Lisa, you can trim them back to 12" now, depending on how low you want to start the branching, or you can wait until they grow another 12" and cut them back by 6". I don't know if you cut them back at planting time...the idea is where ever you cut them back, the branch will divide into two branches, then when you cut them back the next time, those two branches will now become four branches, etc. I'd say if you want a really tight screen very close to the base, cut them back to 12" now. Typically, they will require three trimmings throughout the growing season, so the "three times" is an average, it really depends on growth rate for you. After three years, the hedge will maintain it's shape, but it will still require regular pruning three times annually to maintain the shape and height you desire. It is not a low maintenance hedge from that standpoint. Kitty, mine are deciduous - at least in my zone, they lose all the leaves over the winter months, so it is not year round privacy. As far as pets getting through the base of the shrub, I have chihuahuas and boston terriers, they can walk through the base right now if they wanted to, but I suspect they won't in future years due to dense branching. We also staggered ours at planting time, and they're planted maybe 16-18" apart from eachother, in staggered rows. I'm sure wrought iron edgers would work well, but I'd start branching them at the 12" mark to ensure you have a full hedge top to bottom. As the shrubs mature, edgers might not be needed. I can't comment on the fullness at maturity as I'm only going on the third year with my privets. As far as trimming, I HOPE mine top 10 feet (nothing against my neighbors) for privacy next to our patio (we live on small lots). I've read differing heights for this shrub. If they do grow that tall for me, I suppose we'd use a ladder. Otherwise, maybe 8 feet or less is a better height for you, still a nice height for privacy, and just a few steps up a ladder. And yes! I did see Alice in Wonderland and I was drooling over those wonderful hedges...I am in love with formal English gardens and tall hedges alike. I can't wait for my privets to take off this year.

still confused.. what .... are you trying top challenge me??? ... lol in FL.. with an 11.5 month growing season... its going to grow a lot more... than it would in z4 WI.. where the soil is frozen solid for 5 months.. that isnt hard ... and you are closer to WI zone-wise.. than FL .. lol ... i think your biggest problem to getting a handle on this... is that one tag could have been printed in FL .. and one in WI ... WHY ARE YOU RELYING ON SOME TAG PRODUCED BY SOME TOTAL STRANGER ...??? [and that logic would flow to un-sourced web pages also] it will grow.. as it will grow.. in YOUR garden.. in YOUR soil.. in YOUR zone.. the way it will grow ... just plant them .. and dont worry about it ... sometimes the quest for knowledge.. makes one worry too much ... so you just end up doing it ... thx for the kind words.. and good luck ken

I also agree. Despite denial, when they mature (and for privet that doesn't take long) there will be distribution whether on your ground or somebody else's. It's a cheap hedge to put in so it's tempting, but there are a lot better alternatives and if you buy in bulk, you can get inexpensive starts much better suited to your locale and needs. Our soil and water conservation districts offer packets of such starts every year and I'm talking about availability of quantities in the hundreds very economically. While your at it, there are also a lot of shrubs who offer suitable habitat and food. Viburnums might be an option. Witch hazels. I have used blue and dwarf arctic willows occasionally and was please with the results. The dwarf arctic willows should top out about five to six feet and are tolerant of most any situation you can put them in. They'll get as full as they are tall, and are as full on the bottom as top. Standard or blue arctic willows get larger. Three to five years translates to fast growing, btw. Hey, also have had wonderful luck with deutia gracilis. It has the advantage of gorgeous blossoms as well. There are also dogwoods who would fill the bill.

Greekisme, Our neighbors cut down the pine trees between us last year. I could have cried! We have a magnificent view of each other's lives now, and since we're on the downhill side, there's NOTHING we can plant to totally block the view without having it take up half the yard at it's mature size. But, sometimes a little distraction is worth a large hedge - it depends on how MUCH privacy you want. We planted a good-sized dogwood tree a little way out from our picture window; when you look out, it draws the eye down and into the yard instead of up to the neighbor's deck and kitchen. A mixed/tapestry hedge might be more of a visual draw for you than a single-species hedge. On the other hand, a monochromatic hedge is a great foil for lower planting in front of it. In my part of central NY (zone 5/borderline 4) I've seen hedges from arborvitae (a.k.a. "deer candy), lilacs (very effective, but also quite wide unless you look for a more upright-growing cultivar - there are some), privet (a maintenance nightmare - pruning, pruning, pruning to keep any decent shape), burning bush (nice and thick, only needs pruning if you really want to keep it to a certain width - even the "dwarf" euonymus alatus 'Compactus' ones want to be 6 feet tall), yew (more deer candy), and rose of sharon (the double-flowered ones are a pain when it rains - they bend over and the bush gets deformed by the weight of the wet flowers, so the single ones are MUCH better). There's my two cents - good luck regaining your privacy!! Laurelin