How dangerous is it to burn a yew?

Content

• How dangerous is it to burn a yew?
• Are you allowed to burn a yew?
• Yew wood is valuable wood
• Yew you can compost without worries
• Beware of the sap of the yew
• Tips

Yew wood can be easily burned

How dangerous is it to burn a yew?

As yew trees are one of the most poisonous conifers, gardeners are faced with the question of whether they can burn yew wood. Basically speaking, nothing bothers you if you burn the remains of yews in the stove, fireplace or garden.

Are you allowed to burn a yew?

The yew contains in all plant parts - except in the pulp - the highly toxic taxin, which can be fatal if taken orally. You can only poison yourself if you actually eat yew. Only by touching the needles or the trunk there is no danger.

Therefore, it is no problem to burn yew. The poison is neutralized by the heat.

Yew wood is valuable wood

Yew wood is much appreciated because it is very durable and can be used for many purposes. Weapons were made from them in the Middle Ages, and even today wood plays a major role in bow making.

If you have picked or sharply cut back a yew tree, ask your friends to ask for interest in the wood.

If you can not find a buyer, you may burn the yew's wood in the fireplace or stove. But make sure that the wood is well deposited. Otherwise, the smoke is too high and harmful to stoves and chimneys.

Yew you can compost without worries

If there is no way to burn the remains of the yew, you may also compost them without worry. The poison decomposes during the decomposition process in the compost heap.

The resulting humus can easily be applied to beds of vegetables.

Beware of the sap of the yew

When cultivating and cutting the yew, sap leaves. That's not dangerous in itself unless you pick it up.

However, it can trigger allergic reactions of the skin in sensitive people. Therefore, you should always wear gloves when handling yew and be careful that you do not get the needles in the face or other uncovered body parts.

Tips

If you want to burn the yew's cut remnants in the garden, find out in advance on which days it is possible in your place. In many municipalities, the burning of garden waste is completely prohibited or allowed only a few days a month.