Unlike many other hedge plants, the deciduous privet is one of the robust representatives that rarely suffers from diseases and pests. What diseases and pests can occur and what can you do about them?
What diseases can affect privet and how to treat them?
Privet is robust and rarely affected by disease. Possible problems include fungal infestation, root rot or pest infestation. Symptoms include curled, yellow or falling leaves and whitish coating. Countermeasures include pruning, thinning, biological pesticides, irrigation and fertilization.
Diseases rarely occur in privet
Privet is extremely robust and hardly susceptible to disease. If diseases occur or pests attack the shrub, the privet can usually deal with it itself. The following problems may occur:
- Fungal infestation
- Root rot
- Pest Infestation
They manifest themselves through various symptoms:
- Leaves curl up
- Leaves turn yellow
- Leaves fall off
- Leaves get whitish coating
Most fungal diseases and root rot are caused by a lack or excess of moisture. The privet likes it a little moist, but doesn't cope well with waterlogging.
Leaves curl up and fall off
Leaf curling usually occurs in spring when the privet aphid appears. The hedge then no longer looks as nice, but the privet is hardly at risk. The leaves grow back again in summer.
If there is a very severe infestation and if the privet is generally not very strong, you should use suitable remedies against aphids (€9.00 on Amazon).
Privet gets yellow leaves
Yellow leaves and/or lots of spots on the leaves are caused by leaf spot fungus. It occurs in very humid summers.
You can combat it by generously cutting infected branches and thinning out the bush. If necessary, put the privet on stock. He tolerates that without any problem.
You can of course also use biological pesticides from the garden supply store.
Leaves dry up
If many leaves become dry and fall off, it may be due to insufficient soil moisture. Under certain circumstances, the black weevil, or rather its larvae, is also responsible for this.
If there is a severe infestation, you can fight this insect with nematodes from the garden supply store.
Privet loses leaves
Privet is not evergreen. This means that it sheds its leaves in winter. This is a completely natural process. Some privet species such as Privet atrovirens keep the foliage on the bush longer. They are therefore preferably planted as privet hedges. Over the course of the winter, this species also loses most of its leaves.
Whitish coating indicates mildew
Powdery mildew is also not dangerous for privet. It occurs more frequently if the privet's location is very dry. It can help to sprinkle the privet hedge with water more frequently in the morning hours.
The privet only dies in the rarest of cases, so you don't have to worry too much.
Tip
If the privet is very weak, you should think about additional fertilization. Add mature compost and horn shavings under the bushes. Conifer fertilizer can also be used for fertilization.