny place; maintaining optimal humidity; the presence of neutral soil. The unpretentiousness of privet, ease of care and the ability to shape it with a haircut make this shrub indispensable in organizing green hedge and various figures in garden design. Growing and caring for room privet Privet is grown not only as an outdoor plant, but also as an indoor plant. For growing in an apartment or house, evergreen types of crops with beautiful leaves are used. Often they are formed in the form of mini-trees. Spectacular dark bark looks old even on young twigs. Caring for and creating conditions for the growth and development of privet in a room is somewhat more difficult than for garden form. The plant has increased requirements for lighting, ambient temperature, and air humidity. Lighting Indoor privet loves bright but diffused lighting. Such lighting should be of the same intensity all the time, this is the key to an attractive appearance of the culture. Artificial lighting does not bring the desired result. The plant is preferably placed on the southern, southeastern, southwestern window sills. Placement on windowsills on the east or west side is permissible in summer with the movement of culture to the south windowsill in the autumn-winter period. Temperature regime Comfortable temperature for home privet is from +15 to +21 degrees. At higher temperatures, the plant needs increased humidity. Indoor culture likes to winter at a temperature of + 10 ... + 12 degrees. Critical temperatures are: +5 degrees - minimum, +15 degrees - maximum. Wintering at elevated air temperatures leads to the shedding of foliage. The plant will not die, but it will be difficult to restore the decorative effect. A positive effect on the preservation of appearance is the removal of home privet in the open air. On the street, the plant can be kept from April to October. Without air walks, indoor privet loses its decorative effect. Watering and humidity The soil must not be allowed to dry out. This causes the leaves to fall. In summer, privet is watered frequently, keeping the soil moderately moist. Or the best watering tactic for a house plant is to submerge the pot with the plant in water. The signal for the irrigation procedure is the drying of the topsoil. In winter, the soil must be moistened in the traditional way, avoiding waterlogging. But the complete drying of an earthen coma, even in winter, is unacceptable. The water temperature should be at room temperature. To maintain the required air humidity, a container with privet is placed in a tray filled with wet expanded clay, and regular spraying is also used. At the time of flowering, spraying should be abandoned. Top dressing for room privet For top dressing, specialized fertilizers for bonsai, or complex fertilizers, the dosage of which should be halved compared to the manufacturer's recommendations, are suitable. pruning Pruning is main part caring for home privet. It is necessary depending on the growth rate of the shoots. Therefore, pruning may be needed more than once a year. The bonsai privet stem can be formed all year round by wrapping adult branches and trunk with wire even in winter. Homemade privet transplant Young specimens need to be transplanted once every 2 years, adult plants - after the soil is completely filled with roots. This plant is ready to be transplanted. At home, mini-privet is planted in a kind of bowl-pots - characterized by the fact that their diameter is twice or more than the height. Privet bonsai prefers containers made of natural materials with large holes that provide sufficient water drainage. Any universal substrate, consisting of peat, soddy soil, humus and river sand, is suitable for planting home privet. When transplanting into a new container, the roots of the bonsai are pruned, which prevents the plant from growing excessively, and the dimensions of the container do not change or slightly increase if the plants are young. The bottom of the bowl is covered with drainage of a large fraction. Possible Problems When Growing Privet Bonsai Basically, problems arise due to improper care of plants: appearance brown spots on the leaves due to the use of cold water for irrigation; the appearance of yellowness on the leaves due to excessive feeding, due to direct sunlight, due to dry air; wrinkling, wilting and falling of leaves due to drying out of the soil, heat, due to increased temperature during the winter period. Diseases and pests Privet is not susceptible to diseases, but with increased acidity it suffers from gray spotting or powdery mildew. Increased acidity is indicated by weeds grown under the plant: plantain, wood lice or horsetail. It is necessary to fight the manifestations of these diseases by adjusting the conditions for keeping plants, adding lime to the soil in autumn. Pests also rarely annoy privet. Possible insect pests can be: spider mites, worms, aphids, scale insects. Double treatment of plants with complex insecticides will help get rid of the scourge. The most famous types of privet In addition to common privet, several other varieties deserve attention. oval leaf or california Fast growing, densely leafy shrub. Height - 1 meter. Flowers have an unpleasant aroma. round-leaved Evergreen shrub with rounded leaves. Creamy-white flowers are a good honey plant. The plant grows on any soil, but is afraid of frost, so it must be planted in areas protected from cold winds, covered for the winter. tupolistnaya Deciduous slow-growing (annual growth - 10-15 cm) shrub that grows in culture up to a maximum of 3 m in height, up to 2 m in width. It has a wide spreading crown with horizontal and slightly hanging branches. It is characterized by heat resistance, resistance to air pollution, wind resistance, undemanding to soils. brilliant Fast-growing, heat-loving evergreen shrub or tree up to 3 meters high. In frost -15 degrees, the plant requires shelter. The leaves are large, shiny, deep green. Flowers are collected in paniculate loose brushes up to 18 cm long, with a pleasant aroma. Flowering lasts for three months. Golden The semi-evergreen plant surprises with its bright color, especially in winter. It tolerates drafts and air pollution well. Leaves 6 cm long, oval. The middle of the leaves is green, and the edges are golden yellow. To preserve the decorative properties, it is necessary to grow in sunny places.

