How to Trim a Dwarf Oleander

Remove dead or broken branches on the dwarf oleander shrub any time of year. Make the pruning cut 1/2 inch above a lower branch junction, leaf or dormant bud on a living portion of the branch. Use a bypass or hand pruners to cut branches that are less than 3/4 inch in diameter. Larger-sized branches are best cut with a loppers.

Clip off old flower clusters on branch tips in late spring or early summer to keep the shrub looking tidy. This type of pruning, called deadheading, isn't necessary, but encourage new growth and more flowers later that summer.

Trim back branch tips on errant, long branches that ruin the shape or symmetry of the shrub in late spring or early summer. Depending on your climate, this coincides with the start of the flowering season or in the case of subtropical regions, follows the primary flush of blossoms. Carefully reach into the branch tip with the bypass pruners to cut the branch 1/2 inch above a lower branch junction, leaf or bud. Avoid cutting any healthy leaves in half as you nip off the branch.

Cut back other branch tips lightly the rest of summer, as needed, to retain the general symmetry of the dwarf oleander. While late spring to early summer is the best time to conduct major trimming maintenance, pruning lightly as late as August still results in some new growth. Do not prune past Labor Day, as any new leaves will not mature enough before the onset of fall frosts and may be killed.