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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: finchy on December 28, 2007, 20:36:54

Title: Composting a Yew tree/bush - poisonous?
Post by: finchy on December 28, 2007, 20:36:54
Cut one massive blighter down, shredded it, and mixed it with a load of other shreddings composting down, only to then be told by a neighbour that the Yew is poisonous!

Have I ruined the compost that I was making for my veggie patch?
Title: Re: Composting a Yew tree/bush - poisonous?
Post by: SMP1704 on December 28, 2007, 20:52:10
It is poisonous if eaten but was also regarded as a spirtual tree with healing powers ???

You'll need to wait for an expert to come along, but I don't think that the toxins would persist through the composting process.
Title: Re: Composting a Yew tree/bush - poisonous?
Post by: Eristic on December 28, 2007, 21:33:21
It rather depends on just how much compost you intend to eat.
Title: Re: Composting a Yew tree/bush - poisonous?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 29, 2007, 19:45:24
The poison is Taxine, an alkaloid. No doubt it would break down during composting, but someone out there may know more than I do.