How to Heavily Prune an Oleander

Oleander plants can grow quickly and overtake other plants or become too large for the area in which you planted them. Pruning the oleander heavily returns it to the desired size, and also encourages it to bush out instead of spreading. You can cut the plant back as far as you want, as long as you make all pruning cuts above a leaf node so the branches can produce new shoots. Oleanders flower on new shoots, so the heavier the pruning, the more flowers the plant will make.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Show More

Instructions

1. • 1

     Wait until early fall in September or October to prune oleander. Later pruning than this will halt new growth in the spring.

   • 2

     Cut the bottom and side branches back to the width you want the plant to be. Make cuts just above a leaf node so the plant can branch back out after pruning.

   • 3

     Cut the top branches back to the height you want the oleander. Make all cuts just above a leaf node.

   • 4

     Remove the cut branches and compost them or discard them. Do not leave them under the oleander or they can harbor pests and infection.