Caring for Trees in Your Backyard

There are a few species of tree that are poisonous to humans, so if you have young children in your family, it's important to know what species of tree you have in your garden. Kids tend to be curious, and many would not think twice about tasting bark or a leaf, particularly when playing with a mud kitchen. Eucalyptus, horse chestnut and yew trees are a few examples of species that are poisonous to humans, and ingestion of bark or leaves from these trees can cause symptoms ranging from gastric upset to seizures and cardiac arrest. Here are three ways you can deal with a poisonous tree.

Section It Off

If you love the tree that's causing concern and want to keep it intact, you could opt to put a boundary fence around it. This option may be appealing to those with a sentimental attachment to a tree, and it can work well if you have a lot of space on your property and won't miss the significant amount of space you would have to give up to section off a tree. When planning the fence, you would need to ensure it is far enough back from the tree that the majority of falling leaves and small branches will land within the fenced area.

Have It Lopped

Tree lopping is a technique that involves cutting off the large side branches of a tree. The trunk can then be left in place or cut down in sections to the stump. Having a tree lopped can be a good option if it's a species with poisonous leaves but safe bark. If you have a tree that also has poisonous bark, lopping can still be an option if you put a fence around the stump. As there are no side branches, the fence does not have to be placed more than a metre back from the stump, so you don't have to forgo much garden space. Another alternative is to have the bark removed from the stump and have it carved into a decorative feature.

Have It Removed

You may feel the safest and most practical option is to just have the tree removed. Tree removal is similar to lopping, as all the side branches have to be removed first. The stump then needs to be dealt with, and there are a few stump removal options to consider. You could opt to have the stump burned, which would take it down to ground level. Alternatively, a stump grinder can be used to turn the stump into wood chip, and the grinder will go down below ground level to the root system. There's also the option to use a chemical stump remover, which is a substance that's poured into drilled holes in the stump and causes it to decompose over time. Children will need to be kept away from stumps during the treatment process, and your tree removal contractor can tell you how long it will take the chemical stump remover to work on the specific stump you are having removed.

If you're unsure of what species of tree are poisonous, or if you're having trouble identifying a tree in your garden, contact your local tree removal contractor. They can identify poisonous trees and provide an assessment on the health and positioning of any other trees on your property.