Gardening – Frost-proof hedging: Privet

With JAMES KILKELLY R.H.S., H.N.D Amenity Hort. www.gardenplansireland.com   THEY say that in times of trouble you should look to your own. Those that are closest to you are supposed to see you through a rough patch, allowing you to emerge the other side buoyed up as much as possible. Could what is true for humans also be true for our garden plants? Well, it certainly seemed so throughout the winter of 2010/11 when all around me the imported types of hedging were being frozen solid while our local hedging plants, the natives, were standing 'chest out' against the cold. One of the most prominent examples of this was our native Irish privet, which is also known as Ligustrum vulgare. This tough individual seemed to be invincible, even clinging on to its green leaves in the depths of sub-zero temperatures, and eventually only shedding them grudgingly because of the extended cold period. For those of you who hate to see a bare, leafless garden throughout winter, you will be pleased to know that the leaves clothing our common privet are semi-evergreen. This means that the oval, pointed and slightly glossy leaves will remain on the bush in all but the very coldest Irish winters (see winter 2010/11). A few of the leaves growing opposite each other up along the stems tend to turn a light purple in colour during mild winters, but they don't shed. I'd be well prepared to put up with some elements of leaf shed provided my hedge came through a harsh winter alive. And come through it privet will. How does the ability to cope with temperatures of -25°C suit you? Blast from the past Although a native of old, its dark berries were once used by the early Irish to supply a blue dye for colouring clothing, the plant is just as important today. For one, it is extremely tolerant of atmospheric pollution, one of modern life's downsides. Another benefit is privet's ability to grow happily in the full shade of a wall, a planting location that is becoming quite common in today's world of housing estates and their associated small back gardens. I would class native privet as a suckering or thicket-forming shrub; its erect, multi-branched stems providing welcome cover for our local birds. The stems, which are greyish-brown in colour and smooth to the touch can be expected to grow at a rate of 1.5 ft a year under good conditions, eventually reaching a maximum height and spread of 12 ft (four metres). The plant's thin, immature stems commonly have a slightly downy covering that disappears after about the first year. In the summer from June to July the privet produces cone-like clusters of creamy-white tubular flowers with a strong scent, one which some people find overpowering or unpleasant. Not so the numerous insects and especially moths that rely on them for nectar. This brings us to the fruit of the privet, a direct and decorative result of the flowers. The shiny black berries not only look lustrous from September to October, they provide a feast for our native birds, with the thrush being particularly active around any Irish privet hedges I have seen. So if you plant Ligustrum vulgare within your garden, I can see you winning lots of bonus points from the local insect and bird population, bonus points that often result in a reduction of your greenfly and slug numbers. At a glance If you still need more encouragement to choose privet as your replacement hedging variety, then have a look at this: Native privet (Ligustrum vulgare) â€Â¢ Spaced at 30 cm (1 ft) apart, native privet creates a semi-evergreen hedge that is eight to 12 ft tall at a moderate growth rate. â€Â¢ It's a hedge with decorative flowers and fruit. â€Â¢ It copes well with shade. â€Â¢ It copes well with sub-zero temperatures. â€Â¢ It looks right at home in rural areas. â€Â¢ It will tolerate most planting situations (dry or chalky soils). â€Â¢ It supports moths, butterflies, and birdlife. â€Â¢ It creates a loose screen, which can be cut back hard if needed. â€Â¢ It is a native plant, so you are planting a piece of our natural history.   Important note: The attractive fruits of privet are poisonous. So mind those children. Until next week, happy gardening and remember that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.