July 1, 2015  How to Identify Poisonous Plants in Your Yard

Poison Ivy in Autumn

Many of us have heard of poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac. But how many of us know how to identify them? If you are a homeowner who enjoys working outdoors, tending to your yard and getting your hands dirty, you could be in danger of not only getting your hands dirty, but also getting a nasty blistering red rash.

The culprit is a substance called urushiol. It’s an oil found in these plants’ stems, roots and leaves.  When you come in contact with urushiol, it causes you to get the rash.  And you don’t necessarily need to have direct contact, because your clothing, shoes, gloves, bikes, lawn and garden equipment can be carriers of the skin irritant as well, which could expose you later on.

So, how can you protect yourself from poison ivy, oak and sumac? The easiest way is to know how to identify the plants, and then avoid them.

Poison Ivy

How to identify poison ivy. Poison ivy can grow as a vine, a shrub or ground cover. Its leaves are almond shaped and pointed, solid green, and they hang from the stem in groups of three. The plant’s berries are grayish-white in color. The seasons can affect the appearance of poison ivy. During the spring, the plant produces yellowish-green flowers, and in the fall the leaves can change color from solid green, to yellow and red.

Poison Oak

How to identify poison oak: Just like poison ivy, poison oak’s leaves also form in sets of three. The leaves are solid green with ruffled edges, resembling those of an oak tree. The plant can grow as either a bush or a vine and its leaves range in color, depending on the season. They can range from bronze, light to yellowish green, or a dirty red. Look for both clusters of greenish-white or tan berries and tiny yellowish-green flowers in the spring

Poison Sumac

How to identify poison sumac. Poison Sumac grows solely in very wet soil, typically in swampy, water-logged areas. The leaves of the sumac plant differ from poison oak and ivy, as it can have as many as 13 leaves per stem. The stems are red, and the leaves tend to tilt upward. The plant grows as a shrub and its berries are white or grey in color.

For treatment if you come in contact with these poisonous plants, check out your options at WebMD. 

Keep yourself safe from poisonous plants while working in your yard this summer, so that you can fully enjoy the experience!

by See Jane Drill, Copyright 2015, All Rights Reserved