Initial experiments are being conducted to understand the reasons for increased flowering in privet. This includes the importance of the age of the mother plants, and possible increased induction of flowering through high summer temperatures, as well as when flower buds are induced. The formation of flower buds will be assessed both by bud microscopy in the fall of 2025 and visual flowering in the spring of 2026.

A number of treatments will then be tested to avoid flowering or damage flowers so that berries do not develop. This includes the effect of a) extra nitrogen to promote vegetative growth and inhibit flower induction, b) ensuring a fertilizer balance that provides increased vegetative growth in flowering plants to ensure good growth despite flowering, c) treatment with flower thinning agents during flowering to abort and or avoid pollination so that berries do not develop. This will potentially ensure better shoot growth.

Experiments are being conducted to understand the reasons for lower rooting percentages. This includes a) the importance of the age of the cutting mother plant, b) the importance of cutting quality (thickness and maturity from production plants) for the rooting percentage, c) the importance of the spring environment for the rooting percentage including the interaction between cutting quality and possible extreme environment during the rooting period, d) the importance of cold storage of cuttings of different quality for fungal attacks during storage.

In order to achieve better rooting percentages, trials are being conducted with hot water treatment of cuttings in combinations of different temperatures and treatment times and trials with increased protection of the cutting against drying out.