Privet: a green hedge or border on a property. Common privet is a hedge. Photo
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Common privet- ornamental shrub of the Privet genus, Olive family
Common privet description
Common privet - in wildlife found in Crimea and the Caucasus, in the southern part of Ukraine, in southern Europe.
A deciduous shrub with dense branches that can grow up to 5 meters. The leaves are oblong-ovate or lanceolate, glabrous, leathery, dark green above, lighter below. The flowers are small, white, fragrant, in dense erect panicles. It blooms in the first half of summer for 20-25 days. The fruits are shiny, berry-shaped, black drupes, remaining on the bushes until January.
When young, it grows quickly, is quite frost-resistant, can withstand short-term drops in temperature down to -30°C, is drought-resistant, tolerates different types of soil, grows well on soils containing lime, and even tolerates slight salinity. It is not frost-resistant enough in the conditions of the Moscow region, it needs shelter, in cold winters it can freeze very much, so plant it in a protected place. Suitable for the southern regions of Russia. It grows well in urban environments, is well trimmed, forming dense, shape-retaining hedges and various shapes. Propagated by seeds, root suckers, layering, lignified and green cuttings. Often used as a rootstock for other types of privet, lilac, and olive.
One of the best shrubs for hedges, edges, and undergrowth in a group of trees with a through crown. Excellent material for curly haircuts. Decorative forms are good in single and loose group plantings. In culture since ancient times.
- pyramidal (f. pyramidale);
- weeping (f. pendulum);
- bluish (f. glaucum) and bluish-white-edged (f. glaucum albo-marginatum) - by leaf color;
- evergreen (f. sempervirens);
- golden (f.aureum);
- golden-variegated (f. aureo-variegatum);
- yellowish (f. lutescens) - with a more intense color of flowers;
- silver-variegated (f. argento-marginatum);
and two forms based on fruit color - white-fruited and yellow-fruited (f. leucocarpa and f. xanthocarpa).
Growing, care and propagation of common privet
Evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous woody plant olive family. The genus includes about 50 species growing in East Asia shrubs with flexible shoots and simple opposite leaves. White flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences, from which showy black or dark blue berries develop in the fall.
Growing
From seeds. After ripening, the berries are collected and allowed to rot without allowing fermentation. They are then mixed with soil and waited until next autumn to sow in loose soil. At the end of the first year, the seedlings dive, pruning taproot. The formation of bonsai from young plants begins after 2 years.
From cuttings. Cuttings are cut in the spring from last year's shoots and rooted in a warm, bright place.
Vaccination. Privet is grafted into a split from the side or into a side cut (a rather complicated method).
Lighting. Privet requires a lot of light and prefers sunlight in the morning or afternoon, but does not tolerate scorching sun rays at midday.
Temperature. In summer the plant requires elevated temperature. Chinese privet (L. sinensis) can be taken outside during the warm season. In winter, plants are kept in a cooler place, but at a temperature not lower than 12-14 C. Dull-leaved privet (L. obtusifolium) and oval-leaved privet (L. ovalifolium) love warmth, are afraid of cold and do not tolerate frost.
Air movement. Drafts and sudden temperature changes must be avoided. The location should be well ventilated.
Dishes. For privet, mostly shallow, rectangular ceramic containers glazed on the outside are chosen. Various shades of blue and green complement the pale green foliage.
Cleaning. Yellowed leaves are regularly removed both from the tree and from the surface of the soil. The trunk is cleaned with a brush 1-2 times a year. The moss rising up the trunk is scraped off and moss and algae are removed from the surface of the soil.
Height. Fast enough. In addition, privet branches very quickly.
Transfer. It is carried out once every 2 years in the spring. The root system is lightly trimmed, taking care not to damage the taproot.
The soil. 70% leaf clay soil, 20% compost and 10% river sand. Don't fit too acidic soils.
Pruning shoots. At the end of February, the shoots are cut short, after which they are shortened during growing season, as soon as they become too long. Flowers appear on the shoots of the current year, so this wait allows you to see whether flower buds have formed on the tree. In winter, very long shoots can be shortened.
Pruning branches. At the end of winter, unsightly or damaged branches are cut out; large wounds are covered with garden varnish.
Leaf trimming. Since privet has small leaves, they are not trimmed.