The genus Privet (Ligustrum) includes several dozen species, mainly shrubs, growing in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Most types of culture can be found in the Himalayas, Japan and China. The bark of the culture has an astringent medicinal property, hence the name of the genus - "ligare", from the Latin verb "to bind". Interestingly, in English-speaking countries, the plant is known under the name Privet.

Good shade tolerance, low requirements for soil quality, tolerance to curly haircut and ease of care have made the privet ornamental shrub one of the most versatile plants in landscape design.

Description of privet

The plant is a densely leafy, branched and very hardy shrub that is one of the most popular horticultural hedges.

The leaves are small, leathery, evergreen or deciduous. Height, depending on the species, is about 1.5-3 meters, but growth is perfectly controlled by pruning, which helps to form the most different shape plantations. The height of dwarf varieties is only 60 -100 cm.

The flowers are white and fragrant, collected in loose paniculate inflorescences at the tops of the shoots, reminiscent of lilac flowers. Flowering is long, usually begins in early June. In warm climates, it may start earlier. After flowering, shiny black berries ripen, which usually remain on the bushes all winter.

The berries are poisonous to both dogs and humans, and the leaves can be even more toxic in large quantities. Their toxicity is due to the presence of terpenoid glycosides, which cause poisoning of the body.

Types of ornamental privet shrub

Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare). The most hardy deciduous species, which is most often found in the garden as a hedge. It is characterized by good winter hardiness and shade tolerance.

Through the efforts of breeders, decorative varieties were bred that differ in their crown shape: pyramidal shape, weeping, evergreen, as well as foliage color: privet aurea, gray-gray, variegated group with variegated foliage and yellow-fruited.

Brilliant privet (Ligustrum lucidum). This is a fairly small evergreen tree or shrub with glossy, ovate, variegated leaves, green with beige-yellow spots or a border. The flowers are small, creamy, fragrant, collected in inflorescences up to 20 cm in length. Blooms from July to early autumn. Withstands frosts down to minus 15 ̊С.

'Excelsum Superbum' is a low evergreen or semi-evergreen tree with small glossy green leaves edged with bright yellow.

Variety "Curly Wurly" - leaves of an unusual shape, as if twisted, painted in beige-green color.

Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum). In appearance it is very similar to Ligustrum lucidum, but in cultivation it is more winter hardy. The leaves are small, evergreen, leathery, glossy.

The flowers have an unpleasant smell, but this is fully compensated by the high decorativeness of the species, which includes a group of round-leaved privet and a group with variegated foliage. For example, 'Sunshine' is a sterile variety with golden foliage or 'Jack Frost' is golden green leaves.

Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). Semi-evergreen large shrub, reaching 3 meters in height. It has small yellow-green variegated leaves. adapts to different types soils. In horticulture, dwarf variegated varieties are popular, such as "Swift Creek" - a small spreading bush with creamy green leaves.

"Swift Creek"

Oval-leaved privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium). A low and dense shrub with variegated, evergreen foliage. For the winter, it needs shelter due to its sensitivity to frost.

Depending on the color, it is divided into groups:

• variegated green-leaved group with a light, often white border along the edges of the leaf plate;
• silver group Argentum, the foliage of which is also bordered by a beige or light yellow stripe;

• the Aureum group or golden privet is one of the most sought after in landscape design. It is a dense, compact shrub about a meter tall with oval, lemon-yellow or lime-yellow leaves. Gorgeous dwarf 'Lemon & Lime' variety with golden leaves that contrast with deep red or purple berries.

How to plant privet

Almost any place in the garden is suitable for planting privet, but in order for the shrub to reach the peak of its attractiveness, it is better to plant it in an open sunny place, especially variegated varieties and species. The culture grows well on many types of substrate with good water permeability, but plantings should not be expected to flourish on soils with a high acid reaction, heavy clay and sandy.

The best soil composition for growing is considered to be a mixture of three parts of soddy garden soil, two parts of humus and one part of coarse sand for permeability.

Planting of single shrubs is carried out in spring or autumn in September-October, and it is recommended to plant privet for hedges from late March to summer. Although bushes with a closed root system can be planted all season.

Fertilizer is applied immediately during planting of privet in the ground. Well suited for feeding 130 g of nitroammophoska or mix the earth from the planting pit with humus, compost or a small part of rotted manure.

The planting hole should be 30 cm larger than the root ball. Water is poured into it, and when it is absorbed, the roots of the plant are placed in the pit and covered with soil. At first, regular watering is necessary. Experts recommend mulching the soil around plantings with compost or peat. The mulch will provide extra nutrition throughout the season, keep the soil moist and control weed growth.

