Poison Ivy -- HELP!!!

[MadDogDriver]

Ahhh ... another use for WD-40

 

[diyDave]

Fishpick- I think the chemical that you found at CT was sylvex(sp?). it was the non military version of agent orange, actually a very effective defoliant, the reason it was banned was the agent orange flap (Agent orange, military use, was made by the lowest bidder, and often contaminated with dioxcin ) as far as I know there was never a report of sylvex being contaminated. If you get a really big vine of poison ivy, about 5 or 6 inches diameter, here's a good use for it- cut a section about a foot long, split it down the middle, and carve a spoon out of it. Give this spoon to your mother-in-law for no special reason!

 

[MadDogDriver]

That's not nice at all, even if you were kidding.

 

[hazmat]

OK - here are some pix of my ivy problem. Do the goats get hazard pay for working close to a state highway?

Overall - there are quite a few small stumps buried under the taller grass - you can also see the drop off.

Up close 1

Up close 2

 

[MadDogDriver]

Hazmat,

Google "triclopyr". That's the active ingredient that eventually kills the poison ivy/oak/sumac group. It comes in a salt form known as "triethylamine", which is the active ingredient in Ortho's Brush-B-Gon. Many public highway departments use this for controlling roadside brush under the commercial names Access, Crossbow, ET, Garlon, Grazon, PathFinder, Redeem, Rely, Remedy, and Turflon. I'm not sure if any of those herbicides are available to the public, but the key ingredient is either triclopyr, triethylamine salt, or butoxyethyl ester. Apply it according to it's directions directly to the leaves.

Good luck, you'll get em eventually, and remember the plant's oil, urushiol, will remain active for several years after the plant has died and will still getcha. (Gets me at least, BADDDD)

 

[fishpick]

diyDave - I've seen those spoons! but I'm like MadDogDriver... me + this topic = itchy just sitting near the photos posted...

Stay upwind and napalm the stuff!

 

[MikeB44]

With respect MikeB44 - this is a very Tennessee post!

Well we do have a couple of TN fainting goats at the house.

How effective are the goats? There is a guy with goats in a pasture about 4 houses up from me, and the pasture seems mighty overgrown, all though admittedly I have no idea how many goats are there, or how big the pasture is.

I have to think the goats are cheap (I am thinking $50 each?) or maybe I am crazy, but if I could buy a roll of field fence, and a pair of goats, and work through some of the underbrush on my place, I would be all for that.

However, if they got out and decided to eat the wires on the backhoe, or something else expenisve, it would be time for goat stew.

Anyone with first hand experience?

Goats eat brush first and grass second, so they may still be working the leaves, or the pasture area may be big for their number. Cost varies on the goats - our wethers (gelded males) were ~$150 - now they look to be around $300.

TN fainters will not walk up (down) a fence like other goats, so should work with field fencing (especially with electric). As 1bush2hog stated they need fresh water, shelter, vet care, protection from predators, etc. Goats are susceptible to parasites, especially worms, & do need maintenance for that (I guess that's why they have learned to browse leaves - to keep away from potentially worm contaminated ground grass.) Ours have done well with temporary electric fence for a year now.

Do the goats get hazard pay for working close to a state highway?

Double (2 times the leaves they can eat!)

 

[Justaplain]

Amine-2-4D.[Tractor supply or Agri Supply]] 1 Tbs Palmolive. Spray often.. Works downstream of you. bcs

 

[tuolumne]

If you have the fence for them, I hear goats work real well. They supposedly love the stuff....

Don't forget the fencing rule of thumb for goats...if it won't hold water it won't hold a goat!

 

[bucmeister]

MadDogDriver, I have used Grazon, however you have to have an applicators license/permit here in Mississippi to get it and I had let mine expire so the Co-op recommended BRASH as a suitable alternative that is not restricted. It has 2-4D plus a dicambra mix, kicks poison ivy big time as well as our other "green weed" curse, kudzu, works like a charm on locust saplings also. The other benefit is that a 2 gallon jug is about $60 and 2-3 oz per gallon it does a great job. Mix in roundup for a full spectrum effect.