How to Grow Oleander Hedges

Oleander plants (Nerium oleander) have tough evergreen foliage and reach heights of up to 20 feet. They have a tidy, rounded growth habit and make an attractive hedge if planted closely together. The plants produce blooms in numerous colors, including pink, white, yellow and red. Oleander hedges grow best in full sun or light shade and survive in nearly any soil, including excessively wet or dry conditions. They require regular pruning, when used as a hedge, to maintain an attractive, uniform appearance.

Spade
Organic mulch
Complete fertilizer
Protective clothing and gloves
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a trench that is long enough to plant the desired number of oleander bushes. Make the trench twice as wide as the container the oleander was purchased in and equal to its depth.
- 2
  Place the oleanders in the trench. Leave a space of approximately 18 inches between each shrub. Back-fill the soil flush with the surrounding ground.
- 3
  Water the newly planted oleander hedge thoroughly.
- 4
  Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch beneath each shrub.
- 5
  Water the hedge thoroughly each week during the first month after planting, unless there has been significant rainfall. Provide supplemental moisture only when conditions are dry after the first month.
- 6
  Feed the oleander hedge each spring with a complete fertilizer, applied at the rate and in the manner indicated on the package instructions.
- 7
  Prune the shrubs during late winter or early spring to maintain an attractive form. Wear protective gloves and clothing as the plants' sap may cause irritation to exposed skin. Trim the oldest branches back to soil level each year but avoid removing more than 1/3 of the oleanders' overall growth.

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Shrubs