If this is a irrigated area you may still may see some sprouts form time to time but you can just chop those out. Digging one up worked to get rid of it, but was a JOB! However, oleander has the potential to return through left behind roots or suckers. Cut back the stems of the oleander plant until only the stump is visible. How can I kill an oleander bush? This is a free and confidential service. Oleander can take over an area, and their poisonous nature makes them dangerous with young children and pets around the home environment. I've tried many products, methods and concoctions to try and kill these bushes. Nothing I've tried has worked, short of digging one out. However, there might be some initial Herxheimer-type effect (where you feel worse before you feel better) from cancer cell die-off. A mystery writer friend asked me about oleander, the evergreen shrub that thrives throughout the southern United States, a little while back. Ingesting any part of this plant can be deadly, especially for children. Oleander is LIKELY UNSAFE for anyone to take by mouth. Even smoke from burning oleander can be fatal. And yet oleander is considered one of the most poisonous plants in the world. What, what, what? But, as with thorny roses, prickly cacti, and toxic holiday plants, knowledge is key in preventing hazardous encounters with these landscape beauties. Glyphosate inhibits the growth and metabolism of plants, effectively killing them. For each additional oleander plant, follow the same instructions regarding how large to make the hole and how to fill the hole in. How to Prune Oleander. Oleander poisoning is caused by toxic cardiac glycosides in the plant. Never burn the oleander’s branches, as the smoke and fumes can cause a severe reaction. Often, removing oleander bushes is the only safe decision when young people and animals can be potentially affected. Using a sharp pair of pruning shears, carefully cut back the stems and place them into a sturdy plastic garbage bag for disposal. Oleander poisoning - Poison Control Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. The size and relative health of the person ingesting the plant have a great deal to do with the severity of the poisoning. … Read Our Blog Post "Eating These Flowers Will Kill You Instantly." Important Note About the Toxicity of Oleander: The Common Garden Oleander Can Kill Your Pet If you live in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, or California, where Oleander grows wild and is a popular landscape plant watch off-leash pets carefully. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, headache, stomach pain, serious heart problems, and many other side effects. All parts of this gracefully mounded shrub contain poison; a single leaf ingested by a child is known to be deadly.