Shear a formal privet hedge two or three times from late spring to late summer, and keep the base wider than the top so light reaches the lower leaves.
Shear two or three times from late spring to late summer, and keep the base wider than the top
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Formal timing | Two to three shears from late spring through late summer | Do not shear in late fall; new growth will not harden before frost |
| Shape | Wider at the base than at the top, so light reaches the lower leaves | Do not cut a wall that is wider at the top |
| Flowers | Wait until after bloom if you want the white panicles | Do not shear a formal hedge and expect a full bloom |
| Height | Let a typical hedge sit taller than a low boxwood edging | Do not try to keep a fast privet under three feet |
A formal privet hedge needs regular shears through the growing season, not one annual cut. [1] Japanese privet takes that same late-spring start. Stop by late summer so the last flush can harden. [2] If you want the white flowers, wait until they finish, then tidy, because a clipped hedge puts on fewer panicles. Golden Ticket wants a light tidy so the gold holds, not a hard green-hedge shear. If you still need to site a new plant, see How to Grow Privet.
When should I prune privet?
Shear a formal hedge two or three times from late spring to late summer. Stop before late fall. Wait until after bloom if you want the flowers.
How to prune privet
Use sharp shears or a hedge trimmer. Cut on a dry day, not in a heat wave, so the wounds dry cleanly.
- Stretch a string, or use the existing line, so the face stays straight.
- Keep the base wider than the top. A pyramidal outline lets light hit the lower leaves. [3]
- Clip the newest flush. Repeat when the hedge puts on another six inches or so, two or three times through summer.
- Stop by late summer so new shoots can harden before frost. Do not take a late-fall cut that pushes soft growth into winter.
- For an informal plant, wait until the white panicles finish, then tidy. A hard shear before bloom takes the flowers.
How do I keep the bottom from going bare?
Keep the base wider than the top. A hedge that is wider at the top shades the lower leaves, and those shoots drop.
Cut an overgrown hedge hard in late winter
Privet resprouts from old wood. Cut an overgrown hedge hard in late winter, before spring growth, down to about four to twelve inches if you need a full rebuild. [4] Water the new shoots through that first summer, and do not shear them until they have leaves enough to feed the stumps. Pick a kind on Types of Privet.
Can I cut privet to the ground?
Yes, in late winter before growth starts. Cut to about four to twelve inches. Midsummer stumps on a heat wave are a harder recovery.
Root a stem cutting in summer
Privet roots readily from a stem cutting, so do not take cuttings of a listed seeder where the plant is invasive. Where it is legal to grow, take a six- to eight-inch cutting of new wood in summer, strip the lower leaves, and stick it in a draining mix that stays barely moist until roots hold.
- Confirm the plant is legal to grow where you live. Do not multiply Japanese, Chinese, or common privet where they are listed invasive.
- Cut a six- to eight-inch piece of new wood just below a node, and strip the leaves from the lower half.
- Stick the cutting in a pot of draining mix. Keep the mix barely moist, out of harsh midday sun, until a gentle tug meets resistance.
If the top is wider than the base, cut the top back this season so light reaches the lower leaves — do not wait for the bottom to go bare.
FAQ
Does privet need pruning every year?
A formal hedge does. Two or three shears a season keep it dense. An informal plant needs only a tidy after it flowers.
Should I shear Golden Ticket as hard as a green hedge?
No. Golden Ticket holds better color with a light tidy. A hard, frequent shear is for a green Japanese screen, not the gold.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-prune-formal-hedges - [2] Nature Hills -
https://naturehills.com/blogs/garden-blog/privet-hedge-pruning - [3] Mississippi State University Extension -
https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/pruning-landscape-plants - [4] Iowa State University Extension -
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/pruning-large-overgrown-shrubs
This note is part of Ligustrum Guides.
More pruning timing notes by plant live in Pruning Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors