Poison Ivy Removal
Tips on Poison Ivy Removal
Discovering those “leaves of three” in your yard can be troubling; now comes the task of poison ivy removal. There are several methods of getting rid of the harmful plant to consider.
Poison ivy removal can be a dangerous job; one that should not be performed unless absolutely necessary. If the plant is in an area that is normally not visited by children or pets, it may be best to leave it alone. However, any risk of contamination is a serious one and so should be addressed. The reason for the danger involved in poison ivy removal is that it requires the actual handling of the plant. The toxin urushiol that is present in every part of the plant is so potent that an amount the size of the tip of a needle is enough to start the itchy, blistery rash.
The best choice for poison ivy removal is to hire professional landscapers to complete the job. They have experience in the safe handling of the poisonous plant, and will take care of the disposal of the plant. This is an important aspect, since urushiol remains active even on plants that are dead for up to 5 years. While there is certainly a cost involved, the dollars spent will buy a poison ivy free yard as well as peace of mind with no labor on the part of the landowners.
There are those who may prefer to take on the task of poison ivy removal on their own. For these, there are a couple of choices. The first method is using a commercial preparation of herbicide, such as Ortho Poison Ivy Killer or Round Up. If the poison ivy plants are located near flower gardens, vegetable gardens or any landscaped area, keep in mind that these preparations will kill plants in surrounding areas as well. Spraying of the herbicide should be done on a dry, calm day when little chance of “drift”, or spray carried on the breeze, is possible. Monitoring the area around the sprayed plants for the next few months is necessary to ensure no fresh shoots cause a poison ivy reoccurrence.
A second option for poison ivy removal is to dig it out; with care taken to get all of the roots as well. The plants will then need to be eliminated. Burning is NOT an option, as the urushiol can become airborne. A safer method is to carry the plants to an area not frequented by humans or pets.
The task of poison ivy removal can be tricky. While it is best to hire professionals, it can be done by the homeowner with extreme care. The main objective for its removal is safety, and safety should be the consideration when removal is carried out.