umbellularia californica - monster toxic removal

Kathy_Holzer

Kathy_Holzer

Location
Seattle WA
anyone ever removed one of these things of any size? also called california bay laurel and myrtlewood. we pruned a big one a few years ago and nearly puked our guts up in a chipping cloud of fumes that made eyes burn and water, nose clog up, etc. now they are thinking about removal. anyone have any experience here? gas masks while climbing? gives me a headache just thinking about killing this beast, and will certainly give me a serious headache during the climb, but someone will do it if i don't.

thanks for any input.
 
Just try not to chip it. Bid it as a hazardous removal and instead of chipping it or cutting it into smaller lengths, cut it just into pieces of a maximum size that can still be taken to an area where a clamshell loader can load it up for removal/disposal. Include the cost of the clamshell rig into the bid. The fewer cuts, the fewer volatiles will be released and the easier you'll breathe.
 
It's common where I live and in spite of the symptoms from the vapors released while chipping it I have known of no other ill effects from it.

But a person can only take so much before they have to leave the area and clear their eyes and nose.

Great in Red Sauce.
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

chip downwind!
get a bottle of saline nasal spray mist to hose out the ol' turbinates from time to time.
seriously "aromatic" when the chipper is running. i have seen the respirator itself pulled out for that - perfect combo for a hot day.
good luck!
pete
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

I'll wear a respirator (not just a dust mask) for these and sycamore.

Can you use these leaves for cooking? I heard you shouldn't.

Shame it has to come down. They're great trees!

Love
nick
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

Years ago, I read a common name of it as the "headache tree".

Then remembered at age 10 when my dad moved branches home for my mom to harvest because she liked to cook with it.

The smell from the leaves gave me an incredible headache.

So the OP sounds so realistic.
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

[ QUOTE ]
I'll wear a respirator (not just a dust mask) for these and sycamore.

Can you use these leaves for cooking? I heard you shouldn't.

Shame it has to come down. They're great trees!

Love
nick

[/ QUOTE ]

Just noticed your reply.

Read above.

Also, can this stuff burn as firewood?

If so, I'd just craigslist the wood for free, and cut the limbs down flat and haul them intact. The don't have to be chipped.
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

Any substantially sized myrtle wood is prized for bowl turning or any other craft. Let me know if you get the job, Kathy, I'll turn you on to my contacts......

My intro to myrtle was 35 years ago. It was a smallish one, but It was in hedge form. We trimmed it with a whiz saw. Noted the pungent odor, but, then, as the truck was getting full, I had to get inside and fork the load around. About passed out. Since then, have had no extraordinary problems. There's one in Edmonds, next to a cool paulownia, that I have thinned three times. Just did it again for the third time. including shaping it. They're incredibly leafy, and agressive growers. It nearly impossible to tell it's been pruned, as of today!
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

sounds like a great tree to utilize a grapple truck and a crane on! Like someone else said the less cuts the better = crane, chipping sounds miserable = grapple truck
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

[ QUOTE ]
Also, can this stuff burn as firewood?

[/ QUOTE ]


Yup. It needs to 'cure' at least 18 months though.
It's a very heavy, moist wood.


No problems with the 'volatiles' when burning it after it has dried out.



-Diane
 
Re: umbellularia californica - monster toxic remov

[ QUOTE ]
Years ago, I read a common name of it as the "headache tree".

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The smell from the leaves gave me an incredible headache.

[/ QUOTE ]


It was given this name because it was used to relieve headaches.

BUT it does, also, seem to give some people headaches.




-Diane
 
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