Look what popped up in the burbs!

Evidently you don't have to live out in the country to get poison ivy in your gardens! My hubby broke out with the typical blisters all over a couple of weeks ago when he helped me get rid of clippings from my herb garden. Didn't see anything then that looked like poison ivy. But in my flower bed, there it is! I've never broken out yet in my lifetime so don't know if I'm allergic to it. I plan to put on my nitrile gloves that go up to my underarms, bag the weeds and then bag my gloves, take a shower outside and change clothes when done! Any other suggestions? I have workmen in my house, which is totally torn up at the moment, getting new floors put in, so can't get to the washer for a while. Janet

I have killed single poison ivy plants with agricultural molasses, just make hole at the base of the plant that will hold about one cup of it and let it soak down, you may have to repeat the treatment.
I have also killed it with vinegar, but you can't use vinegar closed to other plants you could harm them with it.
Josephine.

I have some ag molasses but will it harm the bottlebrush shrub that the ivy in intertwined with?

I don't think so, molasses is used as a fertilizer also, but of course you need to decide that.

Is there any benefit to killing it first? My hubby says it still has the oils that make you break out even if it's dead. But maybe he's wrong!

Well, if you cut it first you might not be able to find the root, but you can cut it first if you want, the idea here is to kill the root so it doesn't come back, after it is dead you can remove it carefully like you would when it was green.

Thanks so much! I have no experience with poison ivy so all this info helps alot. Also, thanks for your patience with me! I will try it and see how things go. Janet

Janet, I find that new plants like that are easily uprooted as you were considering doing. I wait till the soil has been moistened and then with gloves and a long sleeved shirt, I will pull them up, roots and all and dispose of them accordingly. If you think you're skin has been exposed, wash well with vinegar then use soap and water. No bath oils as the oil base will cause it to spread. I use Caladryl or Rhulijel (sp) if I have broken out.

I am not surprised you have volunteer plants. The birds delight in eating the berries from poison ivy and poison oak. If there is a good crop of berry seeds one year, I find seedlings popping up all around the base of trees the next year.

Good luck, Kristi

Thanks Kristi! I had no idea birds eat their berries (or that they made berries). I'm working up the courage to go get it! I'll wet the area well so maybe it'll pull out easy. Wish I had a full hazmat suit!

LOL on hazmat ~ just handle it carefully. Clothed and gloved and be sure not to rub that itchy nose that happens when you've just touched something you shouldn't... at least it seems to work that way here.