According to Invasive Plants of the Southeastern United States, tests showed privets have a germination rate of between 5% and 27%. This is because many of the privets seeds are eaten by birds before they can sprout into seedlings. However, since the privet is a perennial, dependable shrub, it can grow from seed, stump sprouts, and roots. This fact commonly makes the hedging shrub difficult to eradicate at first try.
How to Identify a Privet Hedge
The leaves of a privet are small, less than 2 1/2 inches long, yet they are thick with a shiny surface. They mirror each other, one on each side of the twig. Long, tall and thin, the twigs are grayish-green in color. Barks are smooth in texture with a color of either light tan or gray. Small white round flowers bloom on the privet. Its fruit is purplish, semi-round or subglocose. These clusters of small seeds, resemble the shape of tiny clusters of grapes.
Removal Tactic 1: The Pulling Method
Pull seedlings from wet soil in order to easily remove the roots. This method is more successful if the task is undertaken just after a rainfall has passed and the soil is softened. A Weed Wrench or other plant uprooting tool should work fine for stems up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Pulling is recommended in areas where herbicides cannot be used, such as small, populated areas. If the entire root is not removed, the privet can sprout again from the ground. Repetitive cutting will not fully remove the privet. If you opt to mow, cut the stems down as close to the ground as possible.
Removal Tactic 2: The Herbicidal Spray Leaf Method
Apply a foliar spray to large thickets when the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Optimum times for spraying are during the late fall or early spring when privets are not actively growing.
Wet all leaves with a solution of 0.5% non-ionic surfactant to help the herbicide stay on the plant, water, and 2% glyphosate or triclopyr. Reduce spray drift by using a coarse spray pattern in combination with a low pressure spraying action. Be aware that glyphosate will also kill partially sprayed–not only directly targeted plants–while triclopyr selectively kills privet plants and other broadleaf species.
Removal Tactic 3: The Cut Stump Herbicidal Method (Use this method when the ground is not frozen.)
Cut privet stems horizontally as close to ground level as possible, and then apply either 25% glyphosate or triclopyr and water mixture to cover the entire stump.
Removal Tactic 4: Basal Bark Method (Use this method when the ground is not frozen.)
The Basal Bark method is accomplished by using a solution of triclopyr and horticultural oil, 25% and 75%, respectively. Apply the mixture to the bottom 12 to 15 inches section, known as the basal or older part of the shrub. When run-off is seen at the ground line, it is sufficiently saturated.
