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A. You will really enjoy the beauty of oleanders in your yard when they begin to blossom. Oleanders make pretty hedges and borders and look attractive in almost any setting. They really like full sun, but also tend to take some shade and are very adaptable to sandy soil. This is one reason why they do so well in Galveston. Additionally, once oleanders are established they require very little water which makes them an outstanding choice for our climate.
It is not necessary for oleanders to be pruned in order to be hardy, but it really helps to maintain their beauty without a very overgrown look. One thing that is noteworthy when pruning oleanders is to remember you don't want to cut off your present year's blossoms. It is imperative for oleanders that are short bloomers, to prune immediately after they are blooming. Oleanders that bloom until early fall should be should be pruned by mid-September to ensure that their new growth will not be affected by any cold winter temperatures.
When you decide to prune you need to assess the height you want your plant to grow. Then, start thinning out the dead or crossed branches. You will find in order to maintain the look you have, it will be necessary to keep the new growth at the ground removed since new shoots will continue to pop up.
Often people prune their oleanders into trees, but this requires high maintenance if you do so, and only the hardiest of varieties should be used this way.