how to rid property of poison ivy?

hangnail · May 27, 2007

I have a little bit of poison ivy, and for many reasons would like to get rid of it. I will be doing some major work in my yard probably next year, but, what is the best way to rid my yard of this stuff? spray? Wait until I rototill everything under? (will that kill it, or can it regrow) My yard has been way over grown and neglected for longer than i have been alive i think.

Hound · May 27, 2007

Spray with a brush killer containing Glyphosate while sunny and ivy is growing. Gordon's Pronto Big-N-Tough, Round Up Tough Brush and Poison Ivy Killer, Home Depot 41% Glyphosate, etc. If you just turn it under it will grow back, just in more places where you've spread it.

koop · May 28, 2007

I am highly allergic to the IVY so I try to eliminate entirely from our yard. Even if I stay away from it, my dogs walk through it and next thing you know ..... scratch scratch scratch!!! I have only mixed success with Round Up products. For small amounts poison ivy pull it out by hand. Were long sleeve clothes. Use duct tape to seal gloves to shirt and socks (pulled over pants) to pants. Be careful not wipe sweat from your face. Wipe yourself with alcohol when done to remove any oil on your skin from when you remove your clothes. If you get all the roots and establish grass afterwards, it will not return. Be aware that on the edge of woods it will return courtesy of birds spreading the berries. Good Luck

YanmarFever · May 28, 2007

I had about 1/2 an acre of poison oak here, I sprayed it 1 time with double strength crossbow, It killed everything and then some, very little has returned back.

Dont pull it, or you will get it.

Just spray it with crossbow and bye bye.

unit40 · May 29, 2007

Round-up concentrate is better because you can make a solution with the proper strength to kill poison ivy. Even at the recommended strength, you might have to hit it twice, depending on how thick it is. Some versions of Round-up have a 'sticker' surfectant which helps it stay on the foliage. There is Round-up pro, and Round-up quick pro, which I like, which also contains diquat dibromide . It comes in granular dry and is easy to use. Some other options are a product called Confront, or a Selective herbicide containing 2-4-d and dicamba. They are usually found in herbicides for nice lawns that kill clover and dandelions etc. but don't kill the grass. They are labeled for poison ivy control also. I will buy the concentrate and mix to desired strength too.

Oleozz · May 29, 2007

RoundUp Brush and Weed Killer does the job on poison ivy and multiflura rose but it will also kill just about everything else it's sprayed on. If poison ivy was a cash crop I would be a rich man!

koop · May 29, 2007

tractorErnie said:
I had about 1/2 an acre of poison oak here, I sprayed it 1 time with double strength crossbow, It killed everything and then some, very little has returned back.

Dont pull it, or you will get it. Just spray it with crossbow and bye bye.

Crossbow????? No poison ivy, but no frogs either! Protect yourself, and you can pull all day long long with contacting the oil. Poison is not always the answer.

mike223 · Jun 2, 2007

I'm highly allergic to the Ivy as well. Have to take Prednisone if I get a case. Both the property on which I'm preparing to build, and the rental property on which I'm living now have loads of the weed. I use Roundup Concentrate with 48% glyphosphate. Mix as directed. If you put it on during a dry spell, it works well. If it rains or a sprinkler dilutes it before 24 hrs have passed since application, it doesn't work as well. As was stated previously, it will kill anything else it touches, so care should be taken. I'm also careful when mowing, as the chopped up Ivy bits will give me a rash too. Long sleeves, long pants, etc are a necessity, as is showering immediately afterwards using Octagon soap. This is a lye based bar soap found in the laundry detergent section of your grocery store. It was one of the first general purpose bar soaps made by Colgate Palmolive back in the beginning of the last century, and has been relegated to a laundry role. I've found that using this soap will cut the urushiol that causes the rash and keep it from adhering to my skin. Regular soaps don't work at all. I hate poison ivy.

Bentworker · Jun 2, 2007

Crossbow will kill it.

It is some nasty stuff. You can buy it over the counter in Oregon, but here in California you need a license to purchase and apply it. I have no idea what the laws may be in your state, but if you can get your hands on some by all means, use it... Or it may just be easier to hire someone.

Peter