Using wire. Possessing flexible wood, privet is easy to shape. Ligature can be applied all year round on woody shoots, branches and trunk. Superimposed copper wire leave on the tree for 3 months. If necessary, repeat the procedure the next year. The bark is protected from damage by raffia fiber. Oval-leaved wire is applied to privet in the spring.
Watering. Quite plentiful. The soil is allowed to absorb all the moisture before the plant is watered again. In summer and winter, the frequency of watering is increased, in spring and autumn - reduced.
Spraying. In winter, the plant is sprayed with water daily to increase air humidity. If necessary, the bonsai can be placed in a bowl filled with wet expanded clay or pebbles.
Feeding. Privet is fed with slowly decomposing organic fertilizer once every 2 weeks from the beginning of March to the end of June and from the beginning of September to the end of November, alternating watering with a fertilizer solution with foliar feeding (on the leaves). From the beginning of December to the end of February, the plant is fed only once every 6 weeks.
B common brine attracts not only its appearance, but also its unpretentiousness. Its deciduous appearance is suitable for cold climates. It can reach a height of up to 4 meters. But it grows very slowly and to achieve such dimensions you will need long years. The crown is wide and naturally asymmetrical in shape. Flowering begins in early June and lasts 1.5 months. The aroma of racemose inflorescences is sharp and specific. By autumn, they turn into black poisonous fruits, and the leaves become bright yellow-green.
Plant care
Almost every garden has a place for a hedge. This explains the demand for ligustrum (Latin name) . In order for it to grow and delight with its decorativeness, it is important to follow simple but mandatory rules.
Location and lighting
The best place is open sunny space . Planting in the shade is also possible, but in this case, the garden resident will not be able to fully realize his potential. From buildings and tall trees It is worth retreating at least 120 cm. This should be a place remote from groundwater and melt water.
The soil
For active growth and development, conditions are recreated that are as similar as possible to natural ones. That's why preferable moist and nutritious soil, with a slightly acidic and neutral reaction. You can prepare your own substrate by mixing the following components: sand, humus and turf in a ratio of 1:2:3. Under no circumstances should the bush be planted in dry or sandy soil; an acidic environment is also not suitable. A small amount of lime is usually added to the hole.
For better access of oxygen to the roots, loosening is carried out regularly. This is done the next day after watering or precipitation.
Watering
It's worth remembering this representative of the flora will tolerate a lack of water better than an excess of water. To root system not rotted, irrigation is required only in the absence of rain for a long time. On average, during the growing season, watering occurs no more than 4-5 times. 3-4 buckets of water are poured under the bush at a time. If the monthly precipitation norm is met, then human intervention is not required. Special attention given to young seedlings. For them, the watering schedule is 6 times per season.
Mulching helps protect against drying out and overheating of the soil, as well as against weeds. It is carried out in the spring, after the earth has completely warmed up.
Top dressing
Systematic treatment helps fight acidity adding lime, dolomite flour and chalk. In September, fertilizers are applied under the bush. At the same time, potassium fertilizer is required for root feeding. It helps the green beauty survive the winter. Phosphorus and organic fertilizers. For complex fertilizers, the most suitable period is the beginning of April (before bud break) and July. To enrich the garden planting with nitrogen, spray with urea (half a kilogram of the substance is added to a bucket of water).
Wintering and pruning
In mid-latitudes, only the common privet can survive, which can easily withstand the harshest winter. If there is snow, then more is acceptable low temperatures. But, if nature does not indulge in precipitation from December to March, then it is better to take care of additional shelter during hibernation. Preparations begin with mulching trunk circle(at least 50 cm), then the branches are pressed to the ground and fixed. The process ends with a covering of spruce branches, dry branches or straw.
Trimming it mandatory item, if you want to keep your garden in order. Common privet responds well and is easy to shape. The more often this happens, the denser and more luxurious the crown. To quickly heal wounds, the procedure is carried out in the evening, and upon completion, the plant is covered with a damp cloth. You can remove it early in the morning.
The first pruning is carried out almost immediately after planting the shrub in the ground. It is enough to shorten the tops a little, and the planting will become more bushy. During the first 2-3 years, it is very important to timely mold the seedling. This will help it grow lush and dense.
It is customary to cut it twice - at the end of spring and summer. Thinning is permissible by one third. During flowering, pruning is prohibited. It is permissible to carry out additional - sanitary molding. In this case, branches that have dried and frozen over the winter are removed.
