Poison Ivy

[RedRocker]

There is some stuff you can put on that protects your skin from
the oil, can't think of the name, but used it last weekend with
good results. If you get the rash, you can use Ivy-Stat, it's a two
part product that washes the oil off and has a steroid cream to
stop the itching. I've got 17 acres of poison oak and becoming
an expert at getting that stuff.

 

[arrabil]

When the pool is open I get in immediately after working in the woods. The chlorine takes care of it. I've never gotten a rash after the pool.

Rubbing the chlorine pool tablets on the affected areas often stops it from getting worse and itching anymore. I do that in the winter.

Also, I've been spraying RoundUp Poison Ivy Killer for years. It just comes up somewhere else the next year. Some years are worse then others. Getting rid of it entirely is a fool's errand but if you spray every single year, sometimes twice a year, you will have the least amount possible. To me thats better than letting it grow out of control.

 

[Pilot]

arrabil,

Sounds like the PO is coming up from seeds. If the Roundup is working, it shouldn't be coming up from shoots because Roundup kills by killing roots.

I wonder how long PO seeds last in the soil? How many are brought in by birds?

Chlorine: Bleach is what the military uses to decontaminate chemical warfare poisons that might get on equipment. I can see it might work on PO, but for many it might be hard on the skin. Seems unlikely it would work at the dilute concentrations found in a swimming pool, but hey, if it works for you, great! Never heard of that one before.

FWIW, the Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook says to use glyphosate or Imazapyr in late summer, tryclopyr (Garlon, Crossbow) in the spring, but tryclopyr is less effective or less predictable. May depend on having just the right conditions. I have never used Imazapyr, but it seems to be a target for those who hate herbicides--they may or may not have valid concerns.

 

[ultrarunner]

It wouldn't be spring without going through 30 gallons of Roundup Quick Pro...

This afternoon, neighbors came over and were reminiscing how much Poison Oak was around here before I bought the place... 6 years of methodically spraying has really knocked the stuff way back and I've also hit some for the neighbors.

The dead poison oak stalks seem to last forever... I have thickets that have been dead for 5 years and they just don't rot away...

I've used other products like brush begone with good results too.

 

[eepete]

In my multi-year battle with ivy, I would (in the early stages) use Roundup concentrate at a higher mix ration to kill the plant. Often the plants were in a line, all coming of the same root. The next year, new plants would pop up in the same line. Maybee if I'd mixed the Roundup at a higher ratio who knows.

At any rate, I've seen where Roundup did not kill the entire underground vine/root, and the next year new plants pop up. After several years of spraying an area, you finally get it. BTW, it is at this point that I switch to the 1/3 bleach solution so I kill only the new ivy and don't nuke the whole forest floor. The ivy has to be around 10% of the area. Keeps you from killing everything.

In the woods, it is also important to cut the vines going up the trees so birds don't eat the berries and spread them. I used a manual bow saw and cut in the winter, being very careful where the sawdust went.

arrabil, it is indeed a fools errand and I've ran that errand a lot. But as you say, you can at least get it under control and have some nice paths through the woods that are mowable and clear of ivy for the first 6 feet or so on each side. Then you are left with the occasion new sprig that pops up each year and you can nuke them (I use the bleach).

Pete

 

[arrabil]

eepete, I tried the Roundup in a higher mix and got the same results as the normal mix. Recently I've switched to half the recommended mix and again, the exact same results as the normal mix. Since the stuff is herculean in its ability to keep growing I figure I can at least save some money on the weed killer. I should try the bleach seeing as how I use chlorine on myself! Bleach is dirt cheap while Roundup is liquid gold.

Pilot, Roundup makes many guarantees but doesn't always deliver as promised. At least thats my reality.

 

[eepete]

Tnx for the Roundup tip, it will save some coin.

Bleach is easy to try, it does take a week or so to see results but subtleness takes longer to get results than brute force. I gets rid if the leaves and starves the vine vs. killing the vine. But at least the leaves are gone so people are less at risk.

tnx again,

Pete

 

[deerefan]

If you get it, as I have recently, douse the irritated areas on your skin with white distilled vinegar. Works really well at easing the itch and and getting rid of the rash.

 

[ultrarunner]

Am I the only one that uses Roundup Quick Pro?

 

[kenmac]

I don't use round up ( brand name stuff) I use the cheapest 41% glyphosate I can find. Kills anything I need killed.