Do you have to cut oleander? Yes, and you can shorten the beautiful Mediterranean shrub in different ways. On the one hand there is topiary pruning, on the other hand there is thinning and radical pruning, which are, however, carried out at different times of the year. What pruning measures are necessary in spring and how exactly should you cut the oleander after overwintering?
The right combination of all types of cuts makes it! Did you overwinter the shrub for the first time and don't know exactly how to start the new season? What needs to be taken into account is explained relatively quickly and easily.
Always wear gloves when pruning oleander because it is poisonous!
How should you prune the oleander after overwintering?
Autumn, and more precisely the period between the end of flowering and overwintering, is the time when radical pruning can be carried out and is also recommended. This is also quite practical for winter quarters, because then the shrub takes up less space. You can find out more about itin this articleread up.
But what pruning measures are due in spring? How and what should you prune the oleander after overwintering?
Topiary pruning: How to cut back the shrub
The topiary can, but does not have to be, radical. It is important to shorten branches that grow in a crisscross manner or, if necessary, to remove them entirely. If your oleander bush has already sunk into chaos, you can save time and resort to radical pruning, but with the result that it will not bloom in the same year.
The oleander is easy to grow and tolerates pruning, so you can be bolder when it comes to topiary. The plants quickly forgive even a cutting error and recover. So they don't stay bare for long, but that can't be said if you skip pruning completely.
After such a radical topiary, the shrub grows bushy. In the following year, topiary can be done more sparingly and in combination with thinning and cleaning. Preferably shorten old wood and be a little more stingy with the younger shoots.
A young plant does not need to be formed yet. This measure is usually only necessary after the first two to three years.
Pruning oleanders after overwintering: thinning out as care pruning
The purpose is to leave the inside of the bush loose so that enough light can get in and stimulate leaf growth there. The air can also circulate better, moisture can dry more quickly and this prevents fungal diseases. In addition, the force can be distributed to the remaining shoots and more lush growth is promoted. How do you proceed?
Important:A heavy thinning cut is not carried out every late winter, but only every 3 to 4 years or when necessary. Of course, you can remove one or two disturbing shoots from time to time, but in moderation.
- First, remove all diseased, weak and dead shoots. Even if the oleander has suffered frost damage, the affected branches are shortened or, depending on the extent, completely removed.
- You will then get a better overview of the healthy plant and can more easily estimate what can be cut away later.
- Shoots that cross each other are unnecessary and can go away.
- It's not wrong to cut into old wood. This actually promotes growth.
- The interior of the shrub is preferably kept light, even if you are aiming for a bushy growth.
We have diseases typical of oleandersummarized here.
Is pruning in late winter really so wrong?
Sometimes exceptions prove the rule and in this case that is indeed the case. In principle, you can still cut the oleander radically in spring if:
- You missed the late fall pruning but still want a more compact size for the plant. Then you can cut your oleander after overwintering without any worries.
- the oleander bush has become bare. The radical cut has a rejuvenating effect and will make it grow thicker again. Rejuvenation pruning is also possible in autumn, but the advantage of late winter (March) is that the oleander is practically still in the dormant phase and will still sprout anyway (if it was overwintered in cold weather).
- the plant is sick.
- there is a pest infestation.
What you should definitely keep in mind is that if you do this, your oleander will produce few or even no flowers this year. But sometimes such a sacrifice is the better choice to preserve and preserve a healthy and visually beautiful plant. However, you can avoid this step with regular pruning in fall and spring.
When cutting, note the following:
- The shoots are really radically cut. This means you can shorten them to a height of up to 10cm above the ground. If that's too short for you or you don't want it for everyone, then up to 30 cm is also possible.
Don't be frightened by this sight. Oleanders are quite tolerant of pruning and sprout quickly and diligently. - In some cases it is possible to preserve a few of the younger shoots for flowering. For those that are still quite short and don't necessarily have to go, just trim them down to the first bud, which the plant should have already formed.
You can decide how to deal with the faded flowersread here.
