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5 Common But Dangerous Plants That You Could Have In Your Yard

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When it comes to your health and the health of your family and your pets, you tend to think of the obvious dangers that you need to stay away from. What most people don’t realize is that there could be harmful items located right in your backyard.

There are many plants that are dangerous to humans and/or animals, and it’s possible that you have some of the following dangerous plants lurking in your backyard.

1. Rhubarb

Yes, it’s true that rhubarb is used as a food in many tasty desserts, but only the stem of the plant is safe. The leaves of rhubarb are actually very poisonous, and if you consume them, whether cooked or uncooked, you could experience burning of the throat or mouth. After the burning is over, you could experience internal bleeding, convulsions, coma or even death. If you want to grow rhubarb, it’s best done in an area that is safe from pets or other animals.

2. Oleander

Oleander is a very beautiful flower that looks and smells great, and it’s one of the most popular choices when it comes to gardens and flower beds. However, Oleander is one of the most poisonous plants, especially when it comes to children. What makes Oleander so dangerous is that it’s not just poisonous to consume, but it’s also poisonous to the touch. Symptoms of poison from an Oleander plant include vomiting and diarrhea, cramping, seizures, coma and death.

3. Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are another popular plant when it comes to yard décor. They can grow to be very tall, and they are available in an assortment of colors. If you were to consume a hydrangea, you would experience massive stomach pain, sweating, itchy skin and even vomiting. In most cases, vomiting is the worst of the symptoms, but some cases of coma have been reported from hydrangea consumption.

4. Chrysanthemum

Many people plant chrysanthemums (or mums) in their yards or near their gardens because they’re known to keep rabbits away. But chrysanthemums are also poisonous to humans. Touching the head of a chrysanthemum could make you experience red and itchy skin along with some minor swelling. Although that’s the worst that will happen, it can still be a nuisance.

5. Rhododendron

Rhododendrons are popular flowers to decorate a lawn due to their bell-like shape, but rhododendron leaves and the honey nectar they produce are very toxic. If you were to eat either the leaves or the honey, you could experience a burning mouth, vomiting, diarrhea or a tingling feeling in your body. Some people have also experienced convulsions and fallen into a coma, and others have experienced a slower heartbeat and difficulty breathing.

Even though most adults know not to consume a flower, young children and animals are often curious and put things into their mouth. It’s very important that you know which plants in your yard are poisonous and keep them out of the reach of children and animals in order to keep them safe.






4 Common Compost Problems And How To Fix Them

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Compost is essential for fertile soil. Compost benefits the soil in various ways including encouraging the soil to hold nutrients, attracting much needed soil insect activity and encouraging a more conducive environment for plant growth. There are some common problems that you may encounter when preparing compost. Below are some solutions on how you can address the problems.

Not All Items Are Decomposing

You may have a varied plant matter to create your compost. However, sometimes the materials in the compost do not decompose at the same rate. This is especially the case if you have included whole plant or animal matter in the compost. To address this, ensures that you chop all the matter in the compost to small pieces. This ensures that all matter is exposed equally to the environment and will therefore decompose at the same rate.

Stink

Compost is made up of decomposing matter and the stench is inevitable. Nevertheless, you may want to manage stink if you want to avoid lawsuits of nuisance from your neighbors or you have a sensitive nose. Compost stink can either be caused by wetness or nitrogen rich matter in your compost material. To address this, you should remake your compost by adding some dry leaves or grass. This will help to take care of the nitrogen content in your compost material. The stink is usually caused by bacteria that usually thrive in wet, damp, and dark conditions. Address this by turning your compost regularly to help manage the wet condition.

Dry and Dusty Compost

While compost that is wet may lead to bacteria breeding, you do not want to have compost that is too dry. Damp conditions are ideal to create a good compost material. If the material gets too dry, the compost will not break down sufficiently and this will compromise the quality of your compost. You will experience the problem of dry compost during summer or if you live in a hot environment. Correct this problem by adding some water to the compost. This should be done with care as you do not want to make the compost wet and soggy. Pour the water in bits and keep mixing the compost as you do this. As the compost gets wet, mix properly to ensure that it is damp but not soggy. Stop adding water when you are sure that the compost is damp enough.

My Compost is Attracting Animals and Insects

At time, your compost may even attract some wild animals that are foraging for food. This is normal considering the amount of possible feed available for these animals. You should be able to prevent this by putting protective mesh around your compost site. This should safely keep away any animals that want to eat your compost. It is also very natural that you will find lots of bugs within your compost material. While this sounds disgusting, bugs will help the compost material decompose. They are therefore good for your compost as they assist in the process.

Denis is a freelance writer that loves to share tips on gardening. You can have a look at his site on wall fireplace if you want to learn more on him.

Small Space Gardening 101

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Attention, all gardening enthusiasts! Just because you have limited space does not mean you cannot have a garden to call your own. Know that having a small space is never a reason to not have plants in your home. You can make do with the limited area that you have thanks to container gardening. As long as you have a windowsill, balcony or patio, you can have the garden you want—and even enjoy some edibles.

Windowsill Gardening

When it comes to container gardening, the first thing that comes to mind are pots. However, you should also think about boxes—specifically, window boxes. Anybody who lives in an apartment can make use of window boxes to have their own gardens, either to display colorful flowers or grow edibles and herbs.

To have a garden by the window, make sure you have a window box that measures at least two feet long so that you will have enough space for a small batch of salad greens. The size is also perfect for growing at least four to six large herbs. Herbs are ideal for window boxes because they are low maintenance plants; all you need are shears, a watering can and some fertilizer. Oregano and rosemary are good choices, but purple basil and chives are better, only because these give a pop of color and make for an interesting display.

Regardless if you decide on herbs or some other plants, make sure to choose flora that are of different colors and shapes. Doing so will make your garden more attractive. Also, do not forget to have a theme: combine together plants that are similar (salad greens, edible flowers, herbs, etc).

Patio and Balcony Gardening

If you have a postage-stamp yard, utilize the space provided by your patio and/or balcony. As long as you have enough room for pots, you are all set. However, ensure the spaces you choose for your container garden receive enough sunlight, or else your plants will not thrive. A water source is also important—the plants should be located near a faucet or hose.

So what should you plant in the pots? Container favorites include petunia, impatiens, pansy, geraniums and licorice vine. If you wish to grow your own vegetables, you can do this too. Food crops can do well even in containers, provided they get the water and care they need.

When planting vegetables in pots, you have to consider both the kind of plant and the size of the pot. Naturally, bigger plants need bigger pots. This means that the likes of tomatoes and cucumbers should be planted in pots with a diameter of two feet or more. Meanwhile, the likes of herbs, greens and peppers are ideal for smaller pots. You can even tuck these between or under larger plants.

It is important for you to know that while you cannot increase the size of the pots, you can maximize space. You can do this by staking, either with wooden sticks or metal cages (like in the case of tomatoes). Staking not also keeps the plant upright, but also prevents sunscald and rotting.

This article was written by Ericka in behalf of McIntyre Masonry, the company that has the best stonemasons in Ayrshire. Ericka has written articles on various topics, but counts those about home and gardening as her favorites.

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