Can I take cuttings from a well established privet hedge? want to plant a hedge one side of my lottie to stop my nosy neighbour from just walking on to it whenever he feels like it. Seem to remember reading that they take quite easily if I heeled off some fresh pieces and potted on till next spring. Any advice please?
Hardwood cuttings work well. I have taken quite long bits, trimmed the leaves off, well rubbed them off with my fingers, and pushed them into the soil. They root easily but it will be 12 months before they do much. A sandy soil will work best but most any soil will do.
When a I worked at Weston Park, the Bradford Estate tree nursery, John the nursery man marked the end of tree lines with twigs of privet, and flowering currant, and forsythia, and most of them took.
Would it be best to keep them potted up until they reach a reasonable height?
Its up to you, personally I would put them in the ground as you have to worry less about watering, but they should do fine in pots.
All the cuttings I took last autumn from my rosemary bush have rooted so am going to use them as hedging instead, should be Ok do you think?
Hallo, I have used Rosemary for a low hedge at the base of espalliered apple trees all holding hands in a row . I also grew a climbing rose Albertina through the branches of the trees. Any way it looks lovely...but the Rosemary must be trimmed often to force it to grow nice and compact and prolong it,s life . You dont have to do this normally ,just if you are growing it as a low hedge. It is a very therapeutic job to do since it smells divine and you can use the clippings for your dinner or more cuttings .
Hope this helps . :) Rohaise