The Best Time to Trim Oleander

Growth

• The oleander can produce about 2 feet of new growth each year. When damaged by severe cold, the plant can revive with new growth starting at the base of the plant. It has dark green, leather-like foliage. Its leaves are long and narrow, with pointed tips. If left to grow without trimming and strategic pruning the oleander forms a dense, upright growing shape, with leggy, straggly looking outer stems.

Fall or Winter

• The oleander can tolerate severe pruning. According to the International Oleander Society website, they recommend pruning late fall, and state later pruning removes spring growth. Other gardening experts, such as author of "The Complete Burke's Backyard" Don Burke states winter is the best time to trim the oleander, to remove any sick and damaged branches and help shape the plant. Every three years the oleander should be severely cutback to about one-third of its mature growth height. Plant size varies according to oleander variety.

Pruning

• When pruning, always use clean gardening shears, to avoid introducing a harmful bacteria or fungus. This is a safe practice for all plants. Do this by wiping the gardening blades with rubbing alcohol. To encourage new grown strategically trim the oleander. Before trimming off a branch look for the leaf nodes or joints, where three leaves grow from the branch. Cut above this area, which encourages growth of three new branches.

Lethal Oleander

• There is much to love about the oleander, a Mediterranean native, save for one characteristic. Every part of the plant is poisonous. It isn't even safe to place a single leaf in your mouth. Even burning the plant creates a toxic gas. When it comes time to trim your oleander, bag up the trimmings and don't set the brush on fire. When trimming the oleander, wear protective gloves and clothing, to avoid getting the sap on your skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching an oleander.