Privet hedge-should it lose its leaves over winter?

[maldivemoment]

We’re in a very exposed area. Right next to the water, west coast of Scotland so garden takes an absolute hammering in the winter. We have (what I think is) a privet hedge at the front. However it goes completely bare over winter. I’ve looked around at other hedges in our area and a lot of them are still green. Could it be the case that ours loses its leaves simply due to the wind/storms/rain over winter? Or could it be that it’s not actually a privet?????

Loads of new buds on the stems so not too worried about it growing. Just a wee but perplexed….

Thank you in advance.

If it loses its leaves in the winter, it’s not a privet

@BakedBeansforabrain thank you.

Now asking myself how on earth I find out what type of hedge we have!!!!!

Yes my privet leaves turned a purply brown and most of them fell off. Now it’s covered is lots of health green shoots. If yours is shooting don’t worry about it 🙂🙂

Thank you @Dodie66

We have a house on the west coast as well. This winter has not been kind to the shrubs and hedges. Ferocious salty winds have taken their toll. Privet is very hardy and it will revive.

Thank you @Beebumble2. Good to know it’s not just us! We have nothing else in our front garden except for the hedge. Don’t think anything else wound survive! We are literally right on the water (firth of Clyde) so take an absolute beating when the weather is harsh.
I’m hopeful the hedge will burst into life soon. It’s looking fairly grim at the moment.

Our house is further south Galloway, we get the Gulf Stream, but also face the Irish Sea! Buddleia does quite well, but takes on a strange shape. Escallonia also manage the conditions.

Thank you @Beebumble2
We have (an out-of-control) escallonia in our side garden. But it’s more tree-like than hedge! Do you have it as a hedge? Does it withstand the conditions okay?

We have a mixed ‘hedge’ planting at the front, mostly shrubs standing alone, forsythia, fuchsia and those already mentioned. The garden is reasonably large and on a hillside mostly planted with shrubs, Viburnum, Azaleas, Rhododendrons and ornamental firs. No lawns, a pond and a few rockery areas. If things survive they grow like mad.

Our privet drops its leaves if it’s a harsh winter too, we’re quite high up. I give it some chicken manure pellets and some extra water if it’s a dry spring. Comes back lovely.