A. Oleander, wisteria, hydrangea and foxglove are the most common landscape plants that also happen to be poisonous. However, calling them poisonous is kind of a misnomer because most poisonous plants will only cause tummy aches if eaten. The exception usually is in cases where someone eats an entire meal of them! Much more common in our area is someone dying after eating poisonous mushrooms collected from the wild. I don't think I've ever even heard of anyone dying from eating poisonous plants. With that said, it should be noted that you should always teach children never to eat anything from the garden without getting your approval. This should also include edible fruits and vegetables because kids never know if and when they might have been sprayed with a chemical insecticide.
Q. Your e-mail address was sent to me by my mother. She said I should write to you and ask how to eradicate poison oak. I live in Magalia, which is around 15 miles east of Chico. I just bought a house on a quarter-acre and need to eradicate several poison oak plants that are not yet too big.
A. Well, I'll be happy to help you out, all the way from the Garlic Capital of the World! Happily, your poison oak problem can be eliminated by several sprayings of a contact weed killer. Roundup, Finale or Brush Killer should do the trick. It kills whatever it hits, including roots. However, since poison oak is so hardy, I would recommend spraying at a heavier concentration than directed on the label. This is something I rarely recommend, but poison oak is an exception! For instance, if Roundup calls for two ounces per gallon of water, you may want to mix two ounces in only a quart of water. Then, spray two or three times a week or so apart.
Q. My gardenia seems to have a case of yellow leaves. What should I do? It is very beautiful when in bloom, and I love the fragrance.
A. Gardenias are notorious for yellow leaves. They also are somewhat drought-tolerant, and do not like to be overwatered. Apply chelated iron to solve the yellow leaves. Chelated iron can be sprinkled on the soil or dissolved in water. As for preventing overwatering, make sure you have good drainage in the area of your gardenia, and try to re-direct sprinklers away from your plant.
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