This post, “Oleanders” was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
“We need to block out that view.” This was my dear hubby’s constant complaint. We had planted a row of arborvitae bushes, but after Katrina, they started to thin out. I think they were under a great deal of stress from the drought we had after the hurricane. He doesn’t like the view of the street and wants it screened.
Well, one day last summer, he shows up with four oleander bushes. He didn’t know what color the blooms were, didn’t realize how big they could get, and didn’t realize if we get a bad freeze they can lose their leaves. Luckily they turned out to be a light pink which will blend in with the surrounding plants, though I would have preferred red flowers. He didn’t really have a good idea of where they should be placed. He just wanted to kind of plop them in the middle of the lawn without a thought of any kind of plan. Needless to say, I was not very happy with his ideas.
We finally compromised on a planting area, but I don’t think these plants are the best solution to our problem of screening. But, he does live here, too, and he does do all the heavy work around the garden to help me out. I guess I just have to let this go. The plants seem to be doing well. They have just started to bud out.
Oleanders are very popular around here and lend a tropical feel. They grow about 5 to 8 feet tall here in a mounded shape. I am going to tip prune them to make sure they get full and thick. I do not know if this will be the screening solution we hope for, but if these plants don’t work out, I’ll look upon that as an opportunity to try to grow something new.
Anna said,
February 19, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Well for sure give it a go. I move plants all the time–but I bet an Oleander would not give up its ground easily. You might pull the bumper off the car
trying. I am always changing stuff and sadly have probably killed a few in the process. Good luck with it–I think the blooms are very pretty.
Thanks. If for some reason they don’t make it and we have to move them, we’d probably have to just cut them to the ground & keep cutting them till they die. Our ground is very hard clay with pine tree roots all over. This is what we have had to do in the past. There is just no digging up a large shrub here. But, I think they should do okay.
Aiyana said,
February 20, 2008 at 2:36 am
Have the oleanders in your area been hit with Oleander Leaf Scorch? Many of the oleander stands here have been wiped out by the disease. The smoke tree sharpshooter spreads the bacterium that causes the plants to die, and there’s no cure. Oleanders acted as natural barriers between properties in historic Phoenix, some over 60 years old, and those are now gone. Just a shame.
Aiyana
Oh, that sounds so sad. We have not had that problem here, yet, and I hope we never do. Oleanders are used as landscaping on public grounds and really help to beautify the area, esp. on big thourghfares. When something like that happens it just changes the area so much. Here, we lost many of what were signature plants in a big freeze in the early ’60’s, and they were never replanted. It is a shame we don’t have the golden raintrees and palms that were so prevalent back then. So, I understand how devestating it must be in Phoenix to lose those old, established plants.
Mary Beth said,
February 20, 2008 at 8:34 pm
So glad to have found your blog! I garden near the Gulf of Mexico on the Texas-Mexico border so we will have a few things in common. When I read about your cat eating plants, I worry about these oleanders. I’m sure you know they are poisonous – so the cat must know that too!
You don’t have to worry about the cat. She is an inside cat and is never allowed outside. I am glad to learn about your blog since I’m love to read what others in my zonal area are doing. I’ll be stopping by.
Lana Bisson said,
April 4, 2008 at 11:29 am
Wow, reading this has been very helpful. For the longest time, I thought I was just not watering my oleander enough. Now I realise it has been affected by the leaf scorch disease…One more thing to do on my spring list….I dread diggin that out…
Jan said,
April 5, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Lana, I am glad you found this helpful. We have been lucky and have not had leaf scorch disease show up yet.
Debra Mathews said,
December 3, 2008 at 10:55 am
When is the best time to transplant oleanders? I would like remove from front garden area and put in back yard garden for more privacy screening.
Thanks for any suggestions and Happy Holidays!
Jan said,
December 3, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Debra, I feel it is too late in the year to transplant oleanders. They are a warm area plant and might not make it through the winter if moved now. I would wait until the spring when temperatures are reliably warm and no more freezes are possible. I hope this helps.
Rebecca said,
May 4, 2009 at 10:33 am
My oleanders leaves turned yellow, which seems like overnite! I have seen pictures of scorched leaves and my leaves dont look scorch infected. the leaves are completely yellow like a banana. starting from the bottom going up to the tip of the stem where the plant is green with a beautiful flower. what could IT BE?
Jan said,
May 4, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Rebecca, I am not sure what could be wrong without seeing the plant or knowing where you are located. I am sure you have watered it. You may want to check with your local extension service or a local nursery for their opinion.
W. Hicks said,
June 28, 2009 at 3:38 pm
I recently purchased an oleander plant it was pruned up like a tree is that ok I did not know that it could be done that way my neighbor thought that was strange because she also purchased two from another store hers looked like a bush mine is a tree/ let me know what you think of this tree.
Jan said,
June 28, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Oleanders can be trimmed up to look like a small tree. In the right spot, I think these look great. Very often large shrubs are treated this way. I have seen azaleas trimmed up this way, and they, too, were very attractive when treated this way.