Poison Sumac

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ashaw

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Findly after looking at many sources including the library(which I found the tree). I finally found the tree that is between my neighbors yard and ours. I have touched the leaves with no ill effect but do not want to chance it. What is the best way of getting rid of this tree.
 
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We had some poison sumac in our back yard and I found out the hard way how bad it affects me. My oldest daughter also is terribly affected, once we think her cat rubbed on it and then rubbed on her.

We waited until winter and cut it carefully while all the leaves are off. I cut it and never touched it with any bare hands. I used long cutters to cut it and hold it until I could bag it and tossed into the big can. Do NOT burn it, the smoke can be deadly if you have a reaction. I also used latex gloves and alcohol to wipe down the cutters.

In the spring when it tried to sprout up from the ground I used a herbicide to keep killing off the leaves, eventually the roots died due to lack of food since we kept killing the leaves. Nasty stuff!
 
Hmmmmm... is that stuff any good for pen blanks?

Ray is right, be very careful with it - the oil that can potentially cause reactions will stick onto everything that it touches, so be careful of the fence too (if it is by a fence - your post did not say.)

If you aren't allergic, be thankful - I'm not either - but my family is so I have to be careful for their sakes [:D]
 
Yes it is by a fence line. I allergic to posion oak but so far no reaction to ivy or sumac. The bad thing, it is providing some great shade.
 
Originally posted by Tuba707
<br />Hmmmmm... is that stuff any good for pen blanks?
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IIRC this came up last year, maybe not about sumac specifically, maybe oak. Anyway the consensus was don't do it, too dangerous.
 
If I recall there was some discussion about this several months back. Maybe do a search for it. Seems to me everything that was said about it was negative.
 
Don't even think about making anything from the wood. Don't burn the wood. Toss back in the forest someplace away from people and let rot. Kill with a strong herbicide like Roundup. Some people are hyper-allergic to these plants. Touching can be fatal for some. Still have doubts? Contact your county extension agent for advise.
 
Ashaw- if you are allergic to poison oak then you WILL be to sumac and ivy eventually, each time you get the oil on you it will be worse. This didn't bother me when I was younger but the last time I got into it by accident it about put me in the hospital, just takes to time to be sensitized. Also as a word of warning, it you are allergic you need to stay away from cocobola and any other member of the rosewood family. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it! [:0]
 
Originally posted by Rifleman1776
<br />Don't even think about making anything from the wood. Don't burn the wood.
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Originally posted by woodwish
<br />Ashaw- if you are allergic to poison oak then you WILL be to sumac and ivy eventually.
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PLEASE heed these warnings. Remember if burned the smoke can affect people a LONG way from you.
 
Originally posted by Tuba707
<br />Hmmmmm... is that stuff any good for pen blanks?
Click to expand...

Apparently only for pens that you plan on giving to someone you REALLY don't like, and only if you turn the pens while wearing a level 4 biohazard suit!
 
Originally posted by ashaw
<br />It stands about 20'. The trunk is about 8" round.
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Seriously consider having it professionally removed - and the stump dug out (not ground down). Have all the pieces carted away intact - don't chip it. Even the sawdust can cause allergic reactions.

The allergen in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac is the same, so if you are sensitive to one, you are sensitive to all.

Those who are particulary allergic may wish to have it bulldozed out rather than risk contact with the sawdust from felling.

Of course, before going to that expense, I'd want to have the tree more positively identified than me looking in a library book.

If you are not allergic, or only mildly so, you can cut it down yourself. Just wear protective clothing and wash it (and yourself) thoroughly afterwards. As pointed out already, the risk will be less if you cut it while the tree is dormant (wintertime). There are more concentrated versions of Roundup available - usually labeled as "brushkill" - that you can paint on the stump to kill it.

Be careful, and good luck.
 
Finally ID the tree. It is Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven) and it needs to come down. Because it will get way to tall for the area it is in. Grows 3-5'/per year upto 80' or more.
 
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