When planting White Oleander (Nerium oleander), proper spacing is essential to ensure healthy growth, good air circulation, and ease of maintenance. Here’s a general spacing guide:
Spacing Guide for White Oleander
Hedge or Screen Planting:
- Distance: Space plants about 4-5 feet apart.
- Reason: This closer spacing will allow the plants to grow together and form a dense, continuous hedge or screen. The tighter spacing encourages fuller growth, which is ideal for privacy barriers.
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Individual Specimen Planting:
- Distance: Space plants 7-9 feet apart.
- Reason: When planting oleanders as individual specimens, giving them more space allows each plant to grow to its full potential. This spacing ensures that each plant can spread naturally without competing with its neighbors, resulting in a more open, bushy shape.
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Row Planting (For Walkways or Borders):
- Distance: If planting along a walkway or as a border, you can space them about 5-6 feet apart.
- Reason: This moderate spacing provides a balance between a dense look and enough space for each plant to grow without overcrowding.
Considerations When Spacing
- Mature Size: White Oleanders can grow 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Keep this mature size in mind when deciding how much space to give each plant.
- Air Circulation: Proper spacing helps ensure good air circulation around each plant, which can reduce the risk of fungal diseases and pest problems.
- Maintenance Access: Ensure that there’s enough room between plants for you to easily access them for pruning, watering, and general care.
By following these spacing recommendations, you can create a healthy, attractive planting of White Oleanders that provides lush greenery and beautiful blooms.