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| We are in the planning stages for creating a garden and chicken run in our back yard and I think I'm FINALLY going to get my way and get rid of the oleander. Since it's toxic to humans and chickens, I want to rip it out and plant a fruit tree there for shade (and fruit, of course!) instead, but I'm assuming the soil will still contain toxins from the oleander that has been there at least a decade or three.
So, how best to clean up the soil there so the fruit from the tree and the chickens will be safe? Should I plant a cover crop (if so, what?) for a season or two before putting in a new fruit tree? Just add compost and leave it empty for awhile (how long?)? I've done a little reading and found the term phytoremediation, but everything I've found on the topic refers to chemicals in the soil from pesticides, heavy metals, etc. not plant toxins. (In fact, one site listed oleander as a great way to remediate toxic soil.... but that wasn't in reference to vegetable gardening.) Another site said sunflowers are good for removing heavy metals from the soil, but how are they at removing plant toxins? I'd harvest and toss whatever cover crop I grow, but I'm wondering which plant(s) would work best and how long I have to wait. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by lazygardens PhxAZ%3A Sunset 13 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 20, 12 at 8:40
| You are assuming a level of toxicity for oleanders that only exists in bad TV shows. I have two tomato plants growing right next to the oleander hedge, and no one has dropped dead yet from eating the tomatoes. Oleander toxins are "glycosides", they are readily decomposed by almost any fungus, mold, or bacteria. Shredded oleander branches degrade quite nicely in a compost heap just like all the other plant matter. Just don't eat the compost while it's fresh. Cut it down, shred the branches for compost, dig out the roots down a foot or so with whatever works. After 30 years, backhoes and high explosives may be necessary. At the very least, a mattock or pick-axe will be needed. The roots will decay where they are, and the fruits and veggies and chickens will do just fine. |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Wed, Jun 20, 12 at 9:11
| Oleander is poisonous to humans if ingested because of the cardiac glycoside in it. Never read anything about allelopathy from Oleander, and it is not a known juglone producer in any literature I've ever read. http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/SSAUPE/biol106/lectures/poison.htm |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 20, 12 at 15:54
| and it is not a known juglone producer in any literature I've ever read. Oleander CAN'T produce juglone, since that's a hormone only exuded by the Juglandaceae, the walnut family and its related species. Allelopathy is an ongoing field of study and many plants produce allelopathic chemicals but few in concentrations serious enough to warrant attention, like the walnut. Removing the oleander and as much of the stump as possible - same as you would do for any large shrub - is sufficient to assure safety of the soil for edible crops and your livestock. FWIW, I have never read any evidence that so-called "toxic" substances -like the oleandrin glycosides - can be translocated or drawn up from the soil into other, non-specific plant tissue. Even heavy metals are typically not absorbed by plants in any significant or possibly harmful concentrations. |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Wed, Jun 20, 12 at 17:17
| Thank you for the clarification and expansion, gardengal. |
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| Charcoal has been used to remove toxic from the soil. As I understand it char works like bio-char, only it takes up toxic. Never heard of using it on Oleandrin. Tomato plants are toxic, more so in new/young growth. Many of the plant around you will Kill you, when ingested. I think that you do not need to worry about the soil. I agree with other posters. I worked with a Landscaper when I was in school. At 10 year old I drug large oleandrin limbs & trunks to the curb & have never felt better the next day. I was taught from a very young age NOT to PUT any thing in my MOUTH, unless I knew what it was. |
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- Posted by jeff_12422 (My Page) on Wed, Jun 20, 12 at 21:57
| Ah, so those who told me to worry about it without giving me more specific instructions have been watching some bad TV, eh? ;-) So glad to see a consensus on this - I got warnings from a few different people that I had to be very careful, etc. And then on the chicken forum I googled, there were very mixed opinions about whether the chickens would even bother to eat a toxic plant or if they somehow know better. (My dog isn't too bright, and he seems to know to leave it alone, but I have no idea how much dumber than a chicken he is, or isn't...) Thanks for the feedback! Now to decide on citrus v pomegranate..... |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Thu, Jun 21, 12 at 11:30
| Animals are amazing that way. Humans have pretty much lost touch with that genetic knowledge of plants. |
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