Poison oak growing by the sidewalk

[bcla]

I'm just wondering was DIS'ers would do in a similar situation. Western poison oak is extremely common around here, but usually it's located in somewhat wild areas or maybe backyards. There's a wide public path I use where there's quite a bit just off to the side, but it's easy enough to avoid.

However, one home near me literally has poison oak growing inside a tall hedge next to a narrow sidewalk. I would think the owner of the home knows what's growing there, but over several years it reappears every year. I don't live that close to this house, but see it regularly. The neighborhood is pretty densely populated for a suburb, and the neighborhood could be described as walkable. I know in some places, a homeowner might be required to remove it as a public nuisance.

 

[cvjw]

When I see poison ivy growing in my neighbors yard (close to my fence), I just stealthily spray it with weed killer. I want it dead before it creeps into my yard!

If you see some growing in a public area close to where you walk, take your walk at dusk with a bottle of weed killer. Problem solved

 

[bcla]

When I see poison ivy growing in my neighbors yard (close to my fence), I just stealthily spray it with weed killer. I want it dead before it creeps into my yard!

If you see some growing in a public area close to where you walk, take your walk at dusk with a bottle of weed killer. Problem solved

I sprayed tons of Roundup in my parents' yard after my mom discovered what it was. However, spraying someone else's plants is another matter. I've read about some cities where poison ivy growing next to a sidewalk can be reported as a public nuisance. Some local ordinances in California seem to state that poison oak or poison ivy that "constitutes a menace to public health" can be considered a public nuisance subject to abatement proceedings. I'm still trying to find out if this might apply where I live.

The possibility that the homeowner likes it that way did occur to me.

 

[jevs]

I would go through the proper channels i.e council. Unsure how the law works there but it would be considered a criminal offence here to willfully damage property.

 

[bcla]

I would go through the proper channels i.e council. Unsure how the law works there but it would be considered a criminal offence here to willfully damage property.

There's a law in California that makes it illegal to willfully remove or damage a plant on private property without permission of the owner or in some official government capacity. I have no intention of handling it myself. I suspect the owner knows what it is and perhaps wants it there to deter people from approaching the property. It's literally poking over the sidewalk and the fallen leaves carry the toxic oil. I'm guessing many people have figured out the effects.

I was wondering what might be similar where you're from. Maybe the Australian cashew, but it looks like it's more a tropical plant.

 

[jevs]

There's a law in California that makes it illegal to willfully remove or damage a plant on private property without permission of the owner or in some official government capacity. I have no intention of handling it myself. I suspect the owner knows what it is and perhaps wants it there to deter people from approaching the property. It's literally poking over the sidewalk and the fallen leaves carry the toxic oil. I'm guessing many people have figured out the effects.

I was wondering what might be similar where you're from. Maybe the Australian cashew, but it looks like it's more a tropical plant.

I'm not familiar with too many poisonous plants. We have the nettles, and poison ivy and I do have Angels Trumpet in my garden - I had no idea until I read this that it was toxic to humans http://www.australiangeographic.com...ent/2012/07/australias-most-poisonous-plants/

Also walking around the property the other week I found a patch of Paterson's Curse or Salvation Jane depending on what side of the fence you're on. It's highly toxic to horses and considered a noxious weed in Victoria so needs to be eliminated as it can take over entire paddocks. Shame as it's a beautiful color. I snapped a picture of it before I sprayed the bejesus out of it but can't find my camera to computer cable thing. I'll put it in the ALDIO thread anyway when I find it.

 

[snoopy5386]

Maybe the owner doesn't realize that's what it is? We have large patches of English ivy around our home and poison ivy started growing in it one year out of the blue. I noticed a new plant was there but I had no clue it was poison ivy. It managed to grow in quite a bit before I got a bad case of poison ivy rash after doing some yard work in that area and put two and two together and figured it out. My neighbor happened to walk by when I was spraying it and I mentioned that it was poison ivy. He said yep, I've seen that there for a while, I was wondering when you might do something about it. I wish he would have said something to us! So the person may be clueless like me. I'd start with an anonymous note in the mailbox or on the front door to give them a heads up. I know I sure would have appreciated one.

