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HELP

Paul AndersonPaul Anderson Posts: 260
in Problem solving
Hi, I am a amataur gardener and planted a lovely yew hedge for a lovey lady today. Her neighbour has interferred and she is now reading google and wants me to dig up and remove the 40 yews I planted today because she feels they are highly poisonous and animals and small children are at risk. I am aware that they are poisonous if you eat it but isn't this reaction a bit over the top. What do I say and what can I say to put her mind at rest........
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  • Paul AndersonPaul Anderson Posts: 260
    wow that incredible. What a great response!! I will definitely show them this tomorrow to hopefully put her mind at rest and anything else that people want to share 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Give her the list of all the toxic plants found in gardens and recommend she stays indoors with the doors locked if she thinks one will jump down her throat.
    Are there any grazing animals in the area? The plants are pretty toxic so you do need to pick the location with a bit of care especially if a neighbour is being expected to maintain their side and has to deal with the cleanup. 
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Paul AndersonPaul Anderson Posts: 260
    Those words are at the tip of my tongue. There are no grazing aninals, its planted in a standard road. I planted a yew hedge at the front and side of her house. It is next to a path. But, looking around the list of potentially poisoness shrubs are endless, I should perhaps suggest digging up half the shrubs in the road and replacing it with lavender or something equally harmless.......
  • Paul AndersonPaul Anderson Posts: 260
    OMG you must be joking.....I am glad I did not mention that. I had no idea that Lavender oil is Toxic....
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Tell her to keep well away from potato plants … and rhubarb … ☠️

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Paul AndersonPaul Anderson Posts: 260
    I think I will recommend to everyone in her road (especially the nosy bunch) to start digging everything out their garden including lavender and plant........I don't even know what to suggest planting anymore, definitely not rhubarb or potatoe plants....
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited October 2021
    My neighbour is a vet of many decades experience. Not once has she had to deal with a cat that’s ingested poisonous plants and only a handful of times has she treated dogs, usually inquisitive puppies who lived on and learnt from the experience. The plants in question were everyday garden plants, not necessarily yews.

    It is a well known fact you can win any argument with a five word phrase: ‘think of the little kiddies’. Nothing trumps it.
    Rutland, England
  • RobmarstonRobmarston Posts: 338
    Tell her she’s right. Tell her they are highly dangerous and you should dig them all up now. Then tell her that the cost of destroying them is about £50, them send them all to me. (That’s the approximate cost of postage I love yew hedges and can do wonders with them. DM me and I’ll give you my address. And just think- by doing this you’ll make at least two people happy. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Yew is an excellent traditional, native, British hedging plant.  It has been around for millennia and yet the population continues to multiply.

    It is evergreen, very forgiving of being pruned hard (unlike conifers), can be topiarised and shaped, is great for wildlife and the clippings can be kept and used for medicines for breast cancer.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    If I had a toddler or disabled child I might hesitate to plant yew. Or grazing livestock. Other than that it's not worth worrying about really.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
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