Pests
Despite its high resistance to diseases and insects, if maintenance conditions are violated, the plant may suffer from spotting or. The main reason for the development of these dangerous diseases is the acidity of the soil. If you add a deoxidizer to it in a timely manner, then all problems will bypass the gardener.
If pruning is not carried out in the spring, then insects that have overwintered in the plant will begin to attack it. It can be:
Special methods help get rid of them chemicals- Actellik or Fitoverm. Processing is carried out until the uninvited guests completely disappear. On average, this is 1-4 times, with breaks between sessions of 2 weeks.
Planting and propagation
If necessary, you can plant a bush at any time of the year, but gardeners recommend doing it in the spring, before the buds open. Avoid acidic soils. The depth of the hole should be greater than the length of the root system. 10-12 liters of liquid are poured into it. After it is absorbed, you can make drainage from crushed stone, pebbles or broken bricks. The next layer is a pre-prepared mixture of sand, humus and turf, in a ratio of 1:2:3. It is also mandatory to enter useful substances. This can be potash, phosphorus fertilizer, as well as organic matter, lime. The roots in the hole must be straightened and then covered with soil. The root circle is sprinkled with peat. There are 3 methods for breeding.
Seeds
More suitable for industrial scale. Germination rate 60%. Previously planting material undergoes stratification. Cold treatment lasts 6 months. Sowing occurs immediately in open ground or in boxes, then the seedlings dive. The seedling becomes mature and ready for planting in 2-3 years. You have to wait 5-6 years for flowering.
Cuttings
This is the most popular method. At the end of flowering, cut off the green branches. They have the most high result in rooting.
It is permissible to use lignified ones. Their diameter is about 7 mm, and their length is 10-12 cm. Additionally, they are treated with a root stimulator. For rooting, the cuttings are placed in a container where sand and sand are mixed in equal quantities. turf land. Planting depth 5 cm, angle 45 degrees. The division is covered with film to create a greenhouse effect. The boxes are placed in a light and warm room. Once a day, the cover is removed and the soil is sprayed. After 2 weeks the first roots will appear. By 3 months they will be ready to “move.” At this point they should reach 60 cm in height.
Layerings
In spring, a strong branch located close to the ground is tilted and fixed. A small cut is made on the part that comes into contact with the soil. Sphagnum is laid on top and sprinkled with earth. Moss should be irrigated daily with a spray bottle. The upper part of the branch remains on the surface and is not buried. If the process begins to grow, then everything went well. Already in the spring it can be separated and planted.
Use in landscape design
Most often, the role of a hedge is prepared for the ligustrum. Thanks to slow growth and responsiveness to molding, such a bush will not cause any inconvenience. Hardiness is complemented by flowering and fruiting, which enhance the decorative effect.
It will not be a problem to form any landscape landscape from privet decorative figure: ball, cone. This will require for a long time, but the result will last for a long time.
Privet- an amazing plant that includes different subspecies. Belongs to the Oleaceae family.
This representative flora consists of evergreen, deciduous trees or bushes. They reach a height of 2-6 m. They grow very quickly. They have a beautiful spreading crown and elongated leaves of an emerald hue. The flowers are miniature and very fragrant.
Latin name of the plant: Ligustrum. It comes from the word “ligare” - to tie. This amazing name this representative of the flora received due to the astringent properties of the bark.
Privet is distributed throughout Europe, Asia and the USA. The plant is planted in greenhouses and botanical gardens of China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Professional gardeners love Privet for unpretentious cultivation and gorgeous summer blooms.
Types of Privet
It is currently known about 50 different subspecies Privets. The most famous of them are Privet Aurea or Round-leaved, golden privet or Shiny, Privet Evergreen or Ordinary.
They differ in growth rates, height, and crown shape. Some of the plants are shrubs, others are small trees. All subspecies are endowed with leathery leaves, paniculate inflorescences and berry-shaped fruits.
Common Privet
(Ligustrum vulgare) is distributed in the Russian Federation, Moldova, Ukraine, China and Japan. It is a branched deciduous shrub. It can reach a height of 4-5 m. It has elongated oval leaves and miniature snow-white flowers. Very shade tolerant.
Important! Privet Common - the most winter-hardy species. This plant can easily grow on garden plots central region of the country. The plant can withstand temperature changes and harsh weather conditions.
See below: Common privet photo
Common privet
Japanese Privet
Japanese Privet(Ligustrum japonicum) is native to Korea and Japan. It is an evergreen shrub. Reaches a height of more than 2-4 m. It has a miniature graceful crown, elongated leaves of an emerald hue. It grows very slowly. Shade-tolerant and frost-resistant.
