Hibiscus & Apple wood

[HaXena]

I know the flowers of a hibiscus are ok but I haven't found anything in the forum regarding the wood.
Everyone says "apple wood" is ok, does that mean ANY AND ALL types of apple trees are fair game?

I am wondering if I can feed my chin the hibiscus and apple wood that I have in my back yard?

The apple tree produces an edible apple, no clue what kind, looks similar to a Fugi but not as sweet and with a tang to it. It's also a softer meat.
The hibiscus tree is your standard braided branch tree that is for sale everywhere in the spring.

Thanks!

 

[Amethyst]

I can't find any info about hibiscus wood, but since it's not mentioned anywhere (not on bird or chinchilla safe lists) I would err on the side of caution and not use it, just the flowers assuming they are from an organic tree. As for apple wood, yes all types of apple trees are safe, from kinds you would eat as is to crab apples, so long at the trees have never ever been sprayed with chemicals.

 

[HaXena]

Thank you!
I have lived here 15 years, nothing sprayed on the tree in that time. Used weed & grub killer on the grass spring 18. Maybe once this past summer? Maybe. Would that make the bark from the tree unsafe?

 

[Amethyst]

Unfortunately most chemicals stay in the wood, so they can stay deep inside for decades. People have to spray fruit trees every year because the stuff they sprayed last year is now covered in a new layer of bark. Were they established trees when you moved in? or small young trees? They might be ok if they were young trees, but if you were mature trees they may have been sprayed in the past. As for the weed and grub killer, it depends on how it works, if it's the kind that doesn't absorb into the ground, so long as you didn't spray the grass right by the tree, it might be ok (most kinds work by staying on the plants they are sprayed on). Otherwise, trees take up water and anything in the ground up through the roots, into the heart (center) of the tree, then out to all the branches, so all the wood is contaminated if the stuff you sprayed is the kind that is absorbed into the ground.

 

[Sabrina]

Have to ask... Thought wood was ok after 5 years no chemicals. Would the new growth be contaminated too? If so can a tree be planted for the purpose of branch harvest? I've heard mulberry tree is OK too. They grow fast and are "weeds" here. I've dried leaves for years and call them "cookies". She enjoys and destroys anything we give her.

 

[Amethyst]

Have to ask... Thought wood was ok after 5 years no chemicals. Would the new growth be contaminated too? If so can a tree be planted for the purpose of branch harvest? I've heard mulberry tree is OK too. They grow fast and are "weeds" here. I've dried leaves for years and call them "cookies". She enjoys and destroys anything we give her.

I don't know about being ok after 5 years, I guess it would depend on what chemicals were sprayed on it. I know some chemicals (older less environmentally friendly kinds) can remain in the wood for decades, so it's advised not to use wood from trees ever sprayed. Once again I would think it would depend on the chemicals use if the new growth is contaminated too or not. I know mulberry wood is safe, but I have no idea if the leaves are safe or not. I know apple leaves for example are generally considered to not be safe, unless picked at the right time they can contain cyanide.