Privet is a very robust plant that grows well even in nutrient-poor soil. So you can avoid fertilizing too often - regardless of whether you grow the privet as a shrub in the garden or in a container or plant it as a hedge. What do you have to consider when fertilizing?
How should you properly fertilize privet?
Privet requires little fertilization. Use mature compost, horn shavings or slow-release fertilizer such as conifer fertilizer in spring. Container plants benefit from liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Short-term fertilizer such as blue grain can be applied in late March and early August to promote growth.
How to fertilize privet?
- Mature compost
- Horn shavings
- Conifer fertilizer
- Long-term fertilizer
- Short-term fertilizer (blue grain)
If you have a compost heap, mature compost is definitely the best fertilizer. Otherwise, provide your privet with organic fertilizers from the garden supply store.
You only need to spread compost and horn shavings under the bush or hedge once a year. Rake it carefully into the ground.
Long-term fertilizer is also administered once a year. Even though privet is not a conifer, conifer fertilizer gives it exactly the nutrients it needs for he althy growth.
The best time to fertilize privet
Apply compost and horn shavings in the spring. The ideal time is April. This also applies to long-term fertilizers.
Fertilizing with short-term fertilizer takes place twice a year.
Some gardeners swear by fertilizing the privet shortly before or after so that the shrub grows back more quickly and becomes dense.
Tips for fertilizing with short-term fertilizer
When using short-term fertilizers such as green grain or blue grain, you must adhere to a relatively precise schedule. Fertilization should always be carried out approximately two weeks before new growth so that the nutrients can penetrate the soil in good time.
Blue grain or green grain are therefore administered at the end of March and beginning of August if the fertilization is to fulfill its purpose.
Fertilize privet in the bucket
Chinese privet, which is not hardy, is primarily used for care in the bucket. When caring for it in a pot, add some liquid fertilizer to the water every two to three weeks. It's even better if you repot the shrub in spring and place it in new garden soil.
If the pot is still large enough and therefore no repotting is necessary, simply replace the top layer of soil with fresh substrate.
Prepare soil properly when planting
You can almost completely avoid fertilizing outdoors if you ensure that the soil receives sufficient nutrients when planting.
Improve the potting soil with mature compost and horn shavings. Make sure that the substrate is permeable to water, because privet does not like waterlogging.
If the privet loses leaves, this is usually not a sign of a nutrient deficiency. The bush then received too little water. This happens more often in very dry periods.
Tip
Privet is a shallow-rooted plant. This means that it does not spread its roots very deeply into the soil. That's why privet needs to be watered regularly, especially when it's very young.
