How to Make a Hedge With Bougainvilleas & Hibiscus

Plant both bougainvillea and hibiscus in spring when the ground thaws and temperatures rise to 65 to 70 degrees F. These tender shrubs do best with a mild start and summer growing season.

Choose sites for the shrubs. Both plants need full, bright sun, quick drainage and good air circulation for best growth and flowering. Mark appropriate sites along a fence or wall, or in a row along a border, for planting.

Amend the soil in the planting sites. Hibiscus and bougainvillea thrive in loose, crumbly soil with high organic content, so amend all sites at once. Dig into the top 8 to 10 inches of soil in a 2-foot-square site for each shrub. Mix 4 to 5 inches of organic compost into the tilled soil of each site.

Plant each shrub in a hole deep and wide enough for its root ball. Bougainvilleas have fine, shallow root systems and do best with relatively shallow plantings. Water each shrub with 1/2 gallon of water to settle the soil. Give them 2 inches of water every week thereafter.

Feed the bougainvillea and hibiscus with water-soluble 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer every month from spring to fall, according to manufacturer directions.

Tie bougainvillea and hibiscus vines to the fence to train them into a hedge shape. If you've planted against a wall or without any structure, erect an arbor or trellis behind the planting row and train the vines along the structure. Tie main stems rather than foliage or flowering stems.