Privet Shiny
Privet Shiny(Ligustrum lucidum) is widespread in Asia. It is a small shade-tolerant tree. Has three decorative shapes: tricolor tree, variegated golden and edged golden. It has oblong emerald-gold leaves with rounded edges, reaching a length of 10-15 cm.
The panicles of the plant consist of miniature fragrant flowers of a snow-white hue. The length of the inflorescences reaches 15-18 cm. They bloom for 90-100 days. Distinctive feature from other subspecies is a low frost resistance. The plant dies at temperatures below minus 15°C. Therefore, the subspecies is grown as a cover crop in indoor greenhouses or botanical gardens.
You can grow a tree in open ground only as follows: annual plant. To preserve the root system, it is necessary to use mulching. The plant lends itself perfectly to the formation of living sculptures. It is an excellent decoration for areas. Can be used as hedges.
Privet Shiny
Japanese Privet
Privet Quihou
Quihou subspecies(Ligustrum quihoui) is a gorgeous emerald colored shrub. Grows up to 2 m. Has an average growth rate. It has miniature hard leaves and large panicles reaching a length of 18-20 cm.
The panicles consist of miniature fragrant flowers. Flowering occurs in the second ten days of August. Only adult plants reaching 7 years of age bloom. The crown is spreading, reaching 160-200 cm. A distinctive feature of the subspecies is the slight pubescence of young stems. Also, pubescence can be observed on the lower leaf blade.
The growing season lasts from mid-spring to mid-autumn. This representative of the flora has an average winter hardiness. The birthplace of the plant is China. The plant grows in a province of China at an altitude of 2500 m above sea level.
Important! When propagating Privet Quihou, it is necessary to use spring or autumn cuttings. It is important that the planting material has time to take root. Summer cuttings root very poorly.
Privet Quihou
Privet roundifolia
Privet roundifolia also an evergreen shrub. It has beautiful emerald leaves that retain color even in winter period. The flowers of the plant are miniature and very fragrant. They have a soft snow-white hue. Flowering occurs in July-August. During flowering, there are a large number of insects near the bush, which are attracted by the aroma of the inflorescences. Moreover, the shrub is a honey plant.
This representative of the flora can actively grow on any type of soil. But to obtain abundant flowering, it is recommended to use black soil. The round-leaved subspecies does not tolerate strong drops in temperature. At a temperature of minus 15°C it freezes completely. Therefore, when growing shrubs in cold regions, it is necessary to use mulching. Experienced gardeners It is recommended to grow this subspecies in closed greenhouses or greenhouses.
Privet roundifolia
Variegated Privet
Variegated Privet is a variety of the Chinese variety. It has elongated, pointed leaves with a gold edge. It will be full of fragrant faded flowers of a snow-white hue. Blooms in mid-autumn. Formed into clusters. But it is worth considering that only adult plants that have reached 3 years of age bloom.
The subspecies loves a large number sunlight. Tolerant of pollution and winds. Prefers moderate watering. It responds well to the application of mineral fertilizers. Thanks to fertilizers, the flowering period can increase, as well as the number of inflorescences. It is a fast growing plant.
It can reach a height of more than 2 m. This representative of the flora can be used as a hedge. The variegated subspecies is great for decorating a garden or plot.
Variegated Privet
Privet - beautiful ornamental plant . Has several varieties. It grows in garden plots, greenhouses and botanical gardens. Some species are successfully used for planting evergreen hedges. This representative of the flora is unpretentious in cultivation.
Withstands temperature changes and prolonged drought. Is frost resistant shade-tolerant plant. Planting and care information about the plant is presented in detail on our website.
Useful video
Watch the video: Common privet review
Landscape design personal plots looks attractive when there is a hedge. It encloses the area in a natural way, giving the garden a touch of romance. Both small shrubs and large ones that form small trees can serve as a hedge. Among the variety of such shrubs, common privet occupies a special place. It is widespread in Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia and is evergreen. Belongs to the olive family.
Description of the plant
Common privet is a shrub up to three meters in height and a meter in width. It is characterized by white, smooth bark with winter ovoid buds. The elliptical leaves are thick and leathery, located on thin branches. The flowers of the shrub are both male and female. They have small four-toothed buds, the petals of which are connected into a tube. Flowering occurs in the form of panicles located in the center and on the side shoots. Their aroma is very pleasant. During this period, they acquire a special decorative effect. The fruits are a drupe that ripen in the first half of autumn and can overwinter on the bush.
