Fertilizing an Oleander
Oleanders are hardy plants that can grow up to 3 feet (1 m.) in one season. Plants damaged by cold will often re-grow from the base. They can live for more than 100 years, reliably providing the gardener with their stunning summer to mid-fall clusters of large (2 inch or 5 cm.) double blossoms in dizzying hues of pale yellow, peach, salmon, pink, deep red, and even white. These gorgeous blossoms are perfectly offset by the large, smooth, deep green, thick, leathery leaves. The fragrant flowers and pleasing habit along with their ability to withstand poor soil make them an ideal choice for many gardeners. Once established, oleanders are even drought tolerant. They tolerate coastal conditions and anything from sand, clay, to salty soil. Given the forgiving nature of the plant, is fertilizing oleander necessary?
When to Feed Oleanders
Oleander plant fertilizer is not usually necessary since, as mentioned, they are a fairly low-maintenance plant. In fact, they rarely need any soil amendments or fertilizer at planting. Fertilizing oleanders can actually burn the roots and cause damage to the plants. If you do have extremely heavy soil, you can amend it a bit with a few shovelfuls of compost or peat moss. Again, oleanders rarely need additional fertilization, especially if they are growing near a fertilized lawn where they will uptake some of those nutrients. If your soil is really poor and you notice the leaves are pale, slow to grow, or the plant bears few flowers, you might need to give the plant a perk up. So what is a good fertilizer for oleander plants? If you determine that the plants would benefit from a feeding, apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer in the spring and again in the fall at the rate of ½ cup (120 mL.) per plant. If you are growing container oleanders, the plants should be fertilized more frequently, as the nutrients leach out of the pots. Apply 3-4 tablespoons (45-60 mL.) of a granular 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
