It will get to freezing tonight in NW Houston and in the upper 20's Tuesday and Wednesday. I have planted a dozen oleanders around my new pool. It is our first winter with oleanders and I need them to survive. Do they need additional covering? Also, could I enhance their growing with any fertilizer? They are composted and mulched, and they have a beautiful maroon red flower when they bloom. Thank you.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/protect-plants-in-freeze.htm
We live in southern New Mexico and we had a very cold spell several weeks ago (-8 at night and 7 above in the day for 3-4 days). We have oleanders that really look bad. Do we cut them back? The leaves are cripsy with no new growth that we can see. We lost several cactus and one butterfly bush looks pretty bad, but it is getting new green leaves.
Check if the stems are still alive. If the stems are still alive, the leaves will regrow. This article will help you with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm Anything that is dead, trim away. Anything that is alive, leave it be so it can regrow leaves.
My oleanders are a year old and, after winter and it being early spring, they are yellowish. Are they dead? I pruned them a little, was that ok? I trimmed the stem branches on all 5 oleander shrubs because I thought they looked dull but found out what I used was not pruning scissors. Will that destroy them? How long will it take them to start blooming again?
As long as you did not damage the branches/stems while pruning, it should be fine. Oleanders bloom on new growth. Some oleanders begin to bloom in late April and, depending on the type, will bloom off and on during the summer and on into fall. If the stems are still alive, they will regrow their leaves. I would give them a month, and if you do not see growth by then, they are most likely dead. These articles will help you as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm
I trimmed my oleanders today and found many reddish orange insects with black antennae and black spots on the back—what are these? I have photos but do not know how to post them.
Caroline
Phoenix, AZ
My guess is some kind of oleander moth. Here is an article about what I think you are seeing: http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/spotted_oleander_caterpillar.htm
Can you help? One year ago I planted eight oleanders. They flowered last summer but this year after a bad winter most of them look very sad with yellow leaves. What can I do to bring them back around, and what is the cause of their condition?
This article should help with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm
Brought a large Oleander pot in garage for winter. Should I trim it back before I bring it back outside?
If your plant has any damaged branches, I would trim those now, but I would wait to prune the plant until fall.
Here is a link with more care information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/oleander/oleander-growing-tips.htm
I have an Oleander plant that could be easily divided into two plants. Can it be divided into two plants and, if it is possible, when is the best time to divide the plant?
I do not think that oleanders can be easily divided in this manner due to their dense root systems. You can, however, air layer oleander plants to get multiple plants off of one. More information on layering can be found at the following links:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/propagation/layering/air-layering-plants.htm
https://bit.ly/1yet0bS