The Day We Pulled Out 12-Foot Invasive Privet

Removing Chinese Privet in North Carolina to Restore Wildlife Habitat

I planned to do nothing last Tuesday.

Instead, I began removing Chinese Privet from our North Carolina garden — a hedge that had stood here for decades.

Not trimmed.
Not shaped.
Removed.

One by one, these 12-foot shrubs were hooked
to a truck with a chain and uprooted. 🛻🪝🌳
Then the limbs were cut.
Roots shaken free of soil.
Holes refilled.
All the plant debris?
Hauled off to be burned.

And just like that, 🫰🏽
a wall that stood longer
than I’ve been alive was gone. Oof.

Why We’re Removing Chinese Privet in North Carolina

Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) is an invasive shrub in North Carolina. It spreads aggressively through seeds and underground runners. It forms dense thickets and crowds out native plants. When native plants disappear, so does the habitat wildlife depends on. Chinese Privet has spread widely throughout North Carolina, invading thousands of acres of land displacing native vegetation (Source). Thankfully, removing Chinese privet creates space for native species to return, so diverse plants and wildlife can support each other.

Understanding that changed the way I saw the hedge.

Because…

For years, I just saw green privacy.

But once I started gardening
and thinking about nature
I couldn’t unsee what this plant was doing.

My garden is for my family and wildlife.

I want pollinators. Birds.
Native plants that host insects — like milkweed for monarchs.

That means I can’t ignore a plant that outcompetes native plants.

I had to choose alignment over attachment. ✂️

Why Removing Chinese Privet Took Planning

Why didn’t I remove it sooner? Honest answer?

For a long time, I wasn’t into gardening.

I kept the shrubs trimmed.

And had no clue what they were.

Then, I got curious.

I let it grow.
I watched it flower.
I noticed berries.
All for the first time.

At this point, the hedge was beyond established.

Some trunks looked like small trees.
They sat on a slope, helping control erosion.

Taking them out meant exposing fresh soil.

⚠️ Exposed soil is vulnerable to erosion.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension says it takes nature hundreds of years to create one inch of topsoil — but rain can erase that inch in a week. (Source)

Removal = having a real plan, not just conviction.

Because conviction without a plan can quickly become chaos.

That means before anything…

I needed means.
I needed timing.
I needed a next step.

What Happens Now

I made the first moves…

Tuesday: Hedge removal.
Wednesday: Installed a wooden wall.
Thursday: Planned and plotted.
Friday: Shopping for plants.

I’m not sure who first planted on that slope — a person, birds, wind.

But I’m sure of this:
I’m tending it intentionally NOW.

First, I’ll come through the area looking for runners and new shoots.

I don’t want the invasive privet to resprout.

I may need to apply treatments to stop regrowth.
I don’t know yet.

The land will show me what it needs.

Our New Garden Is Evolving

The blank slope is open and full of possibility.

I don’t want to rush in and recreate another dense wall.

This time I want layers.
Different heights. Color. Texture.

Site Conditions: Planting on a Slope

The first thing to consider is location.

It’s a slope, so the ground may be drier than lower areas. Rainwater runs downhill instead of soaking deeply into the soil. Slopes are also more vulnerable to erosion. Gravity pulls loose soil downward. That means heavy rain can wash away topsoil before plant roots have time to settle and establish.

📌 Gardening on a slope requires extra planning. That way, I can pick plants with strong root systems to stabilize soil and withstand runoff.

Light Exposure and Microclimates

Next is light.

My slope gets morning sun. As the day moves, one side shifts into dappled shade while the other takes on strong afternoon light. In summer, that sun can be intense.

This creates small microclimates across the slope. Some areas will support shade-tolerant plants, while others will need species that can handle heat and direct sun.

Environmental Stress Factors

I also have to think about nearby structures. Concrete and brick can radiate heat, and some plants struggle with that added warmth.

