Working In and Around Poison Ivy

[Dougster]

Spray it with high concentrate of 2,4-D or Glyphosate (Round-Up) then allow it to die, and then STILL be extremely carefull. I've got bad cases of oak and ivy from logs sawed 2 years prior. The stuff lingers forever.

Wash yourself, your cloths, your equipment, and anything else that comes in contact with it in a chlorine bleach solution. Straight chlorine if you can stand it.

I've been hospitalized over poison oak 3 times. Ivy will get me but oak just about does me in. When I get it, I wash, as I mentioned, with chlorine bleach, and also I use EXTREMELY hot water. The hot water will take away the itch once you get it. That helps you to leave it alone which in turn, helps prevent further spread.

If I HAVE to deal with ivy/oak/sumac, I do so in the winter when it's not so active. That doesn't prevent you from getting it, but does lessen the exposure somewhat.

Hi Junk - Sounds like you have had more than your share of problems with this stuff... something I'd like to avoid. Don't think this lady wants to put this work off until cold weather. Sounds like she'd like to "reclaim" per property and keep her kids safe this summer!

Dougster

 

[AlanB]

Doug, in case you are not aware, tread very lightly on "spraying" and "treating" things with chemicals (yes, even homeowner concentrations) unless you are licensed. Most (actually I believe all) states require licensing for applicators doing it for hire.

Might be something to check into with your county Ag agent, or university.

Applications are a whole nother ball game of a business by the way.

 

[mboulais]

There is another product for post-exposure treatment - zanfel, it costs about $35/oz.

We are going with chemicals at my place. My wife bought some spray that starts to kill it in about 2 days and won't wash off the plants from rain after about 2 hrs. I will find out the brand. I got into bad this spring, I think I got into it with the chainsaw and then handled the logs. I have since been able to work in the area with precautions. Gloves, rubber boots, etc... do not reuse clothing until it's been washed and wash up within 10 minutes of suspected exposure. I keep a bar of heavy duty soap outside so I can clean up at the spigot.

I read the oil stays on the dead plants five yrs. I also read that axes, tools, and equipment can be cleaned with ordinary soap and water.

 

[WayneB]

There was an episode on This Old House where they were doing a job and had to remove a large area of Poison Ivey. They dressed with all the protective clothing (long pants, heavy socks, tide pants to the legs at the bottom, had taken kitchen trash bags and tied to their arms, and had gloves to protect their hands.

They actually got into the stuff and pulled it up by the roots and placed all of it into trash bags. Once finished they hauled it off to the landfill, now transfer station.

I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not, but would suggest checking with the transfer station on just what to do with it. You do not want it to be burn it.

I have sprayed it around here with Roundup and in small areas it seems to work, most of the time. I have also pulled it up and placed them in areas where the sun would dry them out and they die. Then moved the dead ones off to be sent to the dump.

I believe you have to pull it up and remove the roots. If you don't it will just come back stronger than ever. When we moved in to our place it was all over the stone walls. So in less than 30 years I have it down to very few areas that have the darn stuff, but spend every spring pulling and spraying the new plants that show up. Good luck and promise her nothing...

You might want to read this:

Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins

Wayne

 

[Dougster]

Doug, in case you are not aware, tread very lightly on "spraying" and "treating" things with chemicals (yes, even homeowner concentrations) unless you are licensed. Most (actually I believe all) states require licensing for applicators doing it for hire. Might be something to check into with your county Ag agent, or university. Applications are a whole nother ball game of a business by the way.

A good point Alan... I believe my business insurance forbids it anyway (not that it would necessarily stop me if my health depended on it).

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

There is another product for post-exposure treatment - zanfel, it costs about $35/oz. We are going with chemicals at my place. My wife bought some spray that starts to kill it in about 2 days and won't wash off the plants from rain after about 2 hrs. I will find out the brand. I got into bad this spring, I think I got into it with the chainsaw and then handled the logs. I have since been able to work in the area with precautions. Gloves, rubber boots, etc... do not reuse clothing until it's been washed and wash up within 10 minutes of suspected exposure. I keep a bar of heavy duty soap outside so I can clean up at the spigot. I read the oil stays on the dead plants five yrs. I also read that axes, tools, and equipment can be cleaned with ordinary soap and water.

Thanks Marcel... good advice. Can't afford anything that costs $35.00 an ounce... so I better be extra careful! Let me know the stuff you decide to use and how it goes.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

There was an episode on This Old House where they were doing a job and had to remove a large area of Poison Ivey. They dressed with all the protective clothing (long pants, heavy socks, tide pants to the legs at the bottom, had taken kitchen trash bags and tied to their arms, and had gloves to protect their hands.

They actually got into the stuff and pulled it up by the roots and placed all of it into trash bags. Once finished they hauled it off to the landfill, now transfer station.

I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not, but would suggest checking with the transfer station on just what to do with it. You do not want it to be burn it.

I have sprayed it around here with Roundup and in small areas it seems to work, most of the time. I have also pulled it up and placed them in areas where the sun would dry them out and they die. Then moved the dead ones off to be sent to the dump.

I believe you have to pull it up and remove the roots. If you don't it will just come back stronger than ever. When we moved in to our place it was all over the stone walls. So in less than 30 years I have it down to very few areas that have the darn stuff, but spend every spring pulling and spraying the new plants that show up. Good luck and promise her nothing...

You might want to read this:

Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins

Wayne

Thanks very much Wayne. I must have missed that episode! Probably would have scared me half to death if I had watched.

Thanks also for the reference. I'll print it out and read it!

Dougster

 

[RobertN]

I believe you have to pull it up and remove the roots. If you don't it will just come back stronger than ever. When we moved in to our place it was all over the stone walls. So in less than 30 years I have it down to very few areas that have the darn stuff, but spend every spring pulling and spraying the new plants that show up. Good luck and promise her nothing...

Yes, you have to pull it by the roots if you are not using chemicals. It sends runners out, so if you don't get those runners, it just pops up again. Even when you do pull it, you can get new stuff again fro bird droppings. They eat the seed somewhere else, and poop as they fly by your property. Whammo, you have new growth.

 

[RobertN]

No matter what route you go, make sure you buy a couple bottles of Tecnu poision ivy wash. After you are done for the day throw your clothes in the washing machine with some of the Tecnu (directions on bottle) and then jump in the shower and use the stuff on yourself. And I don't see why if you were concerned about the oils on your tractor, you could not use some to wash the tractor down with.

Technu and Avon both make pre-exposure creams. They work well for me, although they have to be reapplied frequntly. Just like sunscreen, sweat etc will affect how they work.

Then, when finished, undress in front of the washing machine. Clothes straight in to the machine, and use a little Technu in there too.

Then in to the shower, with Technu...

Then remember, your boots still have the oils on them.

 

[Oleozz]

I had a big patch of poison ivy between my two corn patches, about 1/3 of an acre. I sprayed it with no-till spray (atrazine and gramoxone with oil concentrate). That really put a hurtin to it and it gives me great pleasure to see it die. Roundup Brush and Weed Killer works great but is expensive, about $25 a quart but that makes about 6 gallons. Banvel is another spray that should kill it but is also pricey but as far as I'm concerned the best way to get rid of it is spray the stuff.