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Privet is described as a whole genus of shrubs and small trees that grow in Europe, Asia, as well as North Africa and Asia. Photos and descriptions of the privet bush are similar to the lilac known in Russia. This is not surprising - the plants are close relatives. Plantings of this kind are widely used in landscape design. They can be easily given almost any shape, but in an uncut state. bush looks very unkempt. Evergreen privet is more popular among landscape design professionals.
Description privet
This genus includes deciduous and evergreen varieties of shrubs, small trees. More than 50 types of privet are known from descriptions. It is unpretentious to care for, grows well in the shade, and therefore has become widespread in landscape design. Most often, the shrub is used as a hedge.
Privet leaves
The description of the leaves of the shrub states that they are small in size. The surface is leathery, glossy. The leaves are oval in shape, up to 6 cm long. The shrub, depending on the variety, can shed its leaves in cold periods or remain evergreen. There are also mixed types, when the plant partially sheds its foliage.
Flowering privet
The flowers of the ornamental shrub are white, collected in panicles. The aroma during flowering is strong but pleasant. After flowering, fruits are formed. Flowering begins in early June. If the climate is warm, then flowering may begin a week or two earlier. The entire period lasts three months. Blooming privet will always attract attention with its aroma, but in some varieties it is too harsh.
During the period when flowers are formed on the shrub, they become especially decorative and pleasant in appearance. The description of the shrub compares its flowers to snow covering the branches to the very top.
Privet berries
Fruits are bluish-black in color. They remain on the bush during the winter. The fruits are popularly known as "wolf berries". Each berry contains from 1 to 4 seeds, the fruits themselves are round in shape.
Privet height
Height from one and a half to three meters, depending on the specific species. There are dwarf varieties that are 60–100 cm high. The height can be adjusted by pruning. The main advantage of privet is that it can be given absolutely any shape by cutting: a ball, a cone, a pyramid.
Is privet poisonous or not
The berries and leaves of the bush are considered poisonous. Both people and animals can be poisoned. The berries contain tetroid glycosides, which cause poisoning, especially when consumed in large quantities. In this case, the bark and some other parts of the shrub are used for medicinal purposes. But it is important to know the exact recipe and use it strictly according to the recipe. The fact that privet is poisonous is important to remember for those who have small children in their families, so that decorating the site is not dangerous for them.
The main symptoms of poisoning: colic, weakness, diarrhea. Then loss of coordination of movements and convulsions is possible.In many cases, death is possible.
Privet in landscape design
The privet shrub is found in many landscape design photos. To decorate plots, it is used by both professionals and amateurs. There are many pictures of privet on the trunk as well as in sculptures. The shrub looks great in single plantings and in group compositions. Its use is popular in hedges. The species variety allows you to choose a shrub of such a height that will be optimal for the owner of the site. This plant is characterized by its use in topiary, as well as in alpine slides at an average height. Privet is found everywhere as a fence.
Types and varieties of privet
A huge number of varieties allows you to choose your own, suitable decor for every taste. For lovers of evergreen jewelry, there are varieties with non-falling leaves that will delight the eye even in winter. The types of privet differ in size, crown spreading, inflorescence length and other parameters.
Privet golden
This variety is considered one of the most popular in landscape design. It is a type of Japanese or oval-leaved shrub. The plant is semi-evergreen, that is, the foliage on the bush falls off partially. The leaves are bright in color, the shrub looks beautiful even in winter. Grows well in any conditions, does not like wet soil. He loves light, and therefore it is better to choose an illuminated area with a minimum of shadow. The leaves are glossy, oval in shape, 6 cm long. At the edges, the leaves have a golden edging.
The bark is grayish brown. The berries are black, glossy, poisonous to humans. Golden privet calmly tolerates winds, and therefore it is not necessary to plant it on weathered slopes.
Privet brilliant
Shiny privet grows in China, Korea, Japan. This shrub looks like a compact tree. The front side of the leaves is glossy, the leaves themselves are 15 cm long. The length of the inflorescences is 18 cm. The shrub blooms for three months. This is one of the most frost-resistant varieties that can perfectly tolerate frosts down to -15 ° C. But with a greater decrease in temperature, you will need to cover the shrub so that it survives a too cold winter.
Variegated privet
This is a type of Chinese privet. A characteristic feature - the leaves are long, pointed and with golden fields. Yellow-leaved privet has flowers in autumn. The shrub blooms in white with a creamy shade. It has a very pleasant aroma during flowering. But for the first time, the shrub will delight with flowers only 3 years after planting. This variety of privet also loves a lot of sunlight and requires choosing a spot with a minimum of shade to plant it. One of the fastest growing shrub varieties, it reaches a height of two meters. Often used as a hedge.
