Common Privet Hedge Problems, Pests and Diseases

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Privet hedge is famously unfussy – it tolerates poor soil quality, regular trimming and partially-shady conditions, making it an excellent hedging plant choice for most gardens. 

While Privet hedging is resistant to many pests and diseases, gardeners will occasionally find their Privet hedges starting to turn brown or dying back for seemingly no reason. We will lead you through the most common Privet hedge problems, pests and diseases to help you spot the warning signs and learn how to treat them.

Privet Hedge Pests

Privet Aphids

One of the most common Privet hedge pests is the Privet Aphid, a type of aphid that only feeds on Privet. They are active in the Spring and Summer sucking the sap from Privet hedge leaves, which turns them yellow. 

Privet Aphids rarely pose a large risk to the health of Privet hedging plants, causing minor, superficial damage to the foliage. In the RHS’ guide to Privet Aphids, they recommend tolerating Privet Aphids where possible to support local biodiversity, as Privet Aphids are an important part of the diets of many predators like ladybirds, ground beetles, earwigs and more. If you decide you need to control a Privet Aphid infestation, you could try introducing more of these predators to your garden, or alternatively pluck the aphids from the plants one by one and squish them. 

Spider Mites

Spider mites are tiny insects similar to Privet Aphids, and are also a Privet hedge pest. These tiny pests thrive in warm, dry conditions and suck sap from the leaves of your Privet hedging plants, so it’s important to watch for them in the summer.  

If treating spider mites with insecticides, apply the treatment thoroughly every few weeks to prevent reinfestation. Alternatively, you can introduce predators like ladybirds to the garden, this is also a great way to deal with Spider Mite infestations. 

Scale Insects

Scale Insects are another common sap-sucking Privet Hedge pest – look out for white or brown insects scaling the plant’s leaves and stems (especially nearer the base of the plant) and visible yellow spots on the undersides of the leaves. 

Aside from insecticidal soaps and natural control methods, you can combat a Scale Insect infestation using horticultural oils – neem oil, applied at least twice to the affected Privet hedging, will repel larger insects and ensure that any newly-hatched Scale Insects are killed.

Vine Weevil

Vine weevils are also a common Privet hedge pest. These are black-brown beetles with a distinct long “snout” – the older Vine weevils will feast on the leaves of the Privet hedge from spring to summer, while their larvae attack the roots from summer to spring.

Vine weevils are persistent, but a biological control can be used often successfully or an insecticide if necessary.. Apply your chosen product evenly and thoroughly across the plant so any weevils eating the leaves are killed. Drenching the soil around the base of the plant could also help to kill any larvae unaffected.

Privet Hedge Diseases

Honey Fungus

The single most common Privet Hedge disease, and the most likely reason for your Privet hedge to start turning brown and dying, is Honey Fungus. Privet hedges are particularly susceptible to Honey Fungus, and if yours has any of the main symptoms – poor colour and growth, cracking on the barks and stems, and honey-coloured mushrooms around the base – you need to act fast.

Peel some of the bark away to look for the tell-tale Rhizomorphs, or “black bootlaces”, which is the best indicator of Honey Fungus (if you’re unsure, wait until night-time to check, as the Rhizomorphs are bioluminescent and will glow in the dark). Once you’ve confirmed that the problem is Honey Fungus:

• Uproot the affected plant(s) right away to prevent it from affecting the others in the hedge. Dig down to at least 40cm to make sure you’re getting all the roots, and don’t plant another Privet hedge in this space.
• This is a highly contagious Privet hedge disease, so burn the infected plant or send it to landfill – don’t compost it! 
• Set up a plastic barrier where the plant was to keep the fungus as well-contained as possible, trying to ensure the barrier penetrates the soil deeply to protect the roots of other plants.

See our guide to Controlling Honey Fungus to learn more, and to explore hedging options that are resistant to Honey Fungus which could replace the affected hedges with. 

Privet Wilt

“Wilt” refers to a form of fungus that often affects Privet hedges. It is characterised by leaves that curl up, discolour and die. If you suspect Wilt might be killing your Privet hedging, peel away the bark. If there’s striping, then Wilt is your problem.

Like with Honey Fungus, you need to deal with Privet Wilt quickly and decisively to stop spreading to other plants. You can either follow the steps above to completely remove the affected plant, or (if you think the plant can be salvaged) prune away the diseased and dead wood with sterilised garden shears. Then treat the plant with fertilisers low in nitrogen and high in potassium, or fish blood and bone meal plant feed, to help the Privet hedge recover.

Other Common Privet Hedge Problems

While Privet is considered quite a hardy hedging plant, it may still suffer from environmental factors or lack of care. To keep your Privet hedging as healthy as possible, here are some things to consider:

• Cold/Wet Weather. Serious problems with Privet hedges tend to start the same way, with damp and humid conditions. If you experience a lot of cold and wet weather, consider whether your Privet hedges are planted somewhere with good air circulation and sunlight to keep it dry. 
• Establishment Failure. Most young hedges need to be planted in from autumn to early spring while they are still dormant, as the cold weather gives the roots plenty of time to establish before rapid growth occurs in the summer. Be careful when planting your Privet hedges to ensure they take to the soil properly. Read our planting guide here.
• Excessive Heat. If you’re experiencing some intense heat waves, this can cause leaf drop with a number of hedging plants. Watering your Privet hedge well, and mulching the soil to help it retain water, is the best way to fight back against hot weather. 
• Waterlogged Soil. If your soil doesn’t drain well, this will soon enough lead to Root Rot – read our guide to learn how to prevent this from happening.

Grow Flourishing Privet Hedges with Hopes Grove Nurseries

With the right care and treatment, you can keep your Privet hedges vibrant and happy for a long time – and if you buy your hedging plants with us, they’re guaranteed a perfect start.

At Hopes Grove Nurseries, we have 30 years of experience with hedging plants behind us and a team of dedicated experts eager to share our knowledge. If you want to learn more about caring for Privet Hedges, check out our resources on How to Make a Privet Hedge Thicker and How to Prune a Privet Hedge.

Visit our Knowledge Base to learn more about popular hedging plants, and contact us with any questions and queries you may have.