topic Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT? in Garden

HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 07 May 2023 00:23:28 GMT

Okay, I am not happy about ever killing plants, but this one HAS to go.

It's a well developed Oleander in a large planter. It weighs at least 50 pounds and was "inherited" from the previous owner.

We put on gloves and protection and cut it to about 50% of its previous size, but it's not something that can be just pulled out of the planter and tossed.

Any ideas how to get rid of this plant? I assume it's best to also toss all the dirt once the plant is removed, but I would appreciate ANY help you can offer.

TIA!

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Mindy D — Sun, 07 May 2023 00:51:14 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 @Whatever you do, don't burn it. Oleander gives off toxic smoke.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Mz iMac — Sun, 07 May 2023 00:51:15 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 Why can't you just pull it out of the pot & toss it?

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

simplyfriends — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:02:21 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 It's complicated! I looked it up cause I'm curious also. It's the milky substance that's toxic. There's 8 steps to safely remove it and dispose of it.

Do you want me to post it here or did you find something?

Maybe you could have someone come pick it up??

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

SilleeMee — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:02:53 GMT

If you don't need the pot then just toss the entire thing in the trash, dirt and all.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

RoughDraft — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:04:26 GMT

Pour bleach on the root area.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

simplyfriends — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:09:27 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 Why can't you just pull it out of the pot & toss it?

@Mz iMac she's being cautious because the plant is toxic and in some areas you can't put in your green waste

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

SilleeMee — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:14:14 GMT

If you reuse the soil in that pot then it could contain some compounds from the oleander which might affect the growth/germination of other plants where that soil is used.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:15:52 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 Why can't you just pull it out of the pot & toss it?

@Mz iMac

Can't. The plant is much bigger with a more developed root system than originally thought.

I really wanted to keep the planter, expensive, about 24" across, but now suspect I'll have no choice but to toss the whole thing.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:19:34 GMT

@simplyfriends wrote:
@Tinkrbl44 It's complicated! I looked it up cause I'm curious also. It's the milky substance that's toxic. There's 8 steps to safely remove it and dispose of it.

Do you want me to post it here or did you find something?

Maybe you could have someone come pick it up??

@simplyfriends

Where did you find the 8 steps?

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Zhills — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:37:15 GMT

Oleanders are not really that TOXIC unless you eat it!

We had them in our yard when I was growing up and we didn't know it was toxic! They are quite popular in the landscape.

Put on a pair of gloves, cut the branches in 2 ft lengths, put them in a black plastic bag and throw them in the trash!

Don't eat them and you won't have a problem! Or roast hot dogs on the limbs!

Once it is cut back to the ground, you should be able to remove the stump from the pot. Pour salt in the pot (don't get it on the ground around the pot) and let it kill the stump. Clip off any new growth. It will die and be easy to remove.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Goodie2shoes — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:38:27 GMT

Very interesting ! I'm a planter lover and have several houseplants ( almost to many) and I fill my patio with plants once it gets warm enough but I've never heard of this one so I looked it up and it said they don't tolerate frost. Why not put it in a bucket of ice and keep ice on it until the roots freeze? Just a thought again I had never heard of this plant

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Pezzie — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:38:29 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 are there any other plants near this oleander planter? You can pour vinegar down the soil, like you are watering it, and it will kill the roots. However, if there are other plants in the vicinity that can be impacted by the vinegar dripping from the pot, then I would not go this route.

If there is no time frame involved, wait till you have a good soaking rain, where the soil is wet and soft, then it might be easier to get the plant out of the planter. Cut off as much as you can, to make it easier to wiggle the trunk to pop it out of the pot. Won't be easy but doable, especially since you don't care if the plant survives, so no need to be gentle. In theory it should work!

Good Luck!

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?ee

mspatmac — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:45:02 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 I love Oleanders and have had them for years. They grow in California like crazy and look so pretty as road dividers.

Planted them when I moved to Texas about 20 years and have enjoyed then ever since. I never knew they were toxic and my dog and cats were never affected nor were the rest of the wild life that come to visit. They lose their blooms in winter but are in full bloom in spring and into late fall.

I guess bleach would kill the plant. Good luck.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

simplyfriends — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:47:16 GMT

@simplyfriends

Where did you find the 8 steps?

@Tinkrbl44 I'm sorry now I can't find the article. Just google removing oleander safely. I noticed there are you tube videos too. I hope you have luck getting rid of it.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

River Song — Sun, 07 May 2023 01:55:24 GMT

Cut it down to the ground and immediately douse all the cut surfaces with undiluted Round-up. May need to be treated with herbicide more than once. Soak the cutting tools used in a water /alcohol mix for at least 5 minutes. Wear disposable gloves and don't get the sap on bare skin. Don't burn it, don't eat it.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

gardenman — Sun, 07 May 2023 11:39:38 GMT

If the only reason you're getting rid of it is because it's "toxic" understand that the list of "toxic" plants is very, very long and very few ever cause any issues. Since you've already cut it back 50 percent, just cut it back the rest of the way. Apply a bit of Roundup to the freshly cut ends and see if it regrows. If it does, simply spray the new growth with Roundup as it grows and it will die. As a rule, Oleander is a very beautiful, easy to care for plant. It's widely used with minimal issues despite it's toxicity. I would not throw away the planter. If you prefer to avoid the use of a chemical like Roundup, you can simply move the plant under cover someplace (a garage, storage shed, etc.) where it won't get water and it'll eventually die on its own. Nothing can live without water. It might take a few weeks/months to completely kill it in such a manner, but take away water and everything dies.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

shy bobcat — Sun, 07 May 2023 15:40:56 GMT

I grew up in southern California where these plants were plentiful. My sister and I called them "lipstick bushes." We would take a red bud from the plant and rub it on our lips pretending it was lipstick. When I heard, many years later, that the plant was toxic I was taken aback. With all the "stuff" we did, I'm surprised we survived our childhood! Sorry, I didn't help with an answer to your question, but thought I'd share a memory.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

Kachina624 — Sun, 07 May 2023 23:58:34 GMT

@Goodie2shoes wrote:
Very interesting ! I'm a planter lover and have several houseplants ( almost to many) and I fill my patio with plants once it gets warm enough but I've never heard of this one so I looked it up and it said they don't tolerate frost. Why not put it in a bucket of ice and keep ice on it until the roots freeze? Just a thought again I had never heard of this plant

@Goodie2shoes Oleanders are very popular landscaping plants in topical/semi-tropical climates. The grow into a large bush with beautiful flowers.

Galveston, Texas is famous for its oleanders that fill the esplanade of the main thorofare through the city.

Re: HOW TO GET RID OF A TOXIC PLANT?

1Snickers — Sun, 07 May 2023 20:04:27 GMT

I hope the Orleander perfume I bought in Bermuda isn't toxic, I've used it for years!