The evergreen oleander (Nerium oleander) grows quickly in the warmth of spring and summer. Depending on the variety, oleander can remain a shrub, only reaching 6 feet tall and wide, or grow much larger, almost like a small tree, growing up to 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide. The plant can tolerate freezing temperatures in winter, but extreme cold can cause leaves to dry out, branch dieback, and even kill tissue down to the base of the trunk. Is your oleander frozen? So he can still be saved, read on!
How hardy can oleander survive?
Most oleanders can survive the winter undamaged as long as temperatures do not drop below -6 to -10 Celsius. Temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius lead to an increasing death of leaf and branch tissue due to too much cold. The longer the duration of sub-zero temperatures in winter, the greater the die-off. Temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius cause the oleander to die down to the ground and even kill the roots, so there is no chance of rejuvenation next spring.
Once temperatures drop below freezing, don't expect to be able to immediately spot frost damage to oleander. It can take days or weeks for cold damage to leaves or branches to appear.Therefore, cut the oleandernot back. Premature pruning exposes the living lower tissue of the branches to the full force of the recurring cold throughout the rest of the winter. Even though the oleander is starting to look brown and sickly, it is probably still alive in its lower branches and roots.
When can you cut the shrub if it is damaged by cold?
Wait until late winter or early spring - after all danger of frost has passed - before planning to prune cold-damaged oleander bushes. The new growth allows you to see which branches are still alive. Cut back dead branches to 1/4 above these live shoots. Alternatively, you can cut oleander back very heavily until the branch stumps are about 30cm high and allow the shrub to sprout new shoots from the roots and lower trunk.
What should you pay attention to when pruning to save the plant?
If an oleander has had a very cold winter with lots of dead branches, it may be more susceptible to fungal diseases. If you remove dead branches in early spring,cutinto the lower, living, healthy branch tissue. After the cut, the center of the wound should appear white. If black, discolored tissue is visible, cut deeper into the branch until the branch wound no longer shows dark-colored tissue. This will remove any progressive traces of fungal infection, allowing the plant to grow again without the fungus attacking the new tender shoots and leaves.
Step-by-step cutting instructions
If your oleander is frozen, you can save it after the winter cold. Follow these step-by-step cutting instructions!
Step 1
As already mentioned, wait until spring when frosts are no longer expected in your area to prune frost-damaged oleanders. Find out the expected date of the last frost in the spring. Plan to prune shortly after this date.
Step 2
Examine the oleander bush thoroughly by walking around it to know exactlywhere the frost damageoccurred and how strong it is. If only the leaf tips are scalded, maintenance pruning may not be necessary. Dead, curled leaves after winter often indicate branch dieback, while swelling buds and green leaves further down the branch show where the plant is still alive and will sprout replacement shoots.
Step 3
Cut off dead branch tips with hand pruners. Trim the branches evenly across the oleander to shape the shrub into a more symmetrical, rounded shape. You should not prune the plant to the point of creating perfectly geometric shapes, as this will destroy the oleander's natural, wavy silhouette.
Step 4
Cut severely cold-damaged branches—those without leaves or with dry, brittle bark—back to a lower branch connection or main trunk. When you cut into moist, living branch tissue, new shoots will sprout directly beneath the cut surface. This creates several new branches that rejuvenate this area of the bush.
Step 5
Throw the trimmings in the trash or in your own trash heap.CompostDo not burn or burn oleander leaves or wood. Oleander contains toxins. However, the shredded clippings can be scattered on the ground beneath the shrub and used as mulch and organic fertilizer.
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