What is the problem with my privet hedge?

Are the leaves of your privet hedge wrinkled and discolored?

Are the leaves tunneled?

Are the leaves yellow and covered by small bumps?

Do the leaves of your privet shrub have notched margins?

Are the leaves stippled with yellow and the foliage is webbed?

Do the leaves have a powdery white coating on them?

Have the leaves and shoots blackened, leaves have moist or brown sunken spots on them?

Aphids can be abundant on the undersides of leaves, secreting copious amounts of honeydew. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations. Ladybugs are their natural enemies.

Tunneled leaves indicate insects - Leafminers. Small maggotlike larvae tunnel through the leaves and feed on them, adults are black-and-yellow insects. Remove and destroy mined leaves. Apply row cover as soon as plants emerge to prevent problems. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults.

Yellow leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Leaves with notched leaf margins on privet are caused by insects - Japanese weevils. Adult Japanese weevils feed on foliage, but the larvae attack roots exclusively. The application of a sticky substance on the lower stems should prevent adults from climbing up the plants. Introduce parasitic nematodes into the soil to control the larvae. Spray leaves several times with pyrethrin for severe infestations of adults.

Spider mites often cause problems to privets. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray plants with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin.

If the leaves have a powdery white coating on them, the cause is a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Thin your plants to ensure good airflow. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. Any commercial fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

The most likely cause for these symptoms is a fungal disease - Anthracnose. Keep plants dry when watering to prevent spread. Cultural controls such as regular fall cleanup and thinning to improve air circulation are effective. Treat severe problems with copper fungicide sprays.

Armillaria root rot also called oak root rot, forms mushrooms at the base of privet canes. Dematophora root rot invades canes and branches and twigs with white spores. Control irrigation to combat these fungi, make sure you water only the base of the shrub. Use mulch to keep soil evenly moist.