There are three types of common privet:
- deciduous, shedding its leaves in cold climates;
- evergreen cultivars that overwinter with leaves on the branches;
- mixed, characterized by partial fall of leaves.
Landscape designers enjoy working with shrubs. It can be made into all sorts of shapes. Although this takes time, since the bush does not grow very quickly. Be patient and you will receive an original copy. The most popular varieties are:
- Aureum. The variety is one and a half meters high. The leaves have a golden border. Its decorative effect is best revealed in sunny areas, since in the shade the shrub loses the beautiful color of its leaves. Cover shrubs only during severe frosts.
- Glaucum. Small sizes, up to a meter. It has a spreading crown. The leaves are narrow with a bluish coating and a white border.
- Atrovirens. Bush significant size. The foliage has no spots or borders.
Rules of care
Common privet loves fertile soils, With good drainage, slight salinization is allowed. It is good to add a small amount of lime to the soil. In general, the soil should contain humus and sand, as well as leaf soil and peat. Growing occurs in sunny areas. But if you cannot provide this for her, do not despair. The shade will not harm the plant. It will grow well in such conditions. The shrub is also not picky about moisture. It tolerates low humidity and drought well. In winter, it can withstand moderate cold, but severe frosts can destroy it.
Shrubs are planted in holes, which should not be less than 50 centimeters in depth. They contain fertilizers at the bottom, which will promote the active growth of the plant.
Caring for common privet includes loosening the soil and cleaning weed. To make their work easier, they resort to mulching the soil. Dry grass and sawdust are used as mulch. Mulch long time retains moisture and prevents active weed growth. Thanks to it, the root system is protected from overheating in the summer months.
The shrub requires regular watering, especially in hot weather. If the soil begins to crack due to lack of moisture, it may wither. Therefore, you should not allow the soil to reach this state and water the plant regularly, especially during the growing season. It is enough to flood the bush well once so that the soil is moistened to 50 centimeters. As it dries out, it is necessary to repeat watering. IN autumn period they are shrinking.
Very important point care will be pruning. It allows you to give the bush neat shapes and prevents it from growing too much. In the first three years, a third of the trunk is removed during the pruning process, and in subsequent years the size of the hedge is simply maintained. It is best to carry it out before the onset of autumn.
To reduce the acidity of the soil, chalk is added under the bushes of the plants; it is possible to add lime or dolomite flour. The plant will respond positively to the addition of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Basically, fertilizing is applied twice per season. You can also carry out foliar feeding by leaves.
Shrub propagation
The shrub grows very quickly and after planting can grow up to 60 centimeters per year. It can be propagated in several ways:
Possible problems
In general, shrubs are rarely affected by invasions of various pests. But sometimes it is attacked by a scale insect or a false scale insect. For prevention purposes, the bush is sprayed in the summer. It will also help with spider mite infestations.
The bush may be attacked by aphids. It is found on the branches and leaves of privet. What causes the leaves to dry out and fall off? Thrips may also appear. It is favored by rising temperatures and low humidity. The leaves are covered with white dots on the underside. Treatment will help with various pests by special means, purchased in flower shops.
Improper care causes fungal diseases plants. Acidic soil, for example, causes pale green spots to appear on leaves. Treatment of the plant with foundationazole helps to cope with these problems.
Plants growing in summer cottages have a wide variety of purposes. While some of them are used in food purposes, others perform a purely decorative function, delighting owners with excellent landscape design. We would like to talk about one of the representatives of the latter species in this article.
Common privet, description and varieties
Common privet (or, as it is also called, “ligistrum”) belongs to the evergreen and deciduous plants, presented in the form small shrubs and trees (description different types will be different). They are most common in Europe, Australia, Asia and North Africa. But most species are represented in the flora of Japan, the Himalayas, China and Taiwan.
Did you know? The plant's Latin name comes from the verb "ligare", which means "to bind". In truth, this is entirely explained by the astringent properties of privet.
You can often hear another name for the plant - wild (or European) privet. Semi-evergreen and deciduous shrubs can reach three meters in height, and their erect stems are covered with small lentils. The leaves are oval in shape, their length reaches 6 cm with a width of up to 1.5 cm. The flowers have a pleasant creamy-white hue and are collected in panicles, while their smell is quite pungent.
