My mother has rows of privet hedge that are quite old. The hedge is serving a purpose in that it is planted in areas at the top of sloping land and we believe it serves to prevent the erosion of the slope, and it also is along boundaries of her property. The areas with hedge, if added together, is in excess of 150 feet. But the hedge is probably 40 years old and is now spindly and thin.

Question: Is there a way to trim, or prune and/or fertilize the hedge to make it thick and beautiful?

Question: If we have to remove the hedge because it is a lost cause, what plants would you recommend for replacment? Because of the amount of hedge we would have to replace we also need something that would be affordable. Are there plantings other than hedge or trees that would serve to prevent the erosion of the slopes, and should we consider those?

Traci, The good news (which you have probably already figured out) is privet are really very tough plants. You can completely rejuvenate them by cutting the branches down to 4-6 inches from the ground in late March. Once they get to the height you want trim them in a keystone shape. In other words make sure the lower part of the shrub is wider than the top. That way sun can reach the lower branches and they wont get so leggy. Happy pruning.

I have a golden privet that I "severed" five years ago and it came backl wonderfully. It is now 9 feet high. However, this year, the side which faces my patio is barren and leafless while the side facing the yard has full growth of golden leaves. I realize that the outer side gets the sun but the inner part of the plants formerly had full growth as well. Can I do anything to promote a regrowth of the inside of this hedge?

Frank, With 9 feet of growth it sounds like it doesnt get enough sun on that side. It needs to be trimmed to allow more light into the plant by opening areas to light. Trim back individual branches on the sunny side to open the other side to light. Hard to explain without pix. Next spring I would suggest another severing.

Would cutting down to 4-6 inches work for a privet that has gotten to the point where there isn't any (or very much) foilage down that low? I would say the hedge is approximately 3 to 4 feet tall and no foilage for at least the first third of the plant (from the ground up). In other words, it is bare for the first foot or so from the ground up. I would be cutting it down to where it looks dead, although it can't be since there is foilage at the top.

Would cutting down to 4-6 inches work for a privet that has gotten to the point where there isn't any (or very much) foilage down that low? I would say the hedge is approximately 3 to 4 feet tall and no foilage for at least the first third of the plant (from the ground up). In other words, it is bare for the first foot or so from the ground up. I would be cutting it down to where it looks dead, although it can't be since there is foilage at the top.