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Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
Last Xmas, I planted three new Privet plants (3 feet high) to fill a metre gap in a long established Privet hedge. The gap had been opened up by the careless pruning of an adjacent tree by a neighbour.
When planting, I dug some bonemeal safely below the roots, whilst putting some 'Rootgrow' fungus on the roots of the pot-grown plants, this being the advice received at the time. Since spring, I've been watering the plants weekly with a watering can of water plus a high nitrogen feed. They've grown well during the summer. My question is, now winter approaches, what care should they get. Weekly water? Is high nitrogen feed, or anything else, wise over the winter months? |
Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
On 07/10/2012 15:23, Roy22 wrote:
Last Xmas, I planted three new Privet plants (3 feet high) to fill a metre gap in a long established Privet hedge. The gap had been opened up by the careless pruning of an adjacent tree by a neighbour. When planting, I dug some bonemeal safely below the roots, whilst putting some 'Rootgrow' fungus on the roots of the pot-grown plants, this being the advice received at the time. Since spring, I've been watering the plants weekly with a watering can of water plus a high nitrogen feed. They've grown well during the summer. My question is, now winter approaches, what care should they get. Weekly water? Is high nitrogen feed, or anything else, wise over the winter months? Just leave them |
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Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
On 08/10/2012 00:12, Roy22 wrote:
David Hill;970426 Wrote: On 07/10/2012 15:23, Roy22 wrote:- Last Xmas, I planted three new Privet plants (3 feet high) to fill a metre gap in a long established Privet hedge. The gap had been opened up by the careless pruning of an adjacent tree by a neighbour. When planting, I dug some bonemeal safely below the roots, whilst putting some 'Rootgrow' fungus on the roots of the pot-grown plants, this being the advice received at the time. Since spring, I've been watering the plants weekly with a watering can of water plus a high nitrogen feed. They've grown well during the summer. My question is, now winter approaches, what care should they get. Weekly water? Is high nitrogen feed, or anything else, wise over the winter months?- Just leave them Does that mean not even water?? That depends where in the UK you are. Here in Wales you wouldn't even have needed to water during the "Summer" In winter they should be dormant so using very little water. I see you say you watered with a watering can. When you water you want the water to go down 12 inches or more so that the roots go DOWN after it, if you water only the surface, then that is where the roots will go looking for water, and the plants will suffer every time the top soil dries out. A hose pipe left with a slow trickle for half an hour will do most good, otherwise using buckets, pour some on then as soon as it has soaked in, more and keep doing this till each plant has had a couple of gallons or more. This done once a week will do more good than a quick splash every evening. David @ the wet end of Swansea Bay. |
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If you give them too much water which they can't use, there is a risk of the roots rotting. Because of the low temperatures, the plants won't be growing very much if at all, so they don't need feeding. |
Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
On 07/10/2012 15:23, Roy22 wrote:
Last Xmas, I planted three new Privet plants (3 feet high) to fill a metre gap in a long established Privet hedge. The gap had been opened up by the careless pruning of an adjacent tree by a neighbour. When planting, I dug some bonemeal safely below the roots, whilst putting some 'Rootgrow' fungus on the roots of the pot-grown plants, this being the advice received at the time. Since spring, I've been watering the plants weekly with a watering can of water plus a high nitrogen feed. They've grown well during the summer. My question is, now winter approaches, what care should they get. Weekly water? Is high nitrogen feed, or anything else, wise over the winter months? You would have prepared them for winter better had you ceased the nitrogen feed and used a high potash feed (tomato or rose fertiliser) instead from about August time. Potash helps to ripen the wood. Nitrogen produces soft new growth that is prone to frost damage. I only ever use potash (Tomorite or similar) after the end of August (or July in colder areas). If I were you, I would give them a high potash feed now and, perhaps, also cut the hedge back slightly. You may have noticed that when trimming a woody plant, the trimmed soft growth starts to harden off. This should offer another layer of protection. Also, once you've watered the postash feed in, mulch the root area thickly (not too close to the trunk or it could rot) to both hold the water in and to protect the root zone from frost. I've forgotten (sorry!) who mentioned the roots being drawn to the surface to look for water due to your watering can method, but it's certainly true. A good mulch would act as a blanket during the icier weather ahead. As to watering, once the mulch is in place, cease watering but watch the plants for signs of drought. Then water well and leave them until they seem droopy again. Make your plants' roots search for water well below ground. This will eventually make them more drought tolerant and more stable in the ground. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Many thanks for all the detailed replies! I freely admit to knowing very little about plants, but I can follow good advice, of which there's quite a bit here. If I understand you all...
