Question: I planted a privet hedge about 10 years ago. It's at the end of its life. It's overgrown and brittle and the rabbits are having a field day.

Privet is one of those plants that can divide gardeners into two camps. Some love the evergreen leaves coloring the winter landscape, providing the base for beautiful formal topiaries and hedges.

Privet hedges have long been derided as a symbol of suburban conformity. But the hedges are undergoing a nostalgic revival according to plant suppliers as they are 'bulletproof' and able to deal ...

Privet, is a deciduous shrub growing to 2-7 m tall, with densely hairy shoots. The leaves are opposite, 2-7 cm long and 1-3 cm broad, rarely larger, with a smooth leaf edge and a 2-8 mm leaf stem.

Based on my experience, the most reliable plant for the conditions you describe is glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum), referenced in horticultural literature as an “evergreen tree.” ...

For a 6-foot hedge, plant hemlocks 6 feet apart. For an 8-foot hedge, 8 feet apart, and so on. Yew is also good, but generally is pruned to stay lower, and deer love to eat it.

The best time to prune flowering hedges will depend on the type of hedge, but a good general rule of thumb is to prune straight after they have flowered. As with when to prune shrubs, prune flowering ...