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When to Cut Back Oleanders in South Carolina

Oleander’s (Nerium oleander) versatile appearances are the results of its natural growth versus different pruning techniques. In its unsculpted, au naturel state, oleander forms a clumping shrub with multiple stems. You can trim oleander lightly to promote more flowers on its stems; you can prune it to a single-stemmed standard; or you can cut an older shrub to rejuvenate it. Knowing when to prune is the key to keeping its developing flower buds intact.

  1. Spring

    • Oleander forms its flower buds on the current season’s woody growth, so you can prune it in early spring and it will flower in summer. If your shrub suffered cold damage, prune it back to healthy wood. When an older plant becomes leggy with bare spots near the base, rejuvenation pruning over a three-year period may restore it to its former vigor. The first year, prune one-third of the older stems close to the soil line. In the second year, cut one-half of the remaining stems to the ground, and in the third year, remove the remaining stems.

    Summer

    • After oleander blooms in summer, removing the dead flowers may promote a second round of flowering. You can remove just the stem tips to maintain the same height, or you can prune a shrub shorter to encourage thicker growth where you make the cuts. To open shrubs for a fuller form, make pruning cuts just above a node at a 45-degree angle outward. Complete all pruning by autumn so the pruning cuts can heal before the first frost. Otherwise, the frost may burn oleander stems through open cuts.

    Disease Control

    • Oleander is sometimes attacked by a fungal disease called dieback, which is caused by Botryosphaeria species pathogens. Plants are more susceptible to dieback when they are weakened by environmental stresses, such as drought or freezing. Plants should be cut back to healthy growth regardless of the time of year so the disease does not spread. When you make each pruning cut, examine the cross section. If you see dark tissue inside the branch, continue cutting back until you reach healthy growth.

    Considerations

    • Wherever oleander grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, all parts of the plant are poisonous. Oleander produces cardenolide glycoside toxins, oleandroside and nerioside, which are potentially fatal to people and pets. Wash your hands immediately after pruning shrubs, or wear gloves to protect your skin against contact dermatitis, because the pruning cuts release toxic sap. Dispose of the pruned limbs without burning them, because the fumes are also poisonous.

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Plant Basics
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  2. When to Prune Back Pentas?
  3. When to Cut Back Ornamental Grasses?
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  5. When to Cut Back a Bearded Iris
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  7. When to Cut Back Brown-Eyed Susans
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  9. Pruning Oleanders
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  11. When to Cut Back Miscanthus Grass
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