How do you remove Pokeweed?

Question

I have a couple of Pokeweed plants that are growing on the side of my house. The are both pretty big, about 6 feet tall, and are very red. I did not know what these were until I started researching them online. I now know what they are, how they grow and that they have toxin and poison in them. What I am wondering is how do I remove them?

I was just going to use a bush trimmer and start cutting off the branches and throw them in my trash can outside. However, I am worried that maybe there is some kind of poison liquid inside of them and maybe this is not the best way to remove the plant.

Does anyone have any information that could help me out here? Is it ok just to but gloves on and start trimming it down or is there a better way to do this? I want to get them down before my 4 year old happens to get a hold of them.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out

Answer 1

There is nothing poisonous or toxic about them.  I just dig up the large ones, and pull up the small ones. Makes your hands stink, but not toxic.

Answer 2

The plant and berries are harmful if ingested. The roots are highly toxic. Usually it causes violent vomiting and diarrhea within an hour of two of ingestion. Poke salit used to be a staple of southern cooking. The leaves would be boiled down two, three times, the water being thrown out and replaced with every boiling.

We had these on the farm when I was little. I know of no harmful affects from getting berry or plant juice on your skin other than serious staining. We just cut them down to keep my younger brother from eating the berries. We had mulberries, raspberries, and blackberries, along with grapes and it would only be a matter of time until he found them and thought they'd be okay. The little boy at the farm next to us had eaten some berries and was quite sick. If you still feel unsure wear rubber gloves or work gloves and bag them up as you go. Wash up well afterward and there should be nary a problem.