If traffic pollution is a factor, or if animals use this area regularly, I’ll need plants that tolerate salt, environmental stress, and occasional disturbance.

Soil Preparation and Amendments

As I prep the site for native plants and non-native plants, I’ll add organic matter and mulch. This will improve soil structure, moisture retention, and become home for beneficial organisms.

To save money, I buy garden soil, pine bark fines, and mulch by the yard from a company that has 12 acres of landscaping materials.

What I’m Considering Planting Instead

Again, I don’t want to rush in and recreate another dense wall. This time, I’m thinking in layers — canopy, understory, and structure that supports wildlife while stabilizing the slope.

Native Plant Options for a Sloped Garden in North Carolina

Virginia Sweetspire handles slopes well and sends out long, arching blooms that add movement to the garden. It also handles varying moisture conditions, which makes it useful on our uneven terrain.

Arrowwood Viburnum is a multi-stemmed flowering shrub that can be shaped into a small tree over time. Very whimsical. This could add structure without feeling heavy, while supporting pollinators and birds.

Eastern Redbuds sprout all around me (free plants — I’ll take it). Over time, redbuds grow tall. This creates a light canopy, so I can underplant a future shade garden.

I love Weeping Yaupon Hollies, but passed over them and Wax Myrtle, because its high flammability rating. I also learned Wax Myrtle limbs tend to break during hurricanes.

Thankfully, there are SO many places to find plants and inspiration. I plan to visit Carolina Native Nursery — to explore more native plants. I’ve also been following Jim Putnam’s Hortube — as he designs a full native garden in Raleigh, NC.

Choosing native plants is how I support local insects, birds, and soil health.

Well-Behaved Non-Native Options

Non-native plants I could use are:

🌳 Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragrans)

🌳 Cleyera japonica

🌳 Prague viburnums (Viburnum × pragense)

🌳 Loropetalum chinense varieties

🌳 Camellia

Why I’m Not Rushing the Planting Plan

My goal is to resist the urge to rush. Fast-growing plants sometimes have weaker wood and shallower roots, making them more vulnerable to storm damage. Strong roots matter on this slope. And long-term stability matters more than fast coverage!

Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Chinese Privet

Does Chinese Privet grow back after cutting?
Yes. It can resprout from roots or stumps. This is why full removal or chemical treatment may be necessary.

Is Chinese Privet harmful to wildlife?
While birds eat the berries, dense walls of privet (thickets) reduce native plant diversity. That limits overall habitat quality.

What should you plant after removing privet?
No invasive species. I’ll add some native plants suited for my region’s soil and light conditions. My goal? Keep the slope from washing away and support nature.

The Bigger Shift — This Is Where We Elevate

This change wasn’t just about shrubs.

It’s about alignment.

Decades of growth came out in one afternoon.

That taught me something.

Alignment isn’t always gentle.

Sometimes it looks like flowing with what’s working.
Letting things fill in.
Letting time do its thing.

Other times?
It looks like disruption.

Chains.
Noise.
Uprooting.

A little bit of chaos before growth reveals itself.

So whether I’m holding steady.
Or pulling something out by the roots—

I’m choosing intentionally.

I’m NOT forcing a finished picture.
Not rushing the outcome either.

Things might turn out different…

I’m letting growth reveal itself —
in the soil,
on the slope,
in me,
in my family.

This in-between feeling doesn’t mean instability.
It means something is changing.

Gardens change.
People change.
Families change.

Translation? As things grow, plans change.

And now, the intentional design begins.

Because I mean what I say.

I’m creating a haven that supports nature.

My plant choices have to reflect that.

Even if it means uprooting something like Chinese Privet.
Standing in an empty stretch of soil.
And trusting something better will take root.

If you’re in an in-between season —
closing a door, clearing, waiting, rebuilding —

Maybe this is your reminder:

Sometimes growth looks like letting things fill in.
Other times it looks like pulling something out by the roots.

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