Beautiful glossy berries decorate the plant until the end of December-January, but you still shouldn’t touch the fruits - they are poisonous.
If the privet is common, which, by the way, requires special conditions planting and care, grows in regions with cool climates, the plant will shed most of its leaves, while in areas with high temperatures it can rightfully be considered an evergreen planting.
As for the varieties of common privet, then their there are more than 50 species, Therefore, we will briefly describe only the most famous ones.
Presented as an evergreen shrub or small tree, which mainly grows in the south of Russia. The height of the plant can reach 15 meters. The leaves of the shiny privet have an oblong ovoid shape, 15 cm in size.
The flowers are almost white, and their panicles are 17 cm long. With the arrival of autumn, the tree is replenished with fruits dark blue. This type of privet has taken root ideally in cities, and can tolerate significant frosts very well (down to -15 degrees) and does not require a lot of sunlight.
Oval-leaved privet- a species more common in Japan. It is represented by shrubs whose height and width are 4 m. This variety is distinguished by bright green oval leaves about 6 cm long. As in previous version, flowers have White color, and their panicle reaches 10 cm.
Important! The black glossy fruits of the oval-leaved privet are very poisonous, so you should handle them with extreme caution.
- more of an ornamental plant, distinguished by bright golden leaves, which can decorate the garden well both in summer and in winter time of the year. Overall this unpretentious shrub still requires good lighting and sufficiently moist soil, and without these conditions it will grow poorly. The leaves are oval, two-colored (green in the middle and golden on the sides). The flowers are cream, collected in a panicle, the size of which is 10 cm, and the berries, as in the previous version, are very dangerous for humans. Japanese privet- an evergreen shrub 3-4 m high. It should be noted that this species is very demanding on the composition of the soil, although it tolerates frost and lack of light very well. Flowering period Japanese bush shorter than other varieties of privet, but it holds its shape perfectly and takes root well in city gardens. This type of shrub can be called a highly ornamental plant, which is largely due to its leathery dark green leaves, compact crown and blunt top.
Did you know? The specified variety of privet shrub is used as a hedge material in landscape design since 1845. It is great for both single plantings and for decorating edges.
Species Aurea (aureum)- another valuable variety of privet, distinguished by variegated leaves. It is this feature that makes it such a popular look among designers. Aurea bushes reach up to 3 m in height and up to 2 m in width, which allows them to fit perfectly into the interior of any garden. Elliptical leaves of dark color are complemented by a yellow border, and the flowers have a soft cream color and are collected in neat panicles. This variety is unpretentious to soil composition and tolerates minor droughts well. Moreover, Aurea is a frost-resistant species, although in the central part of Russia it is advisable to cover the plant. If the winter is not very cold and snowy enough, then privet bushes of this species may not shed their leaves.
View of "Sines"(or, as it is also called, "ligostrum chinensis") is no less popular among gardeners. About a million hectares of land in different regions of the planet are given over to plants of this variety. This evergreen shrub can reach seven meters in height, and original look made him very popular among landscape designers.
The green leaves, about 7 cm long and about 3 cm wide, fall off during the winter.
is a dark green shrub that is a variety of Chinese privet. The plum-white flowers form in clusters, thereby giving the plant a pleasant appearance. The leaves are pointed, and along their edges there is a golden border. This garden bush is not large in size, and its height ranges from 1.2 to 1.5 m.
Rules for planting common privet
Like any other plant, common privet requires compliance with certain planting rules. Do not forget that this plant is a “resident” of the undergrowth, so it can withstand the lack of sunlight. Moreover, privet is not afraid of drought and is unpretentious in the choice of soil. However, the plant will not grow well in acidic and dry conditions. sandy soils. Therefore, if you want it to reach the peak of its beauty, you need to properly prepare the soil: it should be moderately moist, nutritious and slightly alkaline.
The optimal soil composition is considered to be a mixture of turf, humus and sand in a ratio of 3:2:1. It is better to plant the plant in an open area, 70-100 cm away from buildings. As for the specific time of transplantation, it can be done at any time during the growing season, but best of all - in the spring, before the buds swell. True, some people like to land ornamental shrubs in the fall, on the contrary, they believe that the ideal time for planting privet is September-October.
