How do I winterize my oleander?

Margita
by Margita
To all gardeners! I have inherited an oleander from a friend. It has done well on my south-facing deck this summer. I live in northern Virginia and was wondering how to winterize it. Do I have to move inside? I rather wouldn't. I appreciate your advice!
  1 answer
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Nov 04, 2014
    I'm afraid your oleander will not make it through the winter outdoors in northern Virginia. They cannot tolerate temperatures below 15 to 20 degrees, and the foliage will be pretty beaten up by even those temperatures. So you have two options. One is to bring it indoors and treat it as a (large) houseplant, the other is to overwinter it in an attached garage, where it will go dormant. The particulars of each are explained very well in this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/life/garden/2010/10/30/It-s-OK-to-prune-oleander-in-autumn/stories/201010300141 Do keep in mind that all parts of an oleander are poisonous, so consider children and pets if you are going to keep it in the house.
    • Margita Margita on Nov 04, 2014
      @Douglas Hunt I appreciate your reply. I guess I will bring it inside and hope that it will survive.