Shaping / Trimming
This evergreen shrub needs a good all over haircut early summer. But if your plant produces more growth and is still looking raggy at the end of the summer then a light trim late August keep it looking tight. Try not to clip during the first planted season as this could slow roots from establishing.
Where To Grow
Ligustrum jonandrum is extensively grown in Italy and imported into the UK, this is not quite as hardy as the commonly used larger leafed species ovalifolium. Taking this in mind don’t place these plants in open and windy areas as you could well suffer form winter leaf burn. If you have suffered from this with the signs of lost or browned off foliage then make sure you feed well in the spring and move to a more sheltered position, apart from that they are versatile and will grow in most conditions.
Feeding
If you are growing them in containers then for best results use a slow release fertiliser such as Osmocote this will normally last all season but if you find the foliage turning pale then a liquid feed could be applied during the growing months. Alternatively use a general fertiliser in early spring and again mid summer if it is not to dry.
Pest And Diseases
Brown Leaves? The most common problem is suffering from irregular watering. This is especially important when growing in pots these plants can die in the winter as well as the summer from lack of water when grown in pots. Scale insects can be a problem on Privet the first symptom you normally see is sticky substance on the top of the leaves this can normally turn black if sooty mold then grows on this substance. The substance itself is normally the secretion of sale insects that are living on the underside of the leaves their secretion then drops on to the lower leaves. You will need a systemic insecticide to cure this problem..