Learn more about the types of mulch and the benefits of mulching in this article.

Bushes intended to create a privet hedge are planted in one or two rows. The width of the dug trench is 60 cm, and its depth is 80 cm. If we want to have a single-row hedge, then we plant the bushes in a straight line with a distance of 50-60 cm between the bushes in partial shade. In a sunny place, we keep a distance of 80 cm.

In the case of a two-row privet hedge, two trenches are dug, located at a distance of about half a meter from each other. Planting of seedlings is carried out in a checkerboard pattern.

Privet care rules

Privet care throughout the season consists of timely irrigation of the soil, annual pruning and removal of weeds. The plant can withstand prolonged droughts, so watering is carried out only in dry summers as needed.

The optimal irrigation regime is 3-4 times per season, but abundantly so that the earth is saturated with moisture to a depth of 40-50 cm, this is about 2-3 buckets per bush of medium height. Small plantings up to a meter are enough to be watered 10 liters at a time. Young shrubs require more frequent watering during drought, as their roots are not yet extensive enough.

Despite the shade tolerance, the shrub prefers sunny positions or light partial shade. With a lack of lighting, the foliage density decreases, and in variegated varieties, the brightness of the color fades.

In July, the ground around the plantations is carefully loosened after watering in order to increase the access of oxygen to the roots. After loosening, a layer of mulch is again poured.

Top dressing is carried out in the spring organic fertilizers: compost or humus. The hedge is more demanding on top dressing, therefore, once in the spring and once in the summer, organic matter and granules of mineral multicomponent fertilizers are poured along the plantations, at the rate of 10 g per 1 meter. Then the plants are watered.

privet pruning

As mentioned above, caring for ornamental privet shrubs includes sanitary pruning and, if desired, shaping pruning.

The annual procedure stimulates tillering and promotes the formation of a compact bush with dense foliage. You can experiment with culture in creating topiary figures, since due to the intensive growth of the plant, you can quickly hide an unsuccessful haircut. The plant is ideal for creating.

To create a dense and dense crown of plantings or a hedge, the shoots of privet seedlings are cut off by 2/3 after planting. In summer, new young shoots are shortened by 10-20 cm. And so for 2-3 years. During this time, numerous lateral shoots intensively develop in the shrub. The larger the green mass, the more it will be easier to subsequently make the necessary haircut or create.

Old bushes can be rejuvenated by cutting all shoots to a height of 10-20 cm. A year before the planned rejuvenation, the plant requires regular watering and top dressing so that the bush gains strength before radical pruning. Sanitary pruning of all plantings is carried out annually in the spring. Remove dry, old, broken branches.

Privet breeding

Breeding methods ornamental shrub privet include: seed method, cuttings, young layering or root shoots.

Reproduction of privet seeds

Due to the low germination of seeds, this method is considered quite difficult, especially since the culture begins to bear fruit for the first time only at the age of 6. For germination, seeds need to undergo cold stratification, so they are sown in open ground before winter. For spring sowing, the seeds must be kept all winter in a box with a sand-peat mixture at a temperature of 0-1 ̊С. The refrigerator is best for storage.

The seed method is usually used in nurseries, and in private gardening, the simplest and most effective method of obtaining new seedlings is the vegetative method.

Propagation of privet cuttings

Woody cuttings 15-25 cm long are cut in the summer after the flowering of the bush. The lower leaves are cut off, and the sections are dipped in a powder that stimulates root formation. Deepen 5-7 cm into a mixture of peat and perlite.

After planting, it is well watered from a watering can and put the pot in a transparent bag or cover plastic bottle. Location - penumbra. Under conditions of constant humidity of the substrate and air, the rooting process takes 14-20 days.

When signs of growth appear, the cover is removed, and the cuttings are rearranged in a lighted place. The further development of the root system takes about a year. Therefore, the cuttings are brought into the house in the fall and grown indoors, transplanted as they grow into a larger pot in fertile soil.

It should be noted that in winter, seedlings need to be provided with cool conditions, and in spring, start feeding. By next summer we will have a full-fledged planting material.

Reproduction by layering and shoots

In the spring, the lateral shoot is cut closer to the base, tilted down with a cut and fixed in a previously dug groove 1-2 cm deep. At the cut point, the layering is sprinkled with compost and sphagnum moss is laid out, which should always be wet. When signs of rooting appear (the shoot will have new leaves), the layer is separated from the mother plant. Some species form root shoots around the bush, which can be dug out with part of the root.

Diseases and pests

Excess moisture and poor air circulation can lead to the development of fungal diseases that appear as a gray or whitish coating on the surface of the leaves. In this case, plantings are treated with fungicidal preparations. There is also a risk of attack by aphids, which can be eliminated by folk methods.

Foliage spotting is characterized by the appearance of brown spots. The disease is treated with Dithane NeoTec 75 WG or Topsin M 500 SC treatment.