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As we cruise towards the
summer season, I would like to point out 2 very poisonous plants that you
and the family need to avoid…and there’s a very good chance they’re growing
in your own back yard!
This is Poison Hemlock.
Every year we’re seeing this plant more and more, not only in it’s native
habitats like along fences, ditches and drain ways, and along edges of
woods, but coming up in your landscape beds as well. Poison Hemlock grows
anywhere from 2-8 feet tall, has beautiful creamy colored flowers as well as
wonderful lacey foliage, similar to Queen Anne’s Lace, but here’s the
distinguishing feature that tells them apart. See those purple areas on the
stems? That tells you its Poison Hemlock. Don’t let its beauty fool you.
This one is very poisonous, and if ingested, can cause everything from
stomach ailments to death in both humans and animals. Wearing gloves, you
can hand pull and pitch it, or kill it by spraying with Roundup.
Here’s the other
poisonous plant that probably lurking in your yard. Poison Ivy – and it
grows in many forms from low viners, to vining on other plants and trees, to
shrub forms that don’t even look like poison ivy. Remember the old
adage…leaves of three, let it be. Now you can get rid of poison ivy by
spraying with Roundup or by hand pulling, and either way, make sure your
skin is totally covered to protect against the poisonous oils.
Now here’s one that is
often mistaken for Poison Ivy. It’s Virginia creeper. And the easiest way
to tell it apart from Poison Ivy would be the leaves. They have leaves of
5! Leaves of 3 let it be. Leaves of 5…not an issue! |
