Removing Privet hedge our of a laurel hedge

t-thorne

Hi,

We have a strong laurel hedge but have two patches of privet growing in between and want to take out the privet without damaging the main laurel hedge. Then replace the gaps with more laurel. 

Any advice on if this is safe and best methods to remove and replace. 

Thanks 
Tony

t-thorne

Would the weed killer not effect the laurel 

Fairygirl

Not if you apply it carefully. You can always cut the laurel back a bit to get access to the privet.
Without a photo to get a sense of the sizes though, it's difficult.

amancalledgeorge

If it was mine I'd keep the privet...much nicer. But I'm jesting

Lizzie27

If you cut back the privet to just above soil level, you can very carefully drip a teaspoon full of SBK killer on the stump(s), then secure a plastic bag over the top to keep it dry.
The SBK will kill the stumps and be absorbed into the roots, hopefully killing the whole plant without harming the laurel. Read the instructions very carefully and wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.

Lyn

Can you get a pick axe in under the privet plants? Better than poison in my opinion and instantly gone.

t-thorne

Lizzie27

@t-thorne That looks the other way round to me, mostly a privet hedge with patches of laurel!
I'm guessing that some of the privet died off and has been replaced with laurel? As there's more privet, it looks like you could dig most of it out but you would of course be left without any privacy for a couple of years whilst the new laurel was growing. Is there a reason why you'd prefer to get rid of the privet?   

t-thorne

The privet doesn’t grow equally with the laurel. The laurel is a nicer hedge in our opinion. The front part so all laurel up to half way to the dividing hedge. Then it’s bits n bobs, 

Lyn

As the privet is mostly grouped together you should be able to cut it and pick axe it out. 

Fairygirl

I'd agree with @Lyn. If you cut that back at each end of the 'patches' it shouldn't be too difficult to cut right down and dig out.
The laurel will fill out very quickly, so be prepared for a bit of work keeping it in order!