In most cases poison ivy will grow along hiking trails, up fences, and in heavily wooded areas. What many people forget is that it will also grow in rural neighborhoods and people’s yards. Before we know what is happening it can grow along the back shed, up the kid’s tree house, or even on the side of the house.
It is important that we understand how to identify poison ivy and to know what it looks like. That way we will be able to spot it quickly if and when it creeps into our yard. We should not take chances and hope that when we tell our kids to stay away from it that they actually will. Instead we need to know how to get rid of poison ivy.
Unfortunately this is easier said then done. Many people who have tried to remove them will end up being exposed to them in large amounts and will suffer for days from the rash and blisters that breakout on their skin. It is like a weed that when it is pulled will keep growing back somehow.
There are many options that you should consider when trying to find ways to remove it from your yard. The most obvious thing to do is to uproot the plant and all of the roots. If you do this you need to wear long, thick rubber gloves, sock, boots, long pants, long sleeved shirts, and a face mask. You don’t want any skin exposed to it.
When you have uprooted it all you can stuff it inside of heavy duty yard bags and wait for them to be picked up. Try not to have any roots or leaves laying behind because your kids might pick them up later or they might find a way to help the plant to grow back. All the items that you wore during the removal process must be thoroughly washed using poison ivy soap.
If you do not think that you have time for this or that you can handle it then you can call a professional landscaper. They will help to remove it safely and dispose of it all with no risk to you. This is definitely something to think about when you have a large growth in your yard.
Last but not least you can spray the plants with a type of herbicide like Roundup or Ortho Poison Ivy Killer. These will help to kill the plants and to keep them from growing back. The only downside to using this is that they will kill any plants that surround it.
The one thing you must NEVER do is burn the plants. The fumes from the plant can cause an allergic reaction to you or your family or even your neighbors. Unlike most reactions though these are considered to be much more severe and even fatal for some people.