Privet Japanese
This species is found naturally in Japan and Korea, hence the name. Used for ikebana in Japan. It grows up to four meters in height. But in nature it can grow up to 8 meters, but the distinguishing feature is that this tree grows slowly. The crown is compact and dense. This shrub is easy to shape. Small leaves are dark green in color. Japanese privet has high cold resistance parameters, so it grows well in many regions of Russia. The flowers of the Japanese variety are white, but the smell is not very pleasant.
Privet Sinensa
Small shrub, native to China. This is a kind of common privet. In the conditions of Central Russia, it grows up to two meters, no more, although in a warmer climate this beautiful shrub can grow up to 5 meters. Frost-resistant, as it can withstand short-term frost down to -30 ° C in winter. But Sinensa can withstand such frosts only for a short period. If the winter is too frosty, then the bush will have to be covered.
In landscape design, this type of privet is used as a low hedge, in topiary sculptures, in the form of balls, squares and other forms.
Privet Argentum
Ligustrum privet of the Argentum variety is a wonderful plant. It blooms in June-July, and grows to about one and a half meters. It perfectly tolerates diseases and pests, as well as an easy and beautiful haircut. The shrub got its name for the color of the leaves, which seem to be powdered with white snow.
The variety is distinguished by drought tolerance, it perfectly tolerates rare watering. Dislikes too wet soil.
Privet Atrovirens
This is a common variety of common privet. It blooms from June to July, but the white flowers have a very pungent odor. The shrub has straight shoots. This is a semi-evergreen shrub that grows up to 4 meters in height. The leaves are shiny, dark green in color, and in winter they change to a purple-brown hue. But in the spring, these leaves fall off. Fruits are black, shiny with a few seeds. In general, the plant is considered unpretentious, but the shade does not always tolerate well.
Privet Molodushka
This variety is a deciduous shrub. The crown is rounded up to 5 meters in height. The branches of the shrub are thin, curved in shape. Inflorescences are collected in panicles up to 20 cm long. The flowers are white, the aroma is pleasant. The shrub blooms later than other varieties at the very end of summer and early autumn. Fruits are glossy, black-purple, ovoid. Dislikes damp, clayey soils. Poorly tolerates frosty winters, loves warmth, but at the same time it is drought-resistant. If it freezes in winter, it usually recovers easily in spring. It grows quickly, tolerates a haircut well.
Planting and leaving
In order for the ornamental shrub to please the eye of the owner for a long time and decorate the site, you need to plant and care for it correctly. It is important to choose the optimal landing time and location. The site may depend on the species, but the general conditions of care are almost the same, and there is no huge difference in watering and pruning for different species. Grooming is a mandatory aspect, since otherwise the shrub will look very sloppy and unkempt.
Landing rules
Garden privet is a cultivated plant, and therefore, when planting, you need to choose and prepare a place. First of all, you need to find a place. The shrub is not afraid of winds and can grow in the shade. As for the soil, privet is not capricious, but it is better not to grow it on acidic, sandy and dry soils or add a more nutritious mixture. When choosing a place, it should be borne in mind that the shrub should be a meter away from the nearest trees or buildings.
It is optimal to prepare the following mixture for planting: 2 parts of humus, 3 parts of turf, 1 part of sand. Planting is best done in the spring, until the buds open. But in the fall, planting privet is also allowed. It is important that she has time to take root before the first frost.
The hole for planting is 65 cm wide and 35 cm deep. More precisely, the depth should be determined by the type of seedling roots. The fossa should be slightly deeper and wider than the root system. Pour water on the bottom of the dug hole, and then pour a layer of rubble for drainage. The thickness of the layer is 20 cm. It is better to add nitroammofoski to the prepared nutrient composition and pour a small amount into the hole, preferably with a mound. From above, carefully spreading the roots, set the seedling. Then add the rest of the formula.
According to the planting rules, within 30 days after planting, the land around the seedling should not dry out, and then mulch is laid there, most often peat. You can also use straw for mulching.
For the manufacture of hedges, it is recommended to plant seedlings not in holes, but in trenches. The distance between the bushes is 40 cm. This is the optimal parameter for the hedge to obtain the desired density.
Watering and feeding
Most privet varieties tolerate drought well and do not like waterlogged soil.Therefore, it is not recommended to water the shrub too often. If there is enough rainfall in the summer, then watering is not needed at all. If the summer is dry, then you need to water rarely, but enough. At least three buckets of water should be poured under each bush. At the same time, four such irrigations are enough per season.
The plant needs feeding in the spring. It should be organic fertilizers. It is enough to add a bucket of humus or compost under each bush. If ornamental trees and privet shrubs are used in a hedge, then fertilizer must be distributed under each bush. On top you can add granular superphosphate. Top dressing is sprinkled with earth, it is imperative to water the seedling.
