Some Elaeagnus species are well suited as hedge plants due to their even growth, good branching and their tolerance to pruning. The wintergreen oleaster is particularly suitable, as it keeps its foliage at least in mild winters and thus offers privacy all year round.
Due to its dense growth, the oleaster is well suited as a hedge or privacy screen
Wintergreen oleaster (Elaeagnus ebbingei) is a low-growing, frost-resistant ornamental shrub with leaves that are dark green above and silvery-scaled underneath and creamy-white, intensely fragrant flowers that develop into silvery, hairy fruits. The flowering period of the wintergreen oleaster begins in September at the earliest and sometimes lasts into December.
Suitable location
The site requirements of the wintergreen oleaster are not high: it thrives in the sun or semi-shade on all cultivated soils, tolerates drought and frost equally well. In very severe winters, it can shed its leaves, but will sprout again in spring. A protected location proves advantageous for this Elaeagnus species.
plant hedge
It is recommended to plant after the last frost in spring. It is not necessary to enrich the soil with compost beforehand. A drainage layer to protect against waterlogging is an advantage. When planting a hedge, depending on the size of the plants, you need:
- 2-3 oleasters per meter (small plants of approx. 30-40 cm) or
- 1-2 oleasters per meter (larger plants of approx. 40-60 cm).
The initially somewhat “loose” planting soon grows together.
maintenance of the hedge
Apart from annual trimming measures (in June), the hedge requires no further care. The cut should preferably be made with pruning shears and not with hedge trimmers (24.99€). This will prevent the cut leaves from turning brown and falling off. In addition, the hedge cut in this way does not look so severe. As with other trees and shrubs, the procedure is as follows:
- shorten the overly long shoots to promote branching,
- remove inward growing shoots,
- cut out damaged branches.
tips
Of the deciduous oleaster species, the coral oleaster (Elaeagnus umbellata) is well suited for hedge planting. This not only blooms abundantly, but also bears many fruits in our latitudes.