- 1). Don long sleeves, pants and garden gloves before attempting to dig up the dying oleander shrub. The oil of the plant is toxic and will cause skin irritation if it gets on exposed areas.
- 2). Insert a shovel into the ground 2 feet away from the base of the dying oleander shrub to ensure that you remove all of the roots. Dig a trench around the perimeter of the oleander, making it at least 6 to 10 inches deep.
- 3). Place the shovel blade in the bottom of the trench, angling it toward the base of the oleander. Dig out the soil under the shrub a little at a time until you work your way all the way around the trench.
- 4). Grasp the base of the root ball with your gloved hands and pull the dying oleander out of the ground. If needed, you can insert a long pole under the roots and push down on the end of the pole to pry the roots up from the soil.
- 5). Chop up the dying oleander shrub using an axe until the pieces are small enough to fit inside a trash can or garbage bag. Throw the bag into a trash can with a lid on it. Do not leave the oleander shrub or any pieces in areas where children or pets can access it, since consuming the plant is harmful.
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