Working In and Around Poison Ivy

[Dougster]

One application applied hit or miss without regards to the time of year and weather is certain to fail. If the soil is moist, your efforts to till may only help the Ivy to propagate. If you think you can mitigate the risk of exposure and the customer insists, then so be it. I would not want to make any guarantees other than you are being paid to till "X" number of square feet times your hourly rate.

There is no way for me to know how diligently or haphazardly she fought the fight. All I know is that this year she wants to try physically scraping it back and covering it over and planting a lawn where the poison ivy once stood. What the result will be is anyone's guess... and yes, I have made clear that this is essentially a lawn preparation job with no guarantees whatsoever relating to the poison ivy problem.

Dougster

 

[benji]

zanfel is worth every penny of the $35 an ounce if the poison gets you. it's amazing stuff. you can get CVS brand for about $20.

 

[Dougster]

zanfel is worth every penny of the $35 an ounce if the poison gets you. it's amazing stuff. you can get CVS brand for about $20.

You are talking to a man of modest means. Can I get the Colgate stuff made in South Africa for $1 a tube???

Will it kill me???

Dougster

 

[irwin]

Well, the poison ivy property owner called back. She told me they've tried many different products at different times... most recently (last year): "Ortho Brush-B-Gone"

It apparently didn't work... or at least not well enough to stop it from coming back this year.

She has no current plans to spray again before or after my work.

Dougster

Doug, hard to argue with a made up mind (the customer's I mean). You need a job, here's a job....stay safe, do what ya gotta, don't get complacent ( this is what happens to me, I get to working and some small thing is in the way, so I reach over and move it without enough taking the proper precautions)

We know spraying works from experience, She knows it didn't work for her. Because she failed you have a chance to make money! I'll be hoping the only thing you get is experience and money

 

[ultrarunner]

Doug, let us know how the job went and more importantly... if you get Poison Ivy!

There are some people with low sensitivity to the stuff. I've seen a Samoan Landscaper rip the stuff out with his bare hands and never get it. He laughs and says Poison Ivy is very good for his business.

He figures what a normal job would cost and then doubles it for Poison Ivy. He usually gets the job first time out and always gets it on the second go round.

A neighbor thought the Samoan's price was too high so she hired her nephew. Nephew ended up in the Hospital and the neighbors Home Owner's Insurance paid the bill. The sisters had a bad falling-out over the whole thing...

Just be careful and DON'T touch you face or any "Private Parts" One tube of Zanfel does work wonders if you get it.

 

[Dougster]

I'll be hoping the only thing you get is experience and money

Oh man Tim... do you have to put it that way???

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Doug, let us know how the job went and more importantly... if you get Poison Ivy!

There are some people with low sensitivity to the stuff. I've seen a Samoan Landscaper rip the stuff out with his bare hands and never get it. He laughs and says Poison Ivy is very good for his business.

He figures what a normal job would cost and then doubles it for Poison Ivy. He usually gets the job first time out and always gets it on the second go round.

A neighbor thought the Samoan's price was too high so she hired her nephew. Nephew ended up in the Hospital and the neighbors Home Owner's Insurance paid the bill. The sisters had a bad falling-out over the whole thing...

Just be careful and DON'T touch you face or any "Private Parts" One tube of Zanfel does work wonders if you get it.

Great story Ultra! That Samoan guy sounds like our Dudley! I've never had poison ivy before... so let's hope that means I am not one of the extra sensitive ones!!!

Dougster

 

[Haneyrm]

I'm just recovering from a ridiculous case of poison ivy. Best I can figure is that I was clearing some trees and brush for a power line easement with the chainsaw and got covered with it somehow or another. To make a long story short, it has taken 30 days to clear up and was the most miserable experience of my life. I have spent my life in the woods and this is the first time I have ever gotten it. I think I got sprayed from the chainsaw. I ended up at the doctors and got a prescription for a steriod that helped clear it up. My advice, run, don't walk, away from this job. It is not worth it.

Mike

 

[Dougster]

My advice, run, don't walk, away from this job. It is not worth it.
Mike

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. That job is only eight days away (weather permitting)... too late to back out now.

Dougster

 

[irwin]

That job is only eight days away (weather permitting)... too late to back out now.

Dougster

Hey Doug, was wondering how ya made out.

I took a walk yesterday, looked over areas I sprayed 3 times so far this spring/summer. Very few health p/ivy evident, went and sprayed what I could see, and no rain last night, so the spray'll most likely work . I'm not thinking I won yet, although the big areas seem to be completely p/i free, so far, so good.
I did find a few very thick vines in pine trees along the road, big around as a coffee can, can see the p/i leaves poking out all the way to the top 30+ feet. Reached in with a pruning saw and cut those @*&#@'s nice and low, then sprayed the vine stump with p/i killer. Would be a good idea to check for hidden vines up against tree trunks in the bark ridges. Ya know so you can do a good job for a paying customer..

Do let us know how you make out....