Our house came with privet hedges on each side of the front lawn. I am not really a fan of privet and seriously thought of taking it out, perhaps replacing it with something more interesting. But both my neighbors at the time liked it and I decided to let it stay as long as it was understood that I had no intention of keeping it clipped. It isn’t completely out of control though. A couple times a year the top is cut at around 6 foot high, which is tall enough to provide a nice privacy screen without being overwhelming.

The hedge also make a great shelter for the birds and our cats like to hide in it too.

This past winter one of the plants died and left a gap. Once again we talked about what to do with the hedge. Replace the missing plant. Tear the whole thing down and replace it with roses or wax myrtle. In the end we did nothing.

Then our neighbor installed an antique garden arch in the opening and planted some vines on it. We like it. She is a gardener too and we get along well with her. We still have most of the privacy, but we are not walled off.