Applying a herbicide around your plants should be your last resort. We always recommend trying organic solutions before starting a synthetic treatment.
However, if you deal with a severe infestation, only a suitable herbicide can help you solve the issue. Weeds are a reality to many gardeners and can be very challenging to remove. And some invasive plant species might be hard to remove.
One of the most effective herbicides is Roundup, a popular product that contains glyphosate and prevents the re-growth of most weeds. But will Roundup kill privet hedge?
And what else should you know about applying this treatment to your plant? You have landed in the right place if you want to get answers to these questions!
What is Roundup?
Roundup is the brand name of a herbicide that controls most weeds and grasses. This product entered the market in the 1970s. Since then, gardeners (both private and commercial) have been using this product for several years.
This treatment is non-selecting, meaning it will kill most plants and sometimes even trees. It works by preventing essential proteins from reaching the plant’s roots, which will eventually cause its death.
While the research seems to have different views on the subject, Roundup won’t harm animals or humans. But will this product kill a privet hedge?
What is Privet Hedge?
You may wonder why applying Roundup to your privet hedge. So, before telling you whether Roundup can kill it or not, it might be worth noting that, under the ideal growing conditions, this popular plant can become invasive. Indeed, if you don’t know how to control it, it might quickly take over your garden, which can be a challenging task to revert.
Privet hedge is a border plant native to Asia. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones between 7 and 10 and will adapt to most soil and climate conditions.
Gardeners love its adaptability and hardiness. People who don’t have much time to spend in their garden will see it grow and spread with little effort from their side.
However, it might be challenging to control and establish a privet hedge. And this might cause trouble, especially if you don’t like the idea of it taking over your garden.
Luckily, a suitable chemical treatment can help you get the situation under control. Jump to the following sections to learn whether Roundup might be the proper solution.
Roundup and Privet Hedge: Will It Work to Remove it?
To keep the story short: yes, Roundup can kill your privet hedge. However, you’ll only have satisfactory results if you know how to apply it. And the adequate measures will depend on your objective.
For instance, if your goal is to limit the spread of your hedge (without killing it), you should spray its foliage with the herbicide. But if you want to get rid of your privet hedge, you’ll have to apply the treatment to the bark. You’ll have to use a concentrate and put it on the stems too to guarantee a satisfactory result.
Alternatively, you can apply Roundup to the stump with a brush (after cutting down your privet hedge to the ground). Doing so will also minimize the dispersion of the chemicals and prevent harm to other plants in your garden.