Holly taking over privet

[HammieUK]

I currently have about 40m of privet surrounding my house, about 2m of that has been taken over by holly, how should I go about removing it? I don't mind having a gap for a year or 2 (there's already another gap), if I can successfully grow another privet in it's place. I think it's slowly taking over the whole length, I should stop it now before it gets too bad, as it's a pain to keep under control. Any tips?

 

[merlin50]

a saw and spade

 

[vv2806]

Cut the plants you don't want near to ground level but leave enough stump to repeat the procedure if necessary and immediately apply a tree root killer. It is not harmful for the other plants if they are not in contact with it. After several week the dead stump can be removed.

 

[themiddleagedun]

If it was me, I'd be trying to keep the Holly and lose the Privet.

 

[HammieUK]

If it was me, I'd be trying to keep the Holly and lose the Privet.

Why's that? Wouldn't work here cos I have about 40m of privet and 2m of holly, that'd be a mighty gap in the hedge...

 

[merlin50]

If it was me, I'd be trying to keep the Holly and lose the Privet.

i was going to say that but thought i may upset someone again

 

[themiddleagedun]

Well Holly's a native plant, so good for wildlife, has attractive foliage, red berries in the winter, good for security and it's one of my favourite plants

 

[merlin50]

Well Holly's a native plant, so good for wildlife, has attractive foliage, red berries in the winter, good for security and it's one of my favourite plants

and good for keeping the pikies out

 

[vv2806]

I personally wouldn't lose anything, but I like mixed hedges

 

[merlin50]

I personally wouldn't lose anything, but I like mixed hedges

i like mixed hedges but some people like a perfect looking hedge as its i sign of control

 

[Birchtree]

Hello, what would i do? well i think if you take it out you will have to kill it off at the base, whilst i am all for tapestry hedging i just dont think holly and privet work well, however done properly you could clip the privet away and make a channel for the ivy, but you will need to clip the holly back so you will have given time a neat vertical column of ivy sanwiched between the privet, remember privet can be hard pruned and old privet hedges always do well and respond its a great way to rejuvenate them.