Do you need to fertilize a privet hedge?
Privet grows very well on a well-drained, slightly humus-rich soil, even without fertilizer. A light fertilization can only be useful for younger hedges, where the roots are not yet well developed.
also read
- Fertilizing privet - what you need to consider
- The correct planting distance for privet in the hedge
- Fertilizing privet with blue grain - when and how?
Of course, the growth of the bushes can be stimulated by additional fertilization. But you should not overdo it, because the privet hedge cannot tolerate over-fertilization.
The right fertilizer for privet hedge
- Ripe compost
- Horn shavings
- Mulch cover
- Coniferous fertilizer
- Blue grain or green grain
Even if privet is not a conifer, the shrub is well taken care of by coniferous fertilizers. It is usually given as a slow release fertilizer once a year.
When is the privet hedge fertilized?
Give long-term fertilizers in spring just before the privet sprouts.
With short-term fertilizers like blue grain or green grain you have to fertilize twice, exactly according to the plan. Fertilization is only successful if the nutrients reach the roots in good time. You should therefore give short-term fertilizers about 14 days before new growth, i.e. at the end of April and beginning of August.
Compost and horn shavings (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) are scattered in spring and carefully worked into the soil with a rake.
Mulch cover protects and fertilizes at the same time
You can do without fertilizing completely if you spread a mulch blanket made of grass clippings, leaves, clippings, straw and other garden waste under the privet hedge.
The mulch material decomposes and the nutrients are continuously released into the soil by rain or watering.
At the same time, the mulch cover protects the soil from drying out and keeps the weeds under the hedge away.
Prepare the soil before planting the privet hedge
In depleted soils, you should improve the nutrient supply of the substrate while planting. Mix the potting soil with mature compost and horn shavings. Then the bushes are adequately supplied for the first few years.
Tips
If privet doesn't grow, it's usually not because of the food available. Often the roots of the shrub were not adequately watered before planting. Shadows are also not good for the privet.
