Privet dropping leaves

privet investigator · 05-07-2008, 04:25 PM

Hey guys - i've got a privet tree that i'm concerned about. It's leaves started turning yellow and dropping off in small numbers in summer. I was advise from a more learned friend that i was watering too much, and cut right back. Fortunately, it came out in a heap of new leaves: crisis averted.
It's now coming into winter (gets to around minus 6 celsius where I live, though at present I think we may have had only one or two evenings where it has reached zero), and i've maintained the same sparing watering regime, but the dropping of leaves has started again, and gained intensity. I'd guess its lost around 1/3 of its foliage by now. The leaves that are dropped are yellow, and brittle.

I read somewhere that privet are semi-deciduous(?)... might this be a natural, healthy occurrence? or am i kidding myself? any treatment suggestions?

thanks for your help

treebeard55 · 05-07-2008, 06:21 PM

Some species of privet (Ligustrum) may be semi-deciduous, but there's nothing "semi-" about the privet species around here: they all drop their leaves every autumn, then flush out a new set in the spring.

Remember, too, that cold affects the roots of a potted tree more strongly than those of one in the ground. The earth itself acts as an insulator, and a potted tree loses that.

Pup · 05-07-2008, 08:24 PM

G,day Privit
I live in the southern suburbs of Perth Western Autralia.
I have a privit when I lived closer to Perth, where it was not as cold in winter, it never lost its leaves, now where I live it does get colder and it looses them every year.
I never worried. As a young boy I lived in the UK and they always went dormant and lost there leaves.
Hope this alays your fears.

Pup

privet investigator · 05-08-2008, 04:29 PM

thanks Treebeard 55 and Pup, sounds like i have nothing to worry about. I appreciate your advice.

Mattbonsai · 05-08-2008, 04:45 PM

My Privet lost half of its leaves this year, mostly the older ones, but it sprang right back into action come spring.

-Matt-

05-07-2008, 04:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
privet investigator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sunshine Coast Posts: 5	Privet dropping leaves Hey guys - i've got a privet tree that i'm concerned about. It's leaves started turning yellow and dropping off in small numbers in summer. I was advise from a more learned friend that i was watering too much, and cut right back. Fortunately, it came out in a heap of new leaves: crisis averted. It's now coming into winter (gets to around minus 6 celsius where I live, though at present I think we may have had only one or two evenings where it has reached zero), and i've maintained the same sparing watering regime, but the dropping of leaves has started again, and gained intensity. I'd guess its lost around 1/3 of its foliage by now. The leaves that are dropped are yellow, and brittle. I read somewhere that privet are semi-deciduous(?)... might this be a natural, healthy occurrence? or am i kidding myself? any treatment suggestions? thanks for your help

05-07-2008, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
treebeard55 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Warsaw IN, USA USDA zone 5b Posts: 511	Some species of privet (Ligustrum) may be semi-deciduous, but there's nothing "semi-" about the privet species around here: they all drop their leaves every autumn, then flush out a new set in the spring. Remember, too, that cold affects the roots of a potted tree more strongly than those of one in the ground. The earth itself acts as an insulator, and a potted tree loses that. __________________ Treebeard 55 Steve Moore http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

05-07-2008, 08:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pup Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Perth suburbs Western Australia Posts: 406	G,day Privit I live in the southern suburbs of Perth Western Autralia. I have a privit when I lived closer to Perth, where it was not as cold in winter, it never lost its leaves, now where I live it does get colder and it looses them every year. I never worried. As a young boy I lived in the UK and they always went dormant and lost there leaves. Hope this alays your fears.Pup __________________ G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

05-08-2008, 04:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mattbonsai Tree Hugger In Training Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cheshire, GB Posts: 810	My Privet lost half of its leaves this year, mostly the older ones, but it sprang right back into action come spring. -Matt- __________________ -Matt- http://www.cheshirebonsaisociety.org.uk/index.html R.I.P Our Great Friend - Prowler, 24th November 2008

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05-08-2008, 04:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
privet investigator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sunshine Coast Posts: 5	thanks Treebeard 55 and Pup, sounds like i have nothing to worry about. I appreciate your advice.

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