Plant ID Please

ProfCool

Hi all, I have just moved to a new build house and have this growing at the front. It has been planted in a way that suggests it will grow into a hedge but just wanted to ID it so I know how to look after it correctly. Can anyone help and let me know what this is?

Thanks

Pete.8

Looks like privet to me

Fairygirl

Me too 
It'll need a bit of trimming to get it bushier, but other than that, it won't need much attention. 

Dovefromabove

Pete.8 said:

Looks like privet to me

Me too.  If they were mine I reduce the height of the whole hedge to about 3 ft at the most.  That'll encourage them to bush out and form a thick hedge ... at the moment they're just getting tall and lanky and will never make a good dense hedge.  

ProfCool

Thanks all. Can I keep it short? It's at eye level and I don't want it blocking the view out of the window.

Dovefromabove

Yes ... as per my post above (think we cross-posted).  

ProfCool

Thanks, and apologies for all the questions but I am very much a gardening novice, when is the best time of year to trim back?

Fairygirl

You can do it now if you feel like it and there's no major frosts forecast for the next few days, and even then, it won't kill it. Privet's very tough. 

ProfCool

Thank you