{"id":23903,"date":"2024-07-30T12:33:32","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T17:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/?p=23903"},"modified":"2024-10-01T09:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T14:33:45","slug":"how-to-recognize-hazardous-plants-at-your-lake-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakehomes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/how-to-recognize-hazardous-plants-at-your-lake-house","title":{"rendered":"How to Recognize Hazardous Plants at Your Lake House"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo courtesy of Shiplap and Shells<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Have you ever discovered a poison ivy rash after a long day of <\/span>gardening at your lake house<\/span><\/a>? As nature lovers, we\u2019ve all been there. While poison ivy might first come to mind when you think of poisonous plants, there are many other hazardous plants to look out for. To avoid these plants, it\u2019s crucial to recognize them. We spoke with experts in the gardening industry for advice on identifying hazardous plants, especially those common at lake houses. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

What are Hazardous Plants?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo courtesy of NorthShore<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the basics. <\/span>Hazardous plants produce toxins as a survival mechanism<\/b> to keep herbivores at bay. The poison does no damage to the plant itself because once the poison is stored, it becomes \u201clocked away\u201d in cell vacuoles. It only affects those who touch or try to ingest it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>not all toxic plants are the same.<\/b> The toxin levels differ based on the plant, and only some parts of the plant may be poisonous. For example, a rhubarb plant\u2019s stem can be eaten (it makes <\/span>excellent pie<\/span><\/a>) but its leaves are poisonous to ingest. Further, some plants are toxic but medicinal in smaller doses. Doctors have used the poisonous foxglove plant to create <\/span>Digoxin<\/span><\/a>, a heart failure medication.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Examples of Hazardous Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Image courtesy of greenbelly<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Most people have toxic plants in their yard, even if they don\u2019t know it. Some well-known poisonous plants in the U.S. include oleander (its poison is the subject of the movie <\/span>White Oleander<\/span><\/i><\/a>), angel\u2019s trumpets, foxglove, milkweed, poison sumac, poison oak, wild parsnip, and pencil cactus.\u00a0 As a caveat, these plants, which can be hazardous, are not all bad. For example, the milkweed plant is vital to the livelihood of the endangered monarch butterfly. So if you plant it in your yard to attract these beautiful insects, be sure to keep it away from kids and pets. However, some hazardous plants are more common in lake areas. Derek Gaughan, owner of <\/span>Prince Gardening<\/span><\/a>, <\/b>names four to look out for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first is <\/span>hemlock or poison hemlock<\/a><\/b>. Hemlock is famous for causing <\/span>Socrates\u2019 death<\/span><\/a>, and once ingested, it\u2019s usually too late for treatment. <\/span>Poison ivy<\/b><\/a> is also incredibly common among lake homes and cabins. Similarly, <\/span>stinging nettles<\/b><\/a>, identifiable based on their hairy leaves that embed into the skin, are found in wooded areas and streams. Finally, daffodils<\/strong><\/a> are also hazardous. \u201cHowever,\u201d Gaughan clarifies, \u201cthis is more dangerous to pets who may ingest it than humans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Hazardous Plants by Zone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Image courtesy of Almanac.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Hazardous plants differ depending on your lake area\u2019s climate and soil type. For this reason, the <\/span>U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zones<\/span><\/a> tool is especially useful. This resource helps you determine which plants are most likely to thrive in your area of the country. Whether you\u2019re in zones <\/span>1-3<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>4-6<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>7-9<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll be at risk for a unique set of hazardous plants. \u201cWhen it comes to identifying toxic plants, you don\u2019t have to know all of the toxic plants in the world,\u201d says Gregory Birch, owner of <\/span>Gardens of Bacchus<\/span><\/a>. \u201cInstead, you should spend time familiarizing yourself with the toxic plants in the regions where your lake house is. These are the plants that pop up unexpectedly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Identifying Hazardous Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Image courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Because hazardous plants have overlapping characteristics, they\u2019re hard to identify. Derek Gaughn recommends searching for your state on the <\/span>USDA\u2019s Agricultural Research Service<\/b><\/a>. Additional tools include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s <\/span>brochure<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Greenbelly<\/span><\/a>\u2019s guide to identifying poisonous plants. Using these resources, Emma from <\/span>Garden Zoo<\/span><\/a> concludes that \u201cthe best way to identify hazardous plants is to familiarize yourself with pictures of the varieties common to your area.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, some rules of thumb can help you identify hazardous plants. For instance, many poisonous leaves have a waxy sheen to help them create toxins. If you notice this sheer coating, avoid the plant. It\u2019s also important to avoid brightly colored berries. Finally, the old \u201cleaves of three? Let it be\u201d aphorism helps identify poison ivy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

How to Protect Your Yard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo courtesy of CDC<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

To take an active approach and prevent these hazardous plants from growing, <\/span>planting native<\/b> flowers and plants is helpful. <\/span>Mowing frequently<\/b> will also discourage hazardous plants from growing. However, if you do discover problematic plants, you can take a few different approaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Derek Gaughan recommends treating them with an <\/span>herbicidal spray<\/b> containing <\/span>2,4-Dichlorophenoxacetic acid<\/span><\/a>. Although chemical sprays are effective, Dan Bailey, president of <\/span>WikiLawn<\/span><\/a>, advises using something organic if possible. \u201cMany of the commonly-used chemicals (Roundup\u2019s formula, for example) can also do significant damage to your lawn,\u201d he warns. Another intervention is cutting poisonous plants off from the sun and water so they\u2019ll die on their own.<\/span><\/p>\n

When removing hazardous plants, <\/span>take necessary precautions<\/b> by wearing thick boots, long sleeves and pants, and gloves. Afterward, wash your hands thoroughly, and don\u2019t touch your face. If you accidentally touch the plant, the <\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a> recommends immediately rinsing your skin with rubbing alcohol, degreasing soap, and water. For itches, use an antihistamine as directed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although your yard may not be a total <\/span>Little Shop of Horrors<\/span><\/i><\/a> situation, it\u2019s best to stay vigilant about hazardous plants. From us at <\/span>Lake Homes Lifestyles<\/span><\/a>, we hope your garden thrives this summer!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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