They don't need feed or water over winter. I should have switched to a high potash feed mid-summer, but can still give it a shot now. I should also have cut them back a bit to harden (oops, was letting them grow to fill the space a bit) and mulch on the surface will aid water retention & keep frost away. Oh, and watering is best done slowly rather than a minute's blast with a watering can (oops again). Good thing mother nature's been around longer than I have. Thanks again, Roy. |
Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
On 08/10/2012 18:50, Roy22 wrote:
Many thanks for all the detailed replies! I freely admit to knowing very little about plants, but I can follow good advice, of which there's quite a bit here. If I understand you all... They don't need feed or water over winter. I should have switched to a high potash feed mid-summer, but can still give it a shot now. I should also have cut them back a bit to harden (oops, was letting them grow to fill the space a bit) and mulch on the surface will aid water retention & keep frost away. Oh, and watering is best done slowly rather than a minute's blast with a watering can (oops again). Good thing mother nature's been around longer than I have. Thanks again, Roy. Spot on, Roy! I think you've got it. Naturally you want your hedge to reach its potential height asap, but trimming it as it grows will help to thicken up the hedge as well as, at the moment, helping to produce harder wood for the winter. Don't worry too much about your 'oops' collection, we've all got one of those; it's how we learn. As to feeding, it's worth remembering that Nitrogen (N) encourages green growth (stems and leaves); Phosphorous (P) encourages root growth; Potash or Potassium (syn.) (K) encourages flowers, fruit and ripening. When you buy fertiliser, check the label for the NPK ratios. These will tell you the proportion of each element in that pack. A 'general' fertiliser (ie: Growmore, Phostrogen) will have equal parts: 5-5-5. A high nitrogen feed will perhaps be 7-4-4. A high potash feed may be 4-4-7. This should help you understand how to feed your plants. Experience will help you get the timing right. Never make the mistake of using more food in the belief that your plant will be healthier. It will not, it is generally harmful. If you know you are a bit heavy-handed, give a half-strength feed instead. Another valuable lesson is to remember that, in winter, plants can suffer from 'frost drought'. This is when there *is* moisture in the ground but it is locked up and icy hard. The plants' roots are unable to take up the solidified moisture as they can only use soluble nutrients. I always keep a weather eye on my plants and, if they look desperately dry and wilted, I will water them. It's a tricky decision in icy conditions, but I find it helpful. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
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I have also snipped back the ends of the larger/taller stems, by an inch or so, to encourage hardening off. But I'm not sure if this is enough for the purpose? It sort of goes against instincts to chop away much hard-earned growth (I know, plants are supposed to respond by growing more) so I'd appreciate any advice on how much cutting back is wise at this point. I live in the Midlands, if that's relevant in terms of climate. |
Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
On 16/10/2012 10:05, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-10-15 18:38:14 +0100, Roy22 said: 'Spider[_3_ Wrote: snip Another valuable lesson is to remember that, in winter, plants can suffer from 'frost drought'. This is when there *is* moisture in the ground but it is locked up and icy hard. The plants' roots are unable to take up the solidified moisture as they can only use soluble nutrients. I always keep a weather eye on my plants and, if they look desperately dry and wilted, I will water them. It's a tricky decision in icy conditions, but I find it helpful. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay Thanks again for the further advice. I've given the privet some Tomorite, in an effort to get some belated Potassium into the over-nitrogened soil. I don't know how much longer I should carry on with it though? I have also snipped back the ends of the larger/taller stems, by an inch or so, to encourage hardening off. But I'm not sure if this is enough for the purpose? It sort of goes against instincts to chop away much hard-earned growth (I know, plants are supposed to respond by growing more) so I'd appreciate any advice on how much cutting back is wise at this point. I live in the Midlands, if that's relevant in terms of climate. I think it would be best to leave them alone now. They've had so much treatment that they might be better just having a rest, especially as their natural resting period is upon them. I would suggest you let your hedge look after itself. If, as Spider says, they're dry, water them but otherwise, now, leave them be. And don't chop any more off them. They need some frost cover which their own top growth can provide. Chopping straight into young plants is a bit hard on them when they're trying to put out enough leaves/branches to gather light and survive by putting down strong roots. Usually, it's best to leave them for a year or so to gather some root and some top growth and then lightly take out the tops to encourage bushiness. Yes, I think we're all agreed that you can take a break from hedge nursing for a while. In Spring, when the warmer weather boosts new growth, you can consider further treatment. Your hedge is a year old near enough, so it should be able to cope with winter weather. If, however, you have *very* heavy snow, it may be worth using a broom to brush the thick snow layer off the top of the hedge, to prevent the weight of snow breaking or distorting the plants. A light covering of snow is not a problem and may, indeed, act as an insulating blanket. It's the weight of thick snow building up that can be troublesome. Relax now and have a good winter. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Care of new Privet hedge over winter.
Yes, I think we're all agreed that you can take a break from hedge nursing for a while. In Spring, when the warmer weather boosts new growth, you can consider further treatment. Your hedge is a year old near enough, so it should be able to cope with winter weather. If, however, you have *very* heavy snow, it may be worth using a broom to brush the thick snow layer off the top of the hedge, to prevent the weight of snow breaking or distorting the plants. A light covering of snow is not a problem and may, indeed, act as an insulating blanket. It's the weight of thick snow building up that can be troublesome. Relax now and have a good winter. I would say your privet has had enough pampering, now is the time to let it stand on it's own 2 feet so to speak. Privet is as tough as old boots when left to it's own devices. |
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