Things You'll Need:
- Loppers
- electric hedge pruner
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Step 1
In late winter or early spring (March here in Chicago) choose a comfortable day to be outside and make sure your tools are sharp and ready for use. What you will need to do to get your hedge back to its lush fullness is quite drastic but effective. Timing is important, so your privets need to be completely dormant.
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Step 2
Using your loppers, or a hand saw if the limbs are very large, cut every limb back to just above ground level, say 6" at most. Neighbors may think you've lost it, mine did, but privet is a very tough variety of plant that takes well to harsh pruning. In fact it is recommended that every 10-15 years this procedure be repeated.
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Step 3
After you have cut everything back, clear away any leaves and debris from around the freshly cut stumps. Privets like being clean and open at the bases and this will encourage the new growth in spring.
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Step 4
Any dead limbs that easily break away at or below the ground are probably dead and won't send up new shoots in the spring. Be prepared to buy young privet plants from your local garden center in the spring to fill in any gaps that didn't come back.
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Step 5
When the shoots emerge in spring they can be very delicate and loosely attached to the old trunks. Take care not to bump or brush into them until they harden off as they will just fall off.
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Step 6
In late spring once the privets have sent up lots of shoots you may prune them back to 2-3 feet. Don't be afraid to prune privets, the more you do the denser they become. Be sure to keep them well watered in hot weather.
