My War on Poison Ivy

[two_bit_score]

ToadHill, I see by your profile that you are a retired arborist. I have a question that may be right up your alley.

Do these vines kill the tree? I've noticed that a few of the largest ivy plants are in dead trees (see photo in 2nd post). Is this because the ivy killed the tree or because the tree died and the ivy had no competition for sunlight left?

One more question. The hairs on these vines are roots, right? If I apply Roundup (or in my case Honcho plus) directly onto the hairs, is it the same as attacking the root?

That's two great questions. I would also be interested in his response.

 

[Hookblock]

so cutting a 4" section out with a chainsaw, during winter time, won't kill them? i did that to quite a few of them that were choking out some nice trees...

That's what I do, seems to work, not sure if it's the right way to do it. Looking at the the blisters on my arms right now .

 

[czechsonofagun]

That's what I do, seems to work, not sure if it's the right way to do it. Looking at the the blisters on my arms right now .

I do it the same way and it kills it. But you can get allergy reaction in the dead of the winter. The best thing is a very hot shower to stop the itch.

 

[riptides]

I do it the same way and it kills it. But you can get allergy reaction in the dead of the winter. The best thing is a very hot shower to stop the itch.

I just dealt with this about a week ago. Major problem, fiirst time in my life. My SO is very allergic to this stuff. She got it bad too, but went to the Doc and got meds. Unfortunate I cannot take the pills, so I had to deal with it. I must have rolled it in my clothes because I was breaking out three or four days after the first signs.

The stuff was "dead", old vines I had sprayed at least a year or two ago. Guess it wasn't.
Won't make that mistake again.

I've got some roots that are thick, but those are unreal. If it got that big, I'd leave it alone, , might be some mother nature get even with mankind attempt.

 

[DennisArrow]

Mark........Have already cut the "stalks" going up the tree. What I plan on doing is for them to resprout and then spray the leaves. These are some big trees so leaves of the tree are probably 30 feet up. What I wonder is if the herbicide that I spray on the Ivy leaves will be absorbed into the tree through the bark and damage the tree............Thanks ........Dennis

 

[polo1665]

Mark........Have already cut the "stalks" going up the tree. What I plan on doing is for them to resprout and then spray the leaves. These are some big trees so leaves of the tree are probably 30 feet up. What I wonder is if the herbicide that I spray on the Ivy leaves will be absorbed into the tree through the bark and damage the tree............Thanks ........Dennis

I would say that you would not hurt the tree. If you drilled into the tree to get the Roundup into the trees heart I think you could kill it, but not by getting overspray onto the bark. Hopefully someone more expert will chime in here, but I would say your O.K. to do that. I've sprayed weeds around trees many times and I am sure that some spray came in contact with the bark. Never had a tree die.

Mark

 

[polo1665]

I do it the same way and it kills it. But you can get allergy reaction in the dead of the winter. The best thing is a very hot shower to stop the itch.

When I had it it seemed that hot water made mine itch worse and cool water helped soothe it. Funny how every one is different. When that stuff gets a hold of you you are looking for any relief you can get.

Kind of a funny/sad story. When my brother was about thirteen years old we were in the woods and he had to......well you know. When he was done he reached for something to wipe himself with. You guessed it, he wiped his butt with poison ivy. Poor guy had to wear diapers for a spell. Story is something to chuckle at now, but I couldn't imagine what he went through that summer.

Mark

 

[ragkar]

Before you start the war, lay in some first aid.
Zanfel ointment is highly recommended on web sites dedicated to poison ivy. It's very expensive $40 for a 1oz tube but that's far better than the misery. Found in CVS pharmacies.
Fels-Naptha soap is suppose to work well as an initial wash-the-oil and is a lot less expensive. It's a lot harder to find though.

Don't do as my uncle did. He pulled the ivy and then burnt it and walked in the smoke. Then he went into the house to the bathroom and handled his tool. They had to tie him down in a hospital bed.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

that poison ivy soap helps a little too....has jewel weed in it......does take some of the itch out of it and does seem to make it run it's course faster...

what is in the zanfel? their website doesn't tell.......and most products i've looked at all contain the same active ingredients.....

edit: here are the ingredients...

Ingredients: Polyethylene granules, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, nonoxynol-9, c12-15 pareth-9, disodium EDTA, quatemium-15, carbomer 2%, triethanolamine, water

i can't remember off hand, but those seem to be different than the technu i've used...

here's the ingredients in technu....

Deodorized Mineral Spirits, Water, Propylene Glycol, Octylphenoxy-Polythoxethanol, Mixed Fatty Acid Soap and Fragrance

i may have to try that zanfel.....i'll need all the help i can get in a few weeks....now if i just can prevent ticks and chiggars...

Before you start the war, lay in some first aid.
Zanfel ointment is highly recommended on web sites dedicated to poison ivy. It's very expensive $40 for a 1oz tube but that's far better than the misery. Found in CVS pharmacies.
Fels-Naptha soap is suppose to work well as an initial wash-the-oil and is a lot less expensive. It's a lot harder to find though.

Don't do as my uncle did. He pulled the ivy and then burnt it and walked in the smoke. Then he went into the house to the bathroom and handled his tool. They had to tie him down in a hospital bed.

 

[two_bit_score]

That Technu always worked pretty good for me. I'll look for some of that other stuff,too.