Weed, tree or shrub?

Does anybody know what this is? It is growing along side my house. Don't know if I should get rid of it or keep it.

 

I think that's sumac. Poison! Yeah, get rid of it!

 

If the stems/trunk were more red I'd say poison sumac. Still, I've had enough run-ins with sumac to want it all gone.

Sumac hits me much harder than Poison Ivy. To be on the safe side when you get rid of it plan on doing it in one session lasting less than an hour. When you are done strip off all your clothes and throw them in the washer and take a shower with cold/cool water and lots of soap. If you get it off in a reasonable time you can avoid a reaction even with poison sumac so you don't need to be too afraid of it. Just treat it with proper respect for something that can make you itchy insane.

 

Poison or not if left to grow it will turn into a tree and cause foundation problems.

 

Thanks! That makes 3 things that are poisonous alongside my house: Nightshade, poison ivy, and now sumac! The poison ivy is growing inside my shrubs and bushes. Why is everything poison growing at my house?

 

You live in a rural area or on the edge of town? You need to get a poison ivy herbicide and maybe do several applications. Often time an area that is left to "seed" will harbor the three poisons and they will get a hold and take over the area. My daughter had a beautiful vine along the side of her house. Too bad it was poison ivy! I could not touch it since I'm highly allergic to it.

I don't think you have poison sumac. Do a GOOGLE image search on all three. None seem to match you picture.

https://www.google.com/search?q=poison+ivy+oak+and+sumac+pictures&biw=1280&bih=506&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv1pzY_pnOAhXIkx4KHfrqC6MQ_AUIBigB

Note that your leaves alternate on the stem and sumac does not.

 

Nothing should be growing that close to any home.

 

I don't think it's sumac either. Keeping up with the gardening is the best method for keeping any weeds or undesirable plants at bay. I probably have an acre's worth of poison ivy on my 16 acres but for the most part none in my yard or next to my house. Keeping the weeds pulled at the flower and shrub beds helps! harder for for the poison to take hold. I get into poison ivy more weeks than not but as long as I wash up in 20 minutes or so I'm ok.

There are many reasons to limit vegetation growth next to your house. On bigger plants the root structure can have adverse effects on the foundation. Any vegetation that restricts air flow and sunlight can cause mold/mildew on the siding. Also makes it easier for insects to get in the house.

 

13-17 leaves makes me think it is a black walnut. Anything within 3' of your house should be removed. Any decorative shrubs or plants should be planted no closer than that due to their growth pattern. While I am not a fan of Round Up, judicious use on a leaf of a plant will kill the plant as it is systemic and will not leach beyond that plant. I use it along fence lines for Japanese honeysuckle and poison ivy.

 

It's a walnut tree. Fill out your profile so we know where you live.

 

Not all Sumac is poisonous. In MN we have lots of Sumac along out highways and trails, They turn a very pretty red in the fall.