Pruning heavily \"hedge trimmed\" Oleander

Whittier, CA

Sadly, my gardener enjoys the ease of using a trimmer rather than pruning. I adore oleander but only ever see blooms that escape him. These oleander are probably 30 years old, I've lived here for 20 years and suddenly, about 10 years ago, the trimmer came into use. How does one prune to create a more natural look? I will do this myself and tell him not to touch them, I am asking because I don't want to harm them as they are older plants that have only been sheared for quite a while. And if you have an answer for this, consider pondering how to do the same for a very lovely, healthy, old camelia bush that is now a box. Thank you :)

Thumbnail by Tinkerbell_Leo Thumbnail by Tinkerbell_Leo
Cleveland,GA/Atlanta, GA(Zone 7b)

I am originally from South Florida where oleanders are common. They were grown as tall hedges or single tall specimens and left natural. I've never seen one so short or dense. Viburnum Valley is the shrub guru but unless he advises otherwise I would grow it up and seasonally thin it from the inside out to get a more open form. As for camellias, I have a twenty year old hedgerow and have never cut it. They are around eight feet and bloom profusely in late winter without aids. Maybe you have the right shrubs in the wrong place if taller natural looking plantings don't work design-wise against your foundation.

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