How to get rid of deadly nightshade in the garden and how to eradicate it in SF Gate
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I'm not sure how to deal with the Deadly Nightshade plants that are growing on my property.The plants are about 2 meters high.
Pick off the berries and dispose of them.I have kids and would prefer these not be around.
Cut the top half of the plants and burn them.Pull the bottom half of the plants out and burn them.Cut the plants off if they don't come out at the roots.
There are patches around the neighbourhood where deadly nightshade is weakly climbing vine up to six feet or 2 M.
It can be eradicated by hand pulling.A spade will do the job if the roots put up a fight.You can dispose of the material by bagging it.
It is important to identify which "deadly nightshade" is the issue here.There are at least two plants known by this name, the low growing vining Solanum dulcamara, an innocent little weed that causes panic among some people and the more troubling Atropa belladonna.The first one has an unfortunate property that the berries look like red and green jelly beans when they're young and parents think their kids will be poisoned if they pick them.It is normal for parents to exaggerate slight probabilities where their children are concerned.
If the plant is bushy, it is likely that the berries are poisonous and need to be cared for.The purple berries present less of an issue because they are not as attractive.Since this is a non-invasive species, one solution is to leave the plants as curiosities and show visitors and children how to not touch them.The message can be passed on by the children.
Kids learn quickly this kind of thing.I remember when I was a kid, we had ready access to yew berries, which have a very poisonous seed surrounded by anedible layer.Even though the berries are attractive, I don't recall any discussion about removing yew trees due to the poisonous seed.