Hi Raymond ... it may be that your privet has decided to 'be deciduous' this year, possibly because of the stress it may have been under during the summer drought.
Hi Raymond - I don't think there's a big problem with the hedge. As Dove has said, many of them will have suffered from the difficult weather this year, and privet is a hedge which loves lots of water. In cold weather they can get a bit black too, and as they aren't evergreen - only semi - it means that they can look a bit rough. It also looks like it's been clipped and then hasn't had time, and good enough weather, to recover well. One of those things really, but I think you'll find it'll perk up when the weather is a bit milder. Next spring, you can give it a wee helping hand, by giving it a liquid feed of something like seaweed, or a general fertiliser around it's base, after tidying up there. You can then mulch it in case you get a long dry spell again. It might be worth not trimming it too hard as well, to give it a chance of getting on it's feet again
It's quite hard stuff to kill, unless it's got a real disease of some kind. Let us know how you get on anyway.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have a lot of privet on my allotment which must be very old and a lot of it has gone brown in places but it doesn't worry me as I know it will be fine next year. Always seems to recover. Feel sure yours will be the same. Post a photo next year and I hope it will be looking good.
Thank you all I will wait and see what happens I am in the however midlands I did not cut my hedge a friend cut it for me I thought it looked a bit short I never cut it that tight Raymond
I agree that it's probably weather related after this summers heatwave @raymond409. The front hedge between us and nextdoor has gone the same with some blackened leaves on their side (facing south) and our side has some yellowing.
I'm not worried about ours, and predict it will bounce back with new fresh green growth in the spring. It always does... Established privet is as tough as old boots 😊.
@raymond409. Apologies for not getting back to you yesterday ... afraid life rather got in the way ... however as usual on here there was plenty of help available and I agree with everything @Fairygirl and the others have advised ... a spring tidy up around the base and a feed should rejuvenate your hedge.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Raymond Taylor 21/12/2018
As Dove has said, many of them will have suffered from the difficult weather this year, and privet is a hedge which loves lots of water. In cold weather they can get a bit black too, and as they aren't evergreen - only semi - it means that they can look a bit rough.
It also looks like it's been clipped and then hasn't had time, and good enough weather, to recover well. One of those things really, but I think you'll find it'll perk up when the weather is a bit milder.
Next spring, you can give it a wee helping hand, by giving it a liquid feed of something like seaweed, or a general fertiliser around it's base, after tidying up there. You can then mulch it in case you get a long dry spell again. It might be worth not trimming it too hard as well, to give it a chance of getting on it's feet again
It's quite hard stuff to kill, unless it's got a real disease of some kind. Let us know how you get on anyway.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Raymond
The front hedge between us and nextdoor has gone the same with some blackened leaves on their side (facing south) and our side has some yellowing.
I'm not worried about ours, and predict it will bounce back with new fresh green growth in the spring.
It always does... Established privet is as tough as old boots 😊.
Kitty 2
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.