How Far Back Can You Cut a Ligustrum Tree?

Ligustrum, commonly known as privet, are fast-growing shrubs and small trees popularly used for hedges and screens. Their dense foliage and rapid growth make them ideal for creating privacy and defining boundaries

However without proper pruning ligustrums can quickly become overgrown and unruly. This leaves many homeowners wondering – how far back can you cut a ligustrum tree?

When to Prune Ligustrum Trees

Ligustrum respond very well to pruning, even severe pruning The best time to prune them is late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Pruning at this time avoids cutting off new growth and gives the plant time to recover before the growing season

Mid to late summer is another option if the plant needs corrective pruning or shaping. Just avoid pruning right before winter since new growth could be damaged by cold weather.

How Often to Prune Ligustrum Trees

For general shaping and maintaining size, prune ligustrum trees 1-2 times per year. The first pruning can be in early spring to shape and thin out overcrowded branches.

The second pruning is optional in mid to late summer to trim back any excessive new growth. More frequent light pruning is fine too for formal hedges or topiaries.

Severely cutting back ligustrums to rejuvenate older plants or reduce size only needs doing every 2-5 years.

How Much to Cut Back Ligustrum Trees

Now for the main question – how far back can you cut a ligustrum tree? The simple answer is you can cut them back as severely as needed, even trimming them all the way to the ground or 6-12 inches from the ground.

Here are some general guidelines for cutting back ligustrum trees:

• For regular maintenance pruning, remove no more than 1/3 of the plant’s total height. This helps maintain size and shape without shocking the plant.

• To rejuvenate older, overgrown ligustrums, cut all stems back to 6-12 inches from the ground in early spring. This harsh pruning will stimulate tons of new growth.

• For reshaping or reducing size, cut back main stems by 1/2 to 2/3 of their height. The tree will quickly regrow.

• To tree-form a ligustrum, prune off all lower branches up to the desired canopy height in early spring over 2-3 years.

Pruning Methods for Ligustrum Trees

Use bypass hand pruners for cutting smaller stems up to about 1/2 inch thickness. Loppers are ideal for thicker stems between 1/2 – 1 1/2 inches. And pruning saws make quick work of large branches over 1 1/2 inches thick.

Always make clean cuts just above an outward facing bud or branch. Avoid leaving stubs which invite pests and diseases.

For formal hedges, use electric or manual hedge trimmers for even shaping. Just be careful not to cut too far into old wood which can damage the plant.

Regrowing Ligustrum Trees After Heavy Pruning

Ligustrums are famous for their ability to quickly regrow after even the most aggressive pruning. Their fast growth rate helps them push out tons of new shoots within a few weeks.

Here are some tips for getting your ligustrum tree to fill back in nicely after heavy pruning:

• Apply a balanced fertilizer at the time of pruning to fuel regrowth. Slow release granular fertilizers work well.

• Keep the soil consistently moist, but not saturated during regrowth. Extra watering is key the first few months.

• Stake large cut back stems until regrowth is strong enough to support itself, usually after several months.

• Be patient! It takes 1-2 growing seasons for cut back ligustrums to regain their full size, shape and beauty.

• Remove any suckers or shoots emerging from the root system as needed so energy goes to regrowing the main plant.

Avoid Problems from Over-Pruning Ligustrums

It’s difficult to over-prune ligustrums since they bounce back readily even from dramatic pruning. But here are a few potential issues to keep in mind:

• Pruning too late in summer risks new growth being damaged by cold weather before it hardens off. Stick to early spring or mid-summer pruning.

• Cutting too far into thick, old branches can create wounds that invite disease. Make pruning cuts just above younger, thinner branches.

• Removing more than 50% of the total foliage risks stressing the plant. It’s best to maintain at least half the leaves when pruning.

• Cutting ligustrums too frequently, such as pruning new growth throughout the summer, can result in a thin, leggy appearance.

When to Replace an Overgrown Ligustrum

Occasionally, a ligustrum tree may become so overgrown and unruly that even aggressive rejuvenation pruning isn’t practical. Large, old ligustrums with massive trunks don’t respond as well to major pruning.

In these cases, the best option is to remove and replace the ligustrum with a new, young plant. This avoids trying to rehabilitate a large, neglected specimen.

Signs it’s time to remove and replace an overgrown ligustrum include:

• The base trunk is over 6 inches thick. Thick old trunks don’t re-sprout well.

• More than 70-80% of the height needs to be pruned off to rejuvenate. This much pruning risks the plant’s health.

• The interior is mostly bare with just a canopy of outer leaves. This limits regrowth from inside branches.

• Major limbs or the trunk are decaying or hollow indicating advanced age and decline.

• Growth is minimal and sparse each year. The plant lacks vigor for regrowth.

For best results, always remove the entire ligustrum tree, roots and all, when replacing. This gives its replacement the best chance to establish without competition.

Ligustrum trees are practically bulletproof when it comes to pruning. Feel free to cut them back as severely as needed to control size and rejuvenate overgrown specimens. Just be sure to prune at the right times of year. With their rapid growth rate, even the most severely pruned ligustrum will regain its beauty and function in no time at all.