Poison Ivy in trees

[TonyF]

Anyone have any tips or tricks for removing the vine from a tree? I have many trees that its choking, I'd like to remove the poison ivy from the canopy somehow, but I'm not too keen on having it fall on my head. Some of the trees are 80 feet tall, and its almost to the top of them and a good 2 or 3 inches in diameter.

I can cut the vine near the ground and spray the stump with brush killer, but that still leaves the vine up in the tree. It will die off, but it will still be entwined around the tree.

Thanks

 

[rswyan]

I have a tractor so ..... I'd tie a length of good heavy rope to the vine and then attach that to the D-ring that's welded inside the bucket on my frontend loader, back up, and give 'er a good pull.

 

[smstonypoint]

Tony,

I don't think there is a practical solution to your problem. If you cut off the vines and spray the "stumps," the dead vines will eventually rot. Not to say that it can't happen, but I've never seen a tree killed by poison oak/ivy (unlike kudzu and wisteria).

Steve

 

[Boeing]

You've got the best plan. Cut it at the bottom, spray it and then have patience. If you try to pull it down it will break off many limbs and rain down....not good. Once the leaves fall off you won't even notice it. One caution, DO NOT burn any green leaves or vine, the smoke can cause severe rash reaction on skin and even in lungs. My father spent some hospital time once burning green P.Ivy.

 

[kossetx]

Tony, This is just an opinion based on my experience, naturally. Poison ivy rots very quickly. By quickly, I mean within a few years. Compaired to a lot of woody plants, it's quick. If you cut it off though, I'd use something like remedy to kill it. I think most brush sprays only have 2-4d and in larger size vines it may not be enough. Remedy is a woody plant killer. With diesel, it almost doesn't fail. It has to be applied to the trunk or stump though, and keep it off the host tree.

 

[ecoslik]

I use hedge clippers (wearing full coverage clothing) and no chemicals. I did keep all ground cover cut very short inside the dripline of the affected trees.

Last summer, I did 14 large canopy oak trees that were being choked by p.ivy. I cut the p.ivy at the ground and the first 6 feet above ground. By the start of this summer, 75% of what remained in the tree above 6 feet had rotted and fallen. I was out doing this again last weekend for 4 more trees, and I noticed that all apparent p.ivy was gone in all but one of the trees treated last year.

It was very encouraging this past April when the trees had greened up after winter, and I could see the massive clumps of dead vine sagging. It was like watching these incredible canopy trees recover from near death.

I'm very allergic to the stuff and didn't have any problems.

 

[CurlyDave]

Just sever the vine near the bottom and let it sit on the tree. In a few years it will come off the tree easily, but I would leave it alone and let it rot on the tree.

 

[Storm56]

I take poison ivy and I am itching just reading this thread!

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

I dedicate a couple of days each winter to going through the riverside forest, pulling down vines of all kinds. In January, poison ivy is defenseless. The greenbriars are still heavily armed, but they don't use chemical warfare.

 

[Storm56]

I have gotten poison ivy in January from cutting the vines. There is still moisture in those vines and believe me it will get you.

 

[mbrule]

I have done the same as many previous posters, just cut it at the ground and let it rot.

 

[smstonypoint]

I have gotten poison ivy in January from cutting the vines. There is still moisture in those vines and believe me it will get you.

I agree -- the oil is still present and it can get you!!

Steve

 

[Western]

I am allergic to it or very sensitive, either way I also do what a few have said, I cut them at the base with a machete and let them rot.

I have several large oaks that have been strangled to death from the mass of ivy leaves and vines prior to my buying the place, so I make about 3 rounds throughout the summer to catch new growth, I prefer to stay chemical free and so far this has been effective.

 

[eepete]

Agree with cut it off and leave the vine on the tree to rot. I've done that with 30+ vines on trees. Don't every burn ivy vines or leaves.

What I've not seen yet: do NOT use a chainsaw to cut the vine! A friend of mine did that and he had a ivy rash/blister all up and down his arm . Use clippers or if it's real big an axe or hatchet. Be sure to wash the cutter when you're done, it will have oil on it that can give you a burn.

I tend to cut about 1' up from the ground, and then again at about 6 feet up so there is nothing you can touch on the tree.

The biggest win to removing the big vines is the birds won't eat the berries and start more ivy from their poop.

Pete

 

[NorTracNY]

Pete has said it perfectly! That's what I did many years ago when I moved onto our property. I've also read that it can take up to 5 years for the oil to completely dry out.

 

[dieselscout80]

Cut it in two places (high and low) and then put full strength Roundup Poison Ivy/Brush killer on the cut. A Ziploc bag and wire-tie will keep the Roundup on the upper part. I also pull the vine out from the tree, but that can get you a rash.

 

[firefighter9208]

You sure it's poison ivy and not virginia creeper??? My mom had a large pine blow down that was full of "poison ivy". She paid a tree company $1000.00 to clean it up. The guys were out there working with no shirts on and cutting it with a chain saw. Got to looking on the internet and it wasn't poison ivy, but was virginia creeper.

Poison Ivy:
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Dermatitis/EdMat/PhytoSlides/21to25/images/Poison20Ivy.jpg

Virginia Creeper:
Vine Plants Similar to Poison Ivy -- Virginia Creeper

 

[TonyF]

Its poison ivy alright, no doubt there. Virginia Creeper is easy to identify. Anyway my thoughts are to kill it off and leave the vine in the tree for a year or so to dry out before trying to yank it out of there. I like the idea of cutting it high so no one can brush up against it. Thanks.

 

[arrabil]

Cut it in two places (high and low) and then put full strength Roundup Poison Ivy/Brush killer on the cut. A Ziploc bag and wire-tie will keep the Roundup on the upper part. I also pull the vine out from the tree, but that can get you a rash.

I second this method but substitute straight Clorox Bleach for the Roundup. A lot cheaper and equally effective over the long haul. The vine will rot a lot faster this way.

 

[1bush2hog]

Never heard the clorox bleach cut stump treatment before. How big were those vines you treated?

I use Remedy at 3:1 ratio mixed with cooking oil - I know diesel is preferred instead of cooking oil, but the cooking oil has worked for me so far.