Time to Schedule Your Oleanders for Trimming and Pruning
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 23
Get your bushes and shrubs cut and pruned now before they blossom in late spring and summer!
The Oleander: A Southern New Mexico Favorite
Ever noticed how we have so many oleanders in this Southern New Mexico area? You might have an oleander in your own yard! Or, you might be looking to start your own desert landscape and garden in our lovely local basin. We'll occasionally be writing tips for your home and business gardening and yard maintenance, and today it's all about the oleander!
Oleanders, or Nerium oleander, are large, flowering shrubs that thrive with little care. They are heat and drought-tolerant once established. And they blossom in the summer. Right now, in early spring, is the recommended time to schedule them to be trimmed and pruned.
Why Prune Oleanders?
We once heard a customer compare oleanders here in Las Cruces to barbed wire in other regions of the U.S. This is not only because the plant can irritate the skin, but also because this shrub can grow to be very thick. It naturally grows upwards and outwards in the shape of a mound. When planting oleander shrubs side by side, they can form a formidable privacy cover. We recommend at least three feet of space in between each plant.
Oleanders are tolerant of many different soil types but must have good drainage. They will not do well in wet areas. Once established, oleanders are drought-tolerant. However, they respond well to occasional deep watering. Your regular sprinklers and/or drip water irrigation systems are just fine for watering these hardy plants.
Best Practices for Oleander Care
Since oleanders bloom in summer on new growth, prune them in the early spring. They tolerate hard spring pruning to remove cold-damaged or overgrown wood. These are the thick stems we referred to above.
Generally, it's a good idea to remove dead flower clusters. This encourages longer blooms in the summer. Cut stem tips off to promote branching after the flowers are spent. However, avoid cutting too late in the fall. The new growth may not have enough time to harden before frost.
AM Lawn Services provides an Annual Yard Care Plan, starting as low as $125/visit for usually 1-2 visits a month, for 12 months. We can ensure that your oleanders and yard are taken care of year-round. You won't have to worry about the upkeep and maintenance - we'll take care of it for you!
Contact Us Today!
AM Lawn Services can help you with your home or business property yard. You can reach out to us to help trim and prune your oleanders now in early spring today!
AM Lawn Services is a commercial and residential yard and landscaping company local to Las Cruces, New Mexico. We proudly serve our Las Cruces neighbors and those in surrounding Southern New Mexico communities.
We take the legitimacy of our business and the trust with our customers seriously. That's why we're insured and licensed.
We were incorporated in the summer of 2025 to provide locals with a reliable, top-quality option for New Mexico desert yard care services to meet all your outdoor needs. Ask us about our Annual Yard Care Plan!
