Oleander Pruning ( When & How )

Last updated on November 1st, 2022 at 03:52 am

Getting Started as a Gardener: Pruning the Oleander; How should you prune the oleander and what do you need for that? The oleander, also called Nerium oleander, is available in many different colors, including yellow, white, pink, and red.

Oleander Pruning ( When & How )
Image by Pezibear from Pixabay

You can also go for a variant with single, double, or double flowers. In principle, the oleander can be outside a lot, but it has to go inside with severe frost. You can protect it during the night frost with wind shelter.

Early in the year, the oleander can go outside again. The location of this plant is a place with a lot of sun and a lot of humidity (such as next to a pond ).

Three reasons to prune the oleander

Why should you prune oleander? This is not mandatory, but there are three reasons why pruning oleander might be a good idea. Keep an eye on the growth of the oleander before jumping to conclusions.

  1. Too big: pruning is badly needed when the oleander has grown too big;
  2. Bare spots: If the oleander has many bare branches without leaves, you can consider pruning the plant.
  3. Shaping: pruning the oleander in this case means giving the plant its original or a new shape.

How do you prune oleander?

Pruning healthy oleander means you can enjoy it to the fullest the following year. After pruning, large shoots are immediately made, so that the plant produces the most beautiful flowers.

When the oleander gets too big, take sharp pruning shears and cut off the branches that have become too long. With healthy oleander, you can cut off many branches because new shoots will soon appear here. Before pruning the oleander, think carefully about where you want to cut and whether this is the right choice.

Oleander Pruning ( When & How )
Image by Thanasis Papazacharias from Pixabay

Is pruning really necessary?

Are you going to prune the oleander because it is bald? Check carefully whether there are still leaves and flower buds at the top ends. If they have not dried up in the winter, these flower buds can simply continue to bloom the following spring.

It is therefore a shame to remove these branches. If you cut these branches short, it will take a long time before the oleander gives flower buds again. Grown oleander will then mainly produce long bare branches with leaves at the end and some flower buds. So only prune the oleander if it is really necessary.

When should you prune oleander?

The best time to prune oleander is at the end of February or the beginning of March. During this period, the temperature usually rises again and the sap flow from the plant starts again. Is it still freezing during this period? Then wait with pruning the oleander until the temperatures rise again.

Tips for pruning the oleander

Pruning oleander is not a difficult task, but it is important to keep a few things in mind. Always use gloves when pruning the oleander. The juices of this plant are poisonous in all parts of the plant! Is your oleander going bald? One reason for this may be that the pot it is in is too small. By repotting it, the roots get more space and the plant can grow optimally again.

Do you want an airy oleander bush? Do not prune the oleander down to the main stems, but leave a few centimeters from the side branches. After some time, new shoots will grow here, making the plant airier.

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