How to Care for an Oleander in the Yard

Use oleander in your yard only if you live between U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. These shrubs have little tolerance for cold, although you can employ them as a container plant for patios and decks in the cooler zones if brought inside for the winter.

Locate oleanders in a full-sun site or one that receives some afternoon shade. These shrubs stand up well when placed close to a structure that reflects sunlight, such as a home with siding.

Water your oleanders on a regular basis, but allow the soil to dry in between waterings. Oleanders withstand drought once established, notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. In the wild in their native lands, they grow in dry stream and riverbeds.

Deadheading spent flowers on an oleander prevents the shrub from generating its seedpods. These pods start out green, turn brown, grow to as long as 5 inches and finally split open releasing the plant’s seeds. They are of little ornamental value, making them expendable to your landscape.

Maintain a desired shape with pruning, but only after they finish blooming. Oleanders typically commence flowering in the spring and continue through most of the summer. Pruning the shrub in the fall keeps its size in check and gives it a specific shape.