Comprehensive lawn care and a beautiful garden boost your curb appeal and make outdoor living more enjoyable. If you have children or pets, it's important to avoid plants that are toxic and potentially life-threatening when consumed or mishandled. Here are some varieties to avoid so your garden remains safe for everyone. 

Garden Plants That Are Toxic to Humans and Animals

1. Oleander

Oleanders are perennial flowering bushes favored among gardeners, and they are naturally found in New Mexico. These plants bloom during the summer with beautiful red, white, yellow, and pink petals, and are easy to care for. However, consuming a single leaf from this flower can cause drowsiness, nausea, arrhythmia, and seizures. Burning this plant to get rid of it is not advised because the smoke is also toxic.

2. Foxglove

Foxgloves can withstand the heat, but they need shade in the afternoon, meaning people often plant them close to the house for protection. However, that can be risky because the pink and purple flowers are toxic if consumed. They can cause nausea, seizures, mental confusion, and even death if an antidote isn't administered promptly.

3. Angel's Trumpet

This unique flowering shrub is a part of the nightshade plant family, and every part of the plant is toxic. This flower flourishes in the Southwest and comes in white, yellow, pink, and orange shades. Lawn care professionals recommend using gloves when nurturing this plant. If you touch the plant and then touch your eyes or mouth, or handle food, you can inadvertently poison yourself. Its poison is very intense and can cause amnesia, hallucinations, paralysis, coma, and death.

4. American Pokeweed

American Pokeweed is found throughout the United States and is especially dangerous because its small fruits resemble edible berries. The entire plant is toxic, but most people accidentally poison themselves when they mistake its fruit for blueberries. However, pokeberries are highly poisonous and cause a plethora of medical issues, ranging from nausea to seizures.

If you need help clearing harmful plants from your landscape or garden, Taylor's Weed & Pest Control LLC provides lawn care services throughout Hobbs, NM. They have over 40 years of combined experience in pest control, weed control, general lawn care, and tree services. Their team is licensed by New Mexico's Department of Agriculture, and they are members of the Better Business Bureau®, New Mexico Pest Management Association, and the National Pest Management Association. Call (575) 492-9247 to arrange their services or visit their website to learn more.