How to thicken hedge/privots

What shape have you trimmed the hedge? If you keep it wide at the bottom, and taper it in toward the top, it tends not to thin out. If you do what many people do, and have it narrow at the bottom and wider at the top, it shades itself and thins out. The wider tops are also more vulnerable to storm damage.

Sounds like the initial planting was too sparse. Is it the aesthetics that concern you or the loss of balls from your garden?

Sounds like the insertion of additional hedging will not be successful if it is to be privet. Filling with holly, laurel or similar might work if you fancied the option.

A practical solution could be a roll of chicken wire along the bottom.

Wholly agree.

Both. That's why I'd like it tall too.

OK. I'm new to gardening. What age should the plants be when I buy them? Which ones look nicer>

Not sure this'll look that nice.

leafed

aesthetics that

successful if it

Only effective way to generate new growth at ground level is very heavy pruning - you probably need to cut it all down to only 12" or so. The new growth will be 'bushy' and obviously sprouting lower than you cut it. It looks very drastic, but it should come back in a season or two. If it fails to regenerate, then plant laurel - this grows profusely from a low level.

AWEM

I agree with these comments. I cut back a privet hedge possibly 45 years ago when it was about 15 years old and five or six foot high to about 12 inches. It took years for it to go back. However, it is an item of topiary wonder these days having been shaped into a steam engine pulling carriages.

My reason for suggesting laurel or holly was that I thought you would be wanting a quicker solution.

Holly is even slower, as is box.