Oregano is a beloved herb famend for its flavorful, fragrant leaves, that are staples in Mediterranean delicacies. As a perennial with mushy woody stems, oregano thrives when pruned frequently, making certain its well being and productiveness. On this information, we’ll discover the right way to prune oregano, together with recommendations on the right way to trim and look after this versatile herb, whether or not it’s rising in your backyard or in pots.
My neighbor requested me to prune her oregano cascading out of a giant plastic terra cotta pot, and I mentioned, “Heck yeah.” Not solely do I like pruning (my nickname was “Prunella” years in the past!), however I used to be additionally lending Mary a hand. She hadn’t pruned this herb for over two years. It was time for the overdue pruning of this oregano plant so all that tender new progress might seem because the climate warmed.
Observe: This publish was printed on 2/ 06/2018. It was up to date on 6/13/2024.
How To Prune Oregano
Why Oregano Wants Pruning
Perennial herbs like lavender, rosemary, or thyme vegetation have tougher woody stems. Oregano, like mint or candy marjoram, has softer woody stems. These previous stems will finally get woody over time, particularly in hotter climates.
The plant turns into fairly dense, making it tougher for brand spanking new progress to look in spring and summer time. That is why pruning is vital. The recent oregano leaves are a lot tastier than the more durable, older ones. I prune my mint, thyme, and marjoram in the identical manner—out with the previous and in with the brand new.
Oregano is a good addition to any sunny herb backyard. It’s a quick grower and a really productive plant, so you have to give it house. Properly-draining soil is a should to stop a build-up of an excessive amount of water, which may result in root rot. It grows properly in backyard beds, containers, and rock gardens.
There are a lot of oregano species and varieties. Many have a culinary use, and a few are decorative. Most have the identical rising necessities apart from the colored-leaf varieties like Golden Oregano that want safety from the robust afternoon solar.
You see Greek Oregano in all these photos and the video.
When To Prune Oregano
Most oregano varieties are perennial herbs in USDA zones 5 and better. In decrease zones with colder winters, they’re grown as annuals.
The perfect time to prune oregano is in winter or early spring, relying in your zone. I dwell within the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and did this pruning in direction of the tip of January. In colder climates, it’s greatest to attend till spring when the hazard of a freeze has handed. You don’t wish to power out all that new progress after which have it hit.
I grew up in Connecticut, the place we left the oregano within the fall and threw some hay over it for defense. We eliminated the hay in spring and did the large pruning. Relying in your zone, beginning in early spring is ok.
Oregano vegetation develop quick and profit from a mid-season pruning proper after flowering. That may stimulate much more of that tasty new progress. I now develop Greek Oregano in my raised herb backyard and prune it twice a yr to stop it from getting woody just like the one you see right here.
Are you new to herb gardening? Listed below are Necessities for the Herb Backyard plus Herb Gardening for Rookies to get you began.
How To Prune Oregano Step By Step
Observe: You prune oregano on this identical method, whether or not it’s in a pot or within the floor.
This isn’t a kind of finesse pruning jobs. You’re principally chopping off all of the previous progress to make manner for the brand new. Yours will not be this overgrown, so solely a light-weight pruning will probably be wanted.
Make sure that your pruners are clear and sharp. It’ll make the job a lot simpler. I used two pruners – my Felco 2 for the large pruning and my Fiskar Micro Pruners for the “finesse” work on the finish. I’ve used each of those instruments for over thirty years, and love them!
Water your oregano a minimum of in the future earlier than. You don’t wish to prune a confused plant, particularly when it’s as overdue as this one.
Right here’s what I did: I made my manner across the plant, slicing all of it the best way again about 3″. That’s when you possibly can actually begin to see the brand new progress hiding beneath an oregano as dense as this one. Sure, it’s what you name laborious pruning, however that is what an overgrown oregano actually wants.
The 2nd spherical of pruning was a lot lighter and eliminated among the lifeless woody stems and leggy softer stems. I like to do that as a result of it makes the plant look a bit higher. You’ll be able to skip this step in the event you’d like however I favor to wash issues up as a lot as doable.
