Ligustrum are evergreen shrubs that are easy to grow! These tough plants are pest, deer, and disease resistant and make excellent hedges. Enjoy fragrant white flowers in summer. Check out our collection and pick out your favorite Ligustrum. Order online today for fast delivery to your doorstep!
You can prune privet anytime of the year, but avoid pruning in late fall in zone 7 and even 8a. Pruning stimulates new growth that is sensitive to damage from freezing temperatures. The damaged leaves generally just self prune though and it doesn’t affect the overall health of the bush. If you want to perform severe rejuvenation pruning do this in late winter or early spring.
You can start training your Ligustrum plant into a tree form at any age, but by doing it at a younger age it will be less stress on the tree and less work for you! Start by choosing 1 to 3 or the most vigorous branches to be your trunk(s). Prune all other branches away. Wait until the following year to perform anymore cuts. As your Ligustrum tree grows remove any lateral branches that are less than 4 feet from the ground to shape your canopy.
Sunshine Ligustrum is a sterile variety that does not produce flowers. Wavy Leaf Privet blooms in spring, generally starting in May, but other Japanese Privet like Curly Leaf and Howardi flower in summer.
These bushes are very fast growing. Japanese Ligustrum can easily grow over 2 feet per year with no care. Even smaller varieties like the Sunshine Ligustrum can put on a foot in height in a single year. You definitely won’t be disappointed with the fast growth rate of Privet bushes.
Plant Howardi and Wavy Leaf Privet about 4-5 feet apart for a privacy hedge and 7-8 feet apart for showcasing individual plants. Plant dwarf Ligustrum, Curly Leaf Privet, 3 feet apart for privacy. If you want to make a low privet hedge with Sunshine Ligustrum, plant about 3 feet apart.
When planting Ligustrum bushes, start by digging a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth. Place your shrub in the hole. Be sure the top of the root ball is slightly higher than your existing soil line and backfill with the soil you removed. Water deeply at the base of your plant until the water begins to pool. Mulch new plants to help the soil retain moisture, reduce weeds, and protect the roots.
