General Gardening

Re: Laurel Toxicity

Digger — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:19:38 GMT

Well if it's just the leaves that emit tiny quantities of cyanide, once the tree is gone it should be okay, but I don't know 100% so it's best to wait for someone clever to say for sure,

Re: Laurel Toxicity

serendipity — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:04:44 GMT

Does anyone know if laurel could contaminate the soil around. I took down a very overgrown laurel and have been told that I shouldn't grow vegetables in the soil where it was for at least 2 years. Any comments?

Re: Laurel Toxicity

Mart — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:34:07 GMT

Can't agree with the 'cat' bit but disposable canaries sounds like a sound idea

Rgds

Mart's cat (Boris)

Re: Laurel Toxicity

bogweevil — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:28:03 GMT

No that just shows that slugs, worms, second-hand chewing gum, dirty shoes and so on are not nearly as bad for you as people make out, and in actual fact an opportunity for economy.

Boggy

Re: Laurel Toxicity

Phot's-Moll — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:27:07 GMT

there is direct correlation between cuteness and susceptibility to toxins

That must be why so many children survive after eating slugs, licking wellies, chewing things they find in the street ...

Re: Laurel Toxicity

bogweevil — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:35:46 GMT

Whatever, as long as it is cute there is direct correlation between cuteness and susceptibility to toxins – kittens, puppies, ideal.

Boggy

Re: Laurel Toxicity

Digger — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:34:25 GMT

Not the dog Boggy, surely the cat's best suited to that role?

Re: Laurel Toxicity

bogweevil — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:20:16 GMT

Just because the crushed leaves emit tiny quantities of cyanide does not mean that the rest of the plant is harmful.

Also the hot smoke will go up the chimney.

I doubt you have much to worry about. Let the dog sleep next the fire as an early warning, canary in coal mine sort of thing, if you are still concerned.

Boggy

Laurel Toxicity

Mart — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:51:31 GMT

We recently had to get to grips with a significantly overgrown laurel hedge. The leaves were disposed of in an incinerator, but the trunks (2"-3" dia) were logged. We now have a collection of 18" long logs drying which we were intending to burn on our open fire to save fuel.

I'm a bit worried about the comments on toxicity I have seen on various websites. Is this safe?

Many thanks