How can I insure my privet hedges grow in thick?
They are just starting off, planted them as twigs 2 months ago. (They are about 3-4 foot high now). Right now, I have only trimmed off the small twigs that did not have any growth coming from them. Should I cut back the growth that is extending out so that it doubles up? (Right now, that growth is about a foot long on most of the hedges). Am I right? > Whatever I cut, will it grow back doubled?
"Am I right? > Whatever I cut, will it grow back doubled?"
Yes, sort of.....
Any time you cut off the end of an actively growing branch you have removed what is called the "terminal bud", this is the bud that makes the branch get longer.
By doing so, you activate dormant "lateral buds" along the branch. It is possible that one bud may grow, or many may grow into new branches, "thickening" the shrub. I think this is what you are think of when you said "will it double-up".
So go ahead and trim away some of the new growth. The buds may form at the base of any leaf that you leave, and will usually form close to the cut.
In the future, as the hedge develops, be careful not to "shear" the plant, that is to cut away all of the new outside growth, or you will end up with too many small side branches and all of the foliage will be on the very outside of the plant with a bare center. - This is hard to explain, but I'm sure you've seen old shrubs and hedges with a bare center. That's caused by to many years of shearing.
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