Before planting bushes, be sure to dig up the selected area to the depth of a spade bayonet, and then dig a hole. Its dimensions should correspond to the value 65x65, and its depth should be greater than the privet root system (ideally, it should be 30 cm larger). After digging a hole, fill it with water and wait until the liquid is absorbed. Then add a layer of crushed stone 10-20 cm thick to the bottom and form a mound from the soil mixture (nitroammophos and other useful minerals are mixed into the soil). A privet seedling is placed on a mound, its roots are straightened and the hole is filled with the same soil mixture, only without fertilizers.
Within a month you will have to ensure that the soil around the seedling does not dry out, and after that it will be possible to mulch the area around the privet with a layer of peat 5-8 cm thick.
How to care for privet
Caring for privet should begin even before it is planted in the ground. Selection correct composition soil is the first stage on the way to successful cultivation plants. The soil must be fertile, with an average level of acidity and have a drainage system (at a depth of about 60 cm). In addition, you need to add a little lime to the prepared soil.
Experienced summer residents advise growing the plant on sunny place, although in the shade it will feel very good. Privet also calmly copes with drought, waterlogging and is able to unwaveringly tolerate frosts in winter, although a decrease in air temperature to -35°C can lead to the death of the bush.
Watering
One of the main points of caring for privet is the process of watering it. Despite the fact that this plant can easily tolerate dry days, if it is not watered at all, the cracked soil will destroy the bush. That is why The plant should be watered and sprayed as often as possible, especially when it is very hot outside. To avoid flooding the bush, try reducing the number of waterings and at the same time increasing the volume of water at a time. The soil only needs to be wetted to a depth of 50 cm.
It is a fact that privet will grow in almost any conditions, but how quickly it will grow largely depends on the quality of watering. It should be noted that a growing tree often requires 30-40 liters of liquid per day.
Weed removal and pruning
Second important question when caring for the plant, this is pruning privet. In most cases, this procedure is carried out in the spring, when diseased branches are removed by thinning the bushes. Hedges are trimmed in May and August, and in winter it is advisable to bend the branches as close as possible to the ground and cover them with something, as they can easily freeze.
Fertilizing privet
Privet is fertilized once every 2-3 years, in early spring. If grayish or green spots appear on the leaves of bushes or trees, this means that the soil is summer cottage It has increased level acidity. In this case, do not forget to pay attention to the growing plants nearby: horsetail, wood lice, sorrel, plantain and tricolor violet, because these are the weeds that prefer acidic soils. To solve this problem and avoid the appearance of spots on the leaves, you need to periodically lim the soil. Typically this process occurs in autumn. Thin layer slaked lime is scattered in accordance with the level of soil acidity:
- light, sandy loam soils - 250-300 g/m2;
- medium-heavy podzolic soils - 300-440 g/m2;
- heavy humus, loamy and clay soils- 500-600 g/m2.
One more in a good way normalization of soil acidity is the use of dolomite flour. It helps enrich the soil with microelements valuable for plants: magnesium, potassium, etc.
The amount of dolomite flour introduced into open ground depends on the level of soil acidity:
- acidic soil (pH less than 4) requires 500-550 g/m2;
- medium acidic (pH 4.5-5.2) - 450-500 g/m2;
- slightly acidic soil (pH is 5.2-5.6) - 350-450 g/m2.
Reproduction of privet in the country
There are two possible ways propagation of the privet shrub: through cuttings and using seeds. Each of them is in demand under certain conditions.
In terms of reproduction, both evergreen privet and deciduous species of this plant are not particularly demanding. You can simply cut off part of the bush with a shovel and plant it, or dig up the root suckers and distance them from the mother bush. As for propagation by cuttings, it is best to carry it out in July, using young ends from this summer. When cuttings are carried out in June, you can also use last year’s branches.
The process of cutting privet is carried out in the same way as black currant: by choosing appropriate place(in the shade or in the sun), it is necessary to dig up and remove the roots of perennial weeds. Then manure or well-rotted compost is added to the soil and watered thoroughly. It is better to pour washed sand on top, into which privet cuttings are planted.
When propagating using layering, it is necessary to bend one of the lowest branches to the soil, and before digging in, make several grooves on the bark (a thin needle is used). After this, the branch is dug into the soil, and moss - sphagnum - is placed on top, or it is simply poured wet soil and is covered with a film (protects the soil from drying out). You can also pre-apply a hydrogel under the pressed branch, which will retain moisture and make it possible not to regularly water the buried branch for a whole month.