Poison ivy - what to do with it

[JimRB]

A friend in his mid 30's said he never suffered from poison ivy until he did. Now he is not a fan of it.

Skin will be itchy. It can get hot. It can boil and blister like someone poured scalding water on you. It depends on how sensitive you are and how bad/strong/long the poison was on your skin.

I do burn the stuff. I only fight it during the winter when I am bundled up. In the summer I might spray it and maybe get my lopping shears out but never an axe. I do not want to get sprayed with any ivy juice.

 

[newbury]

I'm very reactionary to poison ivy, such that at times I would have blisters that would soak the bed at night.

The only "cure" I've found was a poison Ivy extract that you drank pre-season. I was a field biologist so I needed something that worked. About 15 or 20 years ago that went off the market (it may be back) but I've found my own "cures".

First thing in the spring I go out and rub a LITTLE fresh, young ivy leaf on the back of one arm in a SMALL area. Being careful that that is my only exposure for a few days. I then put up with the "itch spot" for the two weeks it lasts. BEING CAREFUL TO NOT GET IN MORE IVY. After that I'm generally good for minor exposure the entire summer and fall. I'll get in a little Ivy and might get some minor postules, but none of the big leaking boils.

And for me the 100% cure for poison ivy is 2 weeks, and it's gone.

 

[CliffordK]

I know that I can pick a bouquet of Poison Oak with my bare hands, and not suffer any ill effects. I believe that the tolerance was built up a bit over time as I apparently got mild cases as a child. I assume some people are the same with poison ivy.

Anyway, it sounds like time is to your advantage, then your plan of attack may depend on how susceptible/tolerant you are to the effects of the weed.

 

[kdm0811]

What about chipping it or grinding it, then just tilling the chips into the soil or using them for cover?

How bad of reactions do you get to Poison Ivy? Around here, we don't get any of it. I've been essentially immune to Poison Oak since at least being a teenager. I think I may have gotten mild reactions to Poison Ivy when I was in the midwest a few years ago, but not much.

My co-worker had a "reaction" to Poison Ivy. He is still dead. See http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/147378-they-call-poison-reason.html

 

[bcp]

Lots of anecdotal evidence that drinking goat milk, after they eat poison ivy, can transfer an immunity to it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=poison+ivy+goat+milk

Bruce

 

[CliffordK]

My co-worker had a "reaction" to Poison Ivy. He is still dead. See http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/147378-they-call-poison-reason.html

That is a sad story.

I presume there are people who are for the most part immune to the poison ivy, as there are people who are immune to the poison oak. I would much rather have it on my skin, than to breathe the smoke, or to have neighbors breathe the smoke. Thus my idea of "helping" it decompose. A dust mask still might be a good idea.

 

[Depmandog]

The above is one type of "air curtain destructor". Using this type of burning system keeps almost all smoke from the air. Plus the burn time is quick!!

 

[teejk]

Seems that people either react to it or not. I had a bad case 40 years ago but nothing since then. My wife can simply look at it and break out. If your neighbors are far enough away (or if you don't like them (a few threads running here about pit bulls and shooting and trespassing and land encroachment)) pick a breezy day, put on a dust mask and burn it. Somewhat related...I worked in the UK 20+ years ago during their last "foot and mouth disease" outbreak (essentially the same as human flu). They decided to eliminate herds to stop the outbreak and they burned the bodies. They found that the problem kept spreading and then figured out that the next outbreak was directly downwind from the last fire.

 

[Pilot]

Use enough accelerant to avoid ANY initial smolder, and compact the piles for a fast HOT fire.
Light down wind, and leave immediately with the wind in your face. Get the heck away from it as soon as it whoofs and stay away.


In the woodlot, wait until Mid Fall, mid to late Sept. when the perennials are drawing nutrients back to the roots for dormancy, and nail the crud with the Crossbow, cutting and spritzing vines. You will get a substantially better kill, because the evil crud above ground simply dies back in the spring and summer, then sends new runners up from the still healthy roots. Get the Garlon or Crossbow into the roots, and it is truly dead.

You want to light upwind, not downwind. Especially if you use gasoline as an accelerant. Gas fumes will be blown downwind and when you light it, it will go poof, right at you. And by lighting upwind you're less likely to inhale any poison ivy smoke and the wind will blow your starting fire into the pile.

Around here we get better results with Crossbow in the spring and Roundup in the fall. And I agree with the recommendation to use a spreader-sticker. Makes a big difference with anything you spray, Crossbow, Roundup, 2,4-D--anything.

 

[CliffordK]

You want to light upwind, not downwind. Especially if you use gasoline as an accelerant. Gas fumes will be blown downwind and when you light it, it will go poof, right at you. And by lighting upwind you're less likely to inhale any poison ivy smoke and the wind will blow your starting fire into the pile.

Diesel is safer to use than gasoline, especially if you wish to squirt a little on the already burning fire. I'd only use gas if you have some old, varnished gasoline you need to get rid of, then be very careful with it.