No, privet hedging expensive is not a phrase that applies to this shrub. Privet is one of the most affordable hedging plants you can buy. Bare-root plants cost just $2 to $5 each, which makes a full privacy hedge cheaper than most fence options.
I did the math when I planned my own backyard hedge. A 40-foot (12-meter) wooden fence with labor and materials was quoted at over $3,000. I bought 20 bare-root privet plants for about $80 total and planted them myself on a Saturday morning. The privet hedge cost me a tiny fraction of what that fence would have run.
The price you pay depends on whether you choose bare-root or container-grown plants. Bare-root privet from bulk suppliers runs $2 to $5 per plant. Named cultivars in containers from stores like Nature Hills range from $26 to $68 per plant. That gap means you could plant a full hedge of bare-root privet for less than the price of two container plants.
The cheapest route is to grow your own cheap privet hedge plants from cuttings. You take 6-inch (15-centimeter) stem sections from an existing hedge in early summer. Stick them in moist soil and keep them watered. Within a year you'll have rooted plants ready to go into the ground. This method costs you nothing but time and patience.
In my experience, the biggest savings come from buying bare-root plants in bulk during the dormant season. Nurseries sell them from November through March at the lowest prices of the year. You can often get a better deal by ordering 50 or more at once since many suppliers offer volume discounts. That bulk order approach brings your privet hedge cost down to around $2 per linear foot, which beats any fence on the market.
You should also factor in the labor savings. Planting bare-root privet takes about one to two hours for a 40-foot hedge if you prep the trench ahead of time. You dig a wide trench, drop the plants in at the right spacing, backfill with compost, and water. Compare that to building a fence, which takes a full weekend or more with posts, panels, and concrete footings.
Don't forget that a privet hedge also saves you money over time. A wooden fence needs staining, repairs, and full replacement every 15 to 20 years. Your privet hedge just needs a trim twice a year and a bag of fertilizer each spring. The long-term value makes privet hedging expensive only if you're comparing it to doing nothing at all.
Read the full article: Privet Hedge: 8 Best Varieties and Care Guide