 

[sam_gordon]

Maybe the owner doesn't realize that's what it is? We have large patches of English ivy around our home and poison ivy started growing in it one year out of the blue. I noticed a new plant was there but I had no clue it was poison ivy. It managed to grow in quite a bit before I got a bad case of poison ivy rash after doing some yard work in that area and put two and two together and figured it out. My neighbor happened to walk by when I was spraying it and I mentioned that it was poison ivy. He said yep, I've seen that there for a while, I was wondering when you might do something about it. I wish he would have said something to us! So the person may be clueless like me. I'd start with an anonymous note in the mailbox or on the front door to give them a heads up. I know I sure would have appreciated one.

Exactly. I'm constantly amazed at the assumptions people make. The majority seem to assume the worst. It makes more sense to the OP that

the owner knows what it is and perhaps wants it there to deter people from approaching the property

instead of the owner not knowing it's there.

I agree with the note, or even better, knock on the door and introduce yourself and explain the problem. It might still take a day or a week for them to take care of it, but if nothing gets done in a couple weeks, THEN "go through channels".

 

[Poohlove]

I would just knock on their door and talk to them about it. It's entirely possible the homeowner is unaware that it's there for one reason or another. This is strictly me but if I got an anonymous note or a letter from town council before someone tried to approach me one on one I would be really upset. There is no need to make a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Hikergirl]

I'm just wondering was DIS'ers would do in a similar situation. Western poison oak is extremely common around here, but usually it's located in somewhat wild areas or maybe backyards. There's a wide public path I use where there's quite a bit just off to the side, but it's easy enough to avoid.

However, one home near me literally has poison oak growing inside a tall hedge next to a narrow sidewalk. I would think the owner of the home knows what's growing there, but over several years it reappears every year. I don't live that close to this house, but see it regularly. The neighborhood is pretty densely populated for a suburb, and the neighborhood could be described as walkable. I know in some places, a homeowner might be required to remove it as a public nuisance.

Is that the case where you are? If no, and the owner is actually using it as a deterrent then that is their business.
If it is a nuisance, you could go to the house and explain what the plant is (they may not know) and that it can be considered a nuisance and they could be reported for it. Or, you could just report them.
What would I do? I'd avoid touching the hedge if I had to walk by it.

 

[bcla]

Kind of revisiting an old thread. A few years back the owner of the property cut it back severely, but just really more of a trim where it just grew back, just not as dense as it one was. However, I walked by recently, and the poison oak seems to be completely gone - looked to be removed down to the roots. Looks like the owner decided to take care of it completely, although it must be tricky finding someone willing to work on it. I would need someone who is completely immune to poison oak. I'm not even sure where it would be disposed of since it shouldn't be burned (except maybe in a commercial incinerator that gets really hot and won't just dispose the toxic oil) and most places don't accept it as yard waste.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Kind of revisiting an old thread.

Oh, I forgot to check the date!!

Glad it has been taken care of.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I got sucked in too, PM.

bc, maybe somebody put weed killer on it. 6 years is time enough to kill weeds, even woody weeds.

 

[bcla]

I got sucked in too, PM.

bc, maybe somebody put weed killer on it. 6 years is time enough to kill weeds, even woody weeds.

I remember seeing it there last year. I've seen woody brush that's killed with weed killer, where it might die but leave the brush. Something like Round Up only works through the leaves and not woody stalks, so it would need to be treated before the leaves fall. I hadn't walked by there in months, and there wasn't anything left. I'm guessing it was pulled last fall with enough time for the ground to look like nothing had been there before.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Thank you for the update @bcla. I’ve spent the last six years wondering if the poison oak issue was ever resolved.