[Arid_gardener] oleanders in compost

[Linda Drew]

Here is an earlier posting about oleanders in compost:

>The Sept/Nov 1999 issue of the trade journal Southwest
>Horticulture had an article about compost made
>with oleander and  eucalyptus. Dr. Jimmy Tipton and Libby Davison
>from the Dept. of Plant Science University of Arizona conducted these
>tests.
>
>The following are quotes from that article.
>
>"There was no apparent phytotoxic effect of
>either eucalyptus or oleander
>compost. In fact, plant characteristics
>generally increased with
>increasing portion of either in the medium.
>Plants grown in a medium
>containing either compost were not
>significantly different from, or were
>superior to, plants grown in CM
>(commercially-available medium)."
>
>"These results suggest that whatever phytotoxic
>compounds that may be
>present in eucalyptus or oleander where
>destroyed by composting."
>
>Thanks to Annette Weaver for pulling this
>information.
>
>Lucy Bradley

another source:
Oleander is a common outdoor woody shrub found in warmer climates, often 
used for edging freeways or gardens. It is also quite poisonous, with the 
ingestion of as little as a single leaf reportedly being enough to kill a 
child. It is a plant worthy of respect even by those who neither have 
children nor themselves make it their habit to gnaw on shrubbery, as cats 
and dogs — and even horses — have been killed by oleander poisoning.
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/poison/oleander.htm

Linda Drew
Master Gardener


>From: "Dick Gross" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
>To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>, <Ieditnews at aol.com>
>Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:49:36 -0700
>
>
>"Is the compost derived from oleander leaves toxic?"
>
>Gail,  I have always believed that the compounds presumed to be toxic in 
>oleanders would be disintegrated if completely composted but I can't prove 
>that theory. I routinely compost eucalyptus with none of the advertised ill 
>affects that I can identify. We should, however, know the absolute truth 
>about such legends and Master Gardeners should be one of the messengers. 
>Composting is a most beneficial practice even if it is only that occuring 
>naturally in the interface between soil and leaf litter.
>
>Perhaps your inquiry will force the experts out in the open..
>
>Stories abound about sickness or death from roasting hot dogs or 
>marshmellows on an oleander stick and I personally will believe that to be 
>true until proven to my satisfaction to be false. I have never heard of the 
>leaves themselves compromising human, animal or plant life but, if any risk 
>at all is involved, every man, woman and child should be fully cognizant of 
>it.
>
>But, oleander hedges in the Phoenix area are a lot more plentiful than 
>rattle snakes and black widow spiders and scorpions. Everyone knows the 
>risk of sickness or death from encounters with the latter but real hazards, 
>if any exist, from oleanders are virtually unknown.
>
>I compost every scrap of plant material produced in my yard but I would not 
>use animal waste in any form nor any plant debris presumed to be poisonous. 
>I don't grow nor husband either either.
>
>Enlightening commentary encouraged.
>
>Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
>U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: <Ieditnews at aol.com>
>To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
>Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 4:00 PM
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>
>
>>Gail
>>85044
>>Ieditnews at aol.com
>>
>>I have recently started a compost pile -- with a lot of oleander leaves. 
>>After starting the pile, I read that oleander shouldn't be used because of 
>>its toxicity. I can understand that admonition if I was going to use the 
>>compost for a veggie garden. However, I will be using it only for 
>>ornamental plants. Is it still not a wise idea to use oleanders.
>>
>>
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