Oleanders are beautiful shrubs with evergreen foliage and brilliant flowers. These plants are valued not only for their beauty but also for their ability to provide privacy in a garden or on a balcony. Find out how to prune oleander to get the most out of these beautiful plants.
Page content
First of all, know that each part of the bay rose is extremely poisonous and consuming even a small amount can be fatal, so it is important to ensure that no child or pet has access to oleander. Take into account that the foliage can cause skin irritation. Remember to wash your hands after handling and wear gloves as well.
As for tools, hand pruners and loppers are generally enough to prune oleanders. Make sure your tools are in good condition, sharp and well cleaned.
Here's how to prune oleanders
Pruning oleanders is not difficult but requires some planning. Define beforehand the shape of the plant you want to obtain. Annual oleander pruning involves first inspecting dead or damaged branches. Remove these, but do not remove more than a third of the entire plant.
Prune only one-third of the branches to about one-third of their length for the shrub to regain its vigor. You can cut up to 50 cm without any serious consequences. Cut the branches just above a leaf node. This will encourage new growth. Pruning done this way will encourage your plant to be bushy. Every two or three years, you can prune oleander more aggressively, removing more than a third of the plant.
Tips for pruning these outdoor plants
Wait pruning frost-damaged oleander until spring, when frosts are no longer a concern in your area. Be aware that pruning oleander shrubs prematurely leads to tender new growth that cannot survive colder nights. If the plant has frozen over the winter, the blackened branches should be removed entirely as they will not regrow.
When to prune oleanders?
The pruning of oleanders is not essential but is often necessary to reduce the size of the plant. Ideally prune in late winter or early spring, but pruning can be done in the fall if needed.
Pruning the potted oleander
After flowering and before bringing your potted oleander in for the winter, cut a third of the branches to half their length to maintain a nice silhouette. Each year, proceed to a new pruning of a third of the branches so that the whole of the shrub is pruned on a cycle of 3 years. Don't forget to repot the oleander growing in a pot, each spring, going up to the next size of the container.
Pruning oleanders in pots
Does the oleander fear frost?
Note that most oleanders can withstand temperatures between -9°C and -6°C, although their foliage is damaged. Prolonged exposure to such temperatures can damage plants and inhibit or reduce flowering. These plants do best when planted in full sun, which also helps melt frost faster than when planted in shady areas. Remember that even a light coating of frost can burn developing oleander leaf and flower buds. During severe frosts, plants can die down to the ground, but not to the roots. In the spring, the shrubs will probably regrow from the roots. In this case, remember to remove the dead branches by pruning them.
A light coating of frost can burn developing leaf and flower buds
When should oleander be protected in winter?
Oleander winter care begins in autumn. When you begin to overwinter these plants, you have to cut the shrub in half in the fall. Consider doing this while the temperatures are not yet very low. Then put about 10cm of organic mulch over the root zone of the oleander and cover the foliage when temperatures drop below freezing. Watering once a week in winter helps prevent the plant from freezing. Note that you will need to protect your oleanders before the first night frosts arrive, after autumn. To do this, use a winter veil.
How to prune an oleander for the winter?
Start by pruning the plant after flowering, cutting the flowering shoots in half and the others in points. It is not necessary to prune the plant every year but better flower yields will result, as well as a more compact plant. It also makes it easier to maintain a potted plant in a smaller size.
Here’s how to prune an oleander for the winter
Where to put oleander in winter?
It is best to move oleander indoors during the winter months, if you live in the north. So the plant should be potted and overwintered in a sheltered place. Be aware that overwintering oleander indoors can be the key to enjoying the flowers of these plants. To do this, choose a pot large enough to encompass all the root mass. If you live in an area where temperatures don't drop below 2°C, you can simply spread mulch around the root zone to protect the plant.
Why do bay leaves turn yellow?
Too much or too little water can cause leaves to turn yellow and drop. Yellow leaves can be easily avoided with well-drained soil, proper watering, and fertilizing.
Too much or too little water can cause leaves to yellow and drop
How to treat an oleander that loses its leaves?
The oleander can lose its leaves due to improper watering. So remember to correct the latter to heal the plant. In summer, water the plant once or twice a week, deeply. Make sure the plant is in well-drained soil. Be aware that soggy roots can be the cause of oleander leaf drop. This plant does not need a lot of fertilizer. However, in poor soils or in containers where nutrients are limited, it is best to apply a balanced fertilizer in the spring. Also note that oleander has an extensive root system, but when planted with other competitive plants it can start to get sickly and the foliage can suffer. In this case, consider moving the plant if it is located too close to a tall tree or in an area with plants with overgrown roots.
Tips for caring for an oleander that is losing its leaves
Tips for successfully growing this beautiful shrub
Prune oleanders in late winter or early spring
Pruning promotes floral development
Here's how to have a beautiful shrub in your garden
A beautiful oleander hedge – a natural screen
This is when and how to prune oleander