Let’s be actual. After the clean-up is full, your oregano isn’t fairly and can appear like it’s been scalped for a few month or so!
Observe: It’s greatest to maintain up on the pruning all through the season quite than reduce it again to the bottom of the plant like I did right here. In case your oregano hasn’t been pruned in a number of years like this one, you’ll undoubtedly get a bountiful harvest.
Simply be warned: most of the recent leaves will probably be thicker and more durable on the older stems. You could possibly wrap them in cheesecloth and use them to taste a inventory, sauce, or soup you’re making.
You’ll wish to take a look at these 22 Herbs for Cooking and these Herbs for Full Solar.
Submit Pruning Care
Make sure that your plant is in a sunny location. Water when the soil is dry or nearly dry. How typically that’s is determined by your local weather. I by no means let mine utterly dry within the robust Arizona solar and warmth.
Harvesting Oregano
The perfect time to reap this flavorful herb is in the course of the rising season. I like recent oregano and harvest it within the early morning or early night when the Arizona summer time warmth is on. Within the cooler months, I harvest it anytime.
The recent leaves are tasty, however they dry properly, too. Utilizing dried oregano out of your backyard within the winter for all of your soups, stews, and sauces is a deal with. Some say the perfect taste is recent, and a few like dried higher. Your selection, my good friend! The way you retailer oregano is determined by whenever you plan to make use of it and what you wish to do with it.
Oregano is straightforward to dry, and I’ve at all times air-dried my herbs. The drying course of takes one to a few weeks.
In the event you prune off the flowers, you’ll get extra leaf progress. You should utilize them as garnish. I’ve additionally added stems with flowers to small bouquets for that wild, homegrown look.
You don’t have a backyard? No worries! Listed below are guides on Rising Basil in Pots, Rising Parsley in Pots, & Rising Thyme in Pots.
How To Prune Oregano FAQs
Pruning will contribute to the plant’s well being. Your oregano will want one or two prunings a yr, one at the start of the season and one other mid- or end-of-summer to maintain the plant full and bushy. Younger vegetation might be left alone till they get established and are properly on their manner.
This perennial plant lives multiple season in zones 5 and up. It might be getting leggy as a result of it hasn’t been pruned in a very long time. One more reason is the dearth of direct daylight. The stems will turn into weaker and stretched out, reaching in direction of the sunshine.
I reduce this one again to 2-3″ above the bottom. It’s not what I might advocate frequently, however this plant wanted it. Oregano loves the warmth and comes again quick as soon as the climate begins to heat.
4 years later, as I up to date this publish, the oregano image right here is wholesome and appears good.
It’s greatest to maintain up with the pruning each season, slicing the expansion again by 50% or so. You may as well skinny out some stems in the event you’d like. The brand new progress (the tasty stuff!) emerges from the bottom of the plant, so that you wish to open it up a bit.
Make sure you take a look at our Herbs Class for a lot of extra herb gardening articles.
Pruning Oregano Video Information
You wish to do that pruning (particularly in case your oregano is overgrown like this one) to encourage all that new progress. The newer leaves have a greater taste than the older, more durable ones.
Don’t be timid about this. You wish to expose the brand new progress to daylight and air. The oregano you see right here was so thick that the brand new progress would have had a really laborious time rising by way of it.
I topdress my herb mattress with a 2-3″ layer of a compost/worm compost mix in late winter/early spring. This would be the feeding these herbs get for your complete season.
Conclusion: Common pruning is vital to sustaining a wholesome, bushy, and productive oregano plant. By following these easy steps, you possibly can be sure that this flavorful herb thrives, offering you with ample leaves in your favourite dishes. Right here’s to a season of wholesome progress and scrumptious flavors!
Joyful gardening,
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Nell, the founding father of Pleasure Us backyard, was born right into a gardening household and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After dwelling in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert dwelling. She studied horticulture & backyard design, working within the discipline all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & writer. She’s been gardening for a really very long time & desires to share what she’s discovered with you.