Loosening and mulching
The top layer of the earth must be loosened regularly. So air enters the roots better, less shrubs are exposed to diseases, especially those associated with high humidity. Initially, when planting, the earth must be dug well so that it is soft and loose.
Mulching helps to retain moisture, protects the plant from frost. Therefore, it is imperative to mulch the privet one month after planting and in the fall, before the winter frosts.
Pruning
Pruning is the most important aspect of privet care. This ornamental plant is fast-growing, and therefore formative pruning is necessary regularly. Unlike many other ornamental shrubs, privet should be pruned in the year of planting. This first pruning consists of trimming the tops of the shoots.
When the shoots grow 15–20 cm, they are shortened again. This will make the shrub more lush. Pruning will be needed during the first two years of the shrub's life.
Privet hedges are trimmed twice a year, in May and August. As with all plants, sanitary pruning is important for privet, which is carried out in order to remove diseased and frostbitten branches. This haircut is carried out in early spring. After removing all diseased branches, the remaining shoots are cut off by another third.
Preparing for winter
Privet easily tolerates relatively warm winters. Some varieties are able to withstand severe frosts. It is important to prepare the shrub for wintering so that you do not have to cut half a bush in the spring during sanitary pruning. In preparation for winter, you need to mulch the plant. It is optimal to do this with peat or straw. Layer thickness - 15 cm. As soon as enough snow falls, it is recommended to bend the maximum number of branches to the ground and sprinkle them with snow. Under a thick snow cover, there is a better chance of avoiding freezing of shoots.
Reproduction of privet
The privet shrub reproduces in several ways:
- seeds;
- layering;
- cuttings;
- root suckers.
The most laborious process is considered to be the process of growing decorative privet from seed. Therefore, propagation by cuttings and layering are more popular methods. But each method has a large number of its advantages and disadvantages, so amateur gardeners choose the breeding method to their liking. But to know better all breeding techniques.
Propagation of privet cuttings
The most used method because it is simple and affordable. Cuttings cut in summer take root best. For this, not only young shoots are suitable, but also healthy last year ones. There are practically no problems with them. The optimum length is 10–12 cm. The cutting is planted for rooting in sod soil with a sand surface. The cutting is supposed to be planted in the ground at an angle of 45 degrees. It is enough to insert a cutting 5 cm deep into the plant. For high-quality rooting, constant humidity and a temperature of 20-25 ° C are required. To create good conditions, many gardeners use plastic bottles without a neck, which cover the cuttings. The very first roots appear within a month, and 90 days after planting, the cutting has an already developed root system.Then the cuttings can be transplanted into a larger container and grown until the height is 60 cm. Only then can the seedlings be safely sent to a permanent place in the garden.
Layers
This is less of a hassle than growing cuttings. Almost all varieties of privet can be propagated by layering. The algorithm of actions is simple:
- Choose the strongest branch, bend it to the ground.
- A small incision should be made in the part that will be dug in.
- Commit the branch.
- Sprinkle with soil, pour sphagnum on top.
- Do not bury the upper part of the branch.
- Moss should always be kept moist.
If the cuttings take root, the branch of the bush will grow. This is a sign that rooting has been successful. You can separate and plant bush cuttings next spring.
If there is no desire to do the dripping, then it is enough to just make a couple of scratches on the branch and place this part in a plastic bag with a moistened and nutritious soil. Solder or seal the package. Using this original method, you can get several layers from one bush at once.
Seeds
It should be noted right away that privet seeds have a low germination rate. That is why this method is considered too time-consuming and costly. But this method also has fans. The seeds can be harvested from fruits that appear after 6 years of the life of the shrub.
For propagation by seeds, it is necessary to select the largest ones and place them in water. Only seeds that will sink should be left for reproduction. In the fall, in October, the seeds are placed in the ground so that only the strongest specimens remain in the winter. Exactly one year later, the first shoots will appear.
Diseases and pests
Privet and all varieties of shrubs are plants that are not susceptible to practically any disease. Of the diseases for the shrub are dangerous: powdery mildew, grayish or dark green spot. Usually, the appearance of such pathologies indicates an increased acidity of the soil. It is enough to treat the plant with special preparations in time, and remove diseased shoots.
Pests that often appear on the bush:
- aphid;
- thrips;
- spider mite;
- shield.
To prevent the appearance of pests, it is necessary to treat the shrub twice a year with complex preparations for pests.
Conclusion
A photo and description of a privet bush are few people know, since this plant is popularly known to everyone as a wolfberry. But this is a gorgeous ornamental plant that can decorate any area. Privet is used in the art of bonsai, and Ikebana is made from it in Japan. In Europe, fences and hedges are formed on many sites of privet. But even in single sculptures, this plant can often be found. It is easy to cut, it grows quickly, it is unpretentious in care, it is not susceptible to a large number of diseases. Therefore, he has more and more fans every year.
