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Privet Bush

17 years ago

I have some sort of privet bush growing in front of our house. We planted it just a few years ago, but it's rapidly grown as tall as a tree and really needs to be pruned. It seems to be evergreen. The leaves are a variegated green and white. I'm not sure if it's Japanese or Chinese privet, but it grows like wildfire and now completely obscures my front door.

When is the correct time to prune this thing?

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Comments (4)

Iris GW
17 years ago
If it is variegated then it is the Chinese one. The japanese one has bigger leaves anyway, so that is also how you can tell the difference.

It can be pruned any time. If you prune it all the way to the ground, it will likely revert to the green form and you will lose the variegation.

You can see how a plant like this has taken over the roadsides of the southeast ... it can be quite a vigorous grower. If it ever forms any seeds, please cut them off and put them in the trash. If it reverts to the green form, please consider replacing it. The green form is the number one invasive plant in the southeast.
auhort1990
17 years ago
I once had a professor at Auburn that always said it was his mission in life to eradicate this world of Chinese Privet.

As for the variegated form..when I was in B'ham AL we used to prune them down to about a foot every year and they seemed to grow back just fine.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
lets be realistic ... if it grows like wildfire ... it is probably in the wrong place ....

if it were me ... i would move it completely, AT THE APPROPRIATE time ... which i do not know for your zone ....

and replace it with something more suited to the primary focus point of your home .... this is the place where you make your first impression to the world ... it should not be a place for a rather aggressive plant that needs to be whacked to the ground two or three times a year to keep it in shape ... as the root structure continues to mature... severe pruning of the top is only going to lead to more and faster top growth ....

is this really what you want in its current location ....

if it grows like the weed you suggest it is.. it will take to transplant rather easily ... if done at the appropriate time

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keepsakeportraits_mac_com
12 years ago
Live in Overland Park, KS 66210 near Kansas City, MO border. Our Privets (4) seems very thin, not a lot of foliage. They develop flowers but by July bushes have very little foliage and look terrible. One of them does not look as bad. Not as protected as others. Also others are surrounding our air conditioner. They have been there for many years, but just don't look well.
They are up against the house on South side and in shade.
Can any of this have to do with their poor growth?

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