Cut-tolerant and fast-growing, privet is a very popular hedge choice. Learn how to trim a privet hedge the right way.
27.10.2023
June is a good time to trim a privet hedge, and additional trimming is possible at the end of August
Observe the provisions set forth in the German Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz): Do not deeply prune a privet hedge between 1 March and 30 September
The dramatic pruning of a privet hedge is sometimes useful for old or diseased privets; shaping is particularly effective for young privets
Trim the height of a privet hedge by one to two thirds to rejuvenate it
To make your privet hedge grow denser, you should trim it into a trapezoidal shape so that all parts of the hedge receive sufficient sunlight
Gentle shaping or maintenance pruning of a privet hedge is always permitted.
However, in accordance with Section 39(5) sentence 2 of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act, hedges must not be removed or dramatically pruned between 1 March and 30 September. This provision is intended to protect breeding and nesting birds.
You can choose what height to cut your privet hedge to. However, you should check whether there are any prevailing regulations in your municipality or city regarding the maximum hedge height.
A privet hedge grows quickly – up to 40 centimetres per year under good conditions, depending on the variety. So regular privet pruning is worthwhile.
How often you should trim your privet hedge depends more on aesthetic considerations than botanical requirements.
The more neatly shaped you want your privet hedge to look, the more often you should trim it – at least twice a year, or three times for specific topiary shapes.
From a botanical point of view, it is a good idea to prune a privet hedge back hard before spring, as this means the hedge can still grow vigorously afterwards – and you won't disturb any breeding birds.
Deep pruning is forbidden between 1 March and 30 September under Section 39(5) sentence 2 of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act. For this reason, one of the best times to cut your privet hedge is at the end of February.
You can prune privet right back to the old wood. You can easily cut your privet hedge down in height by one to two thirds. However, please do make sure that you leave the growth nodes intact so that they can branch off later.
To make your privet denser, you should trim the hedge regularly, especially during the first few years – because privets will reshoot from the cut sections later.
You should also trim your privet hedge into a trapezoidal shape so that the lower sections do not die off due to a lack of sunlight.
To make your privet hedge appear denser, you can also fill individual gaps in a hedge by pulling adjacent branches across the gaps and tying them together.
You can cut your privet hedge as narrow as you like depending on the space available and your personal taste – a width of 40 to 60 centimetres is easily possible.
Privet is a low-maintenance cut-friendly shrub which is popular with gardeners and can grow to form a privacy screening hedge.
As privet grows quickly, you should trim your privet hedge regularly to maintain a clear hedge shape – and always take into account the appropriate pruning period.
Beware of poisonous hedges
Some shrubs and hedges are poisonous. You should always wear gloves when touching freshly cut stem of thuja, cherry laurel and cypress. Caution should also be exercised when handling privet and boxwood.
Always make sure you wear the right protective clothing when pruning and maintaining your hedge.
The best time to cut your privet hedge into shape is mid- to late June. You may also wish to perform an additional cut at the end of August, before autumn, or in September to ensure that your hedge looks neat and tidy.
A dry, cloudy day is perfect for trimming.
For old privet hedges, one cut per year is sufficient.
When considering when to trim your privet hedge, you should bear in mind that deep pruning is only permitted between the beginning of October and the end of February, in accordance with Section 39(5) sentence 2 of the German Federal Nature Conservation Act.
You should ideally choose a cloudy, dry and frost-free day to trim your privet hedge so that the plant is not damaged.
Whether it’s deep pruning, a rejuvenation cut or gentle shaping, there are a few steps you should take before and after cutting your privet hedge.
You should wear personal protective equipment before working with poisonous privet to prevent injuries when trimming hedges. You should also check carefully to see whether there are any birds in the hedge before cutting the privet, and should have a clean, sharp cordless hedge trimmer and secateurs to hand.
Garden waste must be disposed of correctly after the hedge has been trimmed. Simply mix the privet cuttings with kitchen waste to speed up the decomposition process. Once you’ve completed a rejuvenation cut, it’s a good idea to shred your privet waste, for example using the STIHL GHE 250 electric shredder.
As privet tolerates cutting very well, you can radically trim back your privet hedge without any problems. However, bear in mind that privet regrows more slowly after radical pruning than after regular pruning.
To get an old or diseased privet hedge into new growth again, you can try cutting it back hard, i.e. cutting it off at a hand’s width above the ground with an electric chainsaw.
Cutting prohibited!
You must observe the ban on hedge trimming between the beginning of March and the end of September.
If you want to deeply prune your privet, you must do so by the end of February at the latest.
You can cut your privet back as far as the old wood to rejuvenate it.
To do so, use a cordless hedge trimmer such as the STIHL PB 20 pruning shears to cut your privet to one to two thirds of its original height and trim back the side shoots. You should leave about three centimetres of growth on the plant so the privet can reshoot from there.
Whether cones, balls or spirals, privets are ideal for an aesthetically pleasing topiary cut. This works particularly well with young privet.
Start with a rough shape and work towards ever more refined lines, best achieved with the help of a template. Cordless hedge trimmers are ideal for the initial rough cutting but you should switch to manual secateurs for finer work. For a well-groomed appearance, trim your privet hedge regularly, especially during the summer months.
To make your privet hedge denser, you should trim it frequently, especially in the first few years, as it encourages stems to branch and forked growth to form.
You should cut your privet into a trapezoidal shape to ensure dense growth even in the lower sections – this will ensure daylight reaches your hedge evenly and that it does not turn brown, and will also help snow slide off the hedge more easily in winter.
To ensure that you can enjoy your privet hedge for a long time to come, we recommend that you try to identify and treat hedge disorders and fill gaps in the hedge.
