How to Grow Rosemary Plant Hedges

Loosen the soil to the depth of 12 inches with a shovel in a weed-free area in a location with at least six hours of full sunlight. Break the soil up with a garden hoe and mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of coarse sand. Rosemary bushes grow best in dry, sandy soil.

Dig holes with a hand trowel deep enough to hold the roots. Place the root ball in the hole and pack the soil in around the roots. Space the rosemary bushes 12 to 24 inches apart to form a hedge. Water the soil around the base of the shrubs to settle the soil.

Water the soil around the base of the rosemary stems to the depth of 2 inches once a week. Dig a small hole near the hedge with a large spoon to test the depth of the water. Once the plants are established and growing vigorously, do not water unless drought conditions exist.

Prune the stems of the rosemary plants with a pair of pruning shears. Do not shear the entire hedge to shape the plants. Work with each plant individually to keep all rosemary plants healthy. Strip the needles off the removed stems and dry them to use in the kitchen.

Spread a 2-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the rosemary plants in the fall. Use mulch like wood chips, dried grass or straw. Mulching protects the roots from cold temperatures and drying out in winter weather.