Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac

How to kill poison ivy, oak and sumac?

The best way I've found is to use Ortho's brush killer, it's specifically designed to kill Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac. Try using it on a very hot day as the results will be quicker. I have found that cutting the vine at the base of the vine/top of the root and saturating it the Brush Killer, as well as the surrounding area, helps really trim this pesky plant back. It will however, continue to pop up each year, but in lesser quantities, as it grows underground as well.

Do NOT pick up the dead leaves/branches even after they've died, with your bare hands as they,as well as the roots of this vine, can remain dangerous even when "dead", and for heaven's sake don't burn this plant!!!

Make sure that when you go out to attack this enemy, you wear gloves, long sleeved pants and shirt. There is a product on the market called: Tecnu®, http://www.teclabsinc.com which helps get rid of the oils from the plant and should be used immediately after you're finished spraying.

You should use this product to wash off your cutters (I use long handled ones -- I don't want to get any closer to these plants than necessary!!!)........and then you should immediately remove and throw away the gloves, dump your clothes in the washer (with no other clothes in there), wash your hands with the Tecnu and then take a shower with warm water and soap to make sure no oils that accidentally touched you are still left on your skin. Here is a good info site on poison ivy/oak/sumac:
http://www.enviroderm.com/poison.htm

Hope this helps!!

Thanks for your lengthy reply.

Gloriaglolms2Dogs

Gloria- I've been battling poison ivy on our newly-purchased lot, too. Initially, we mowed everything - since all the brush was so tall. Then, after that, we began a spraying program for new growth. So far, the best thing I've found is Brush-B-Gone. I keep it mixed up in a spray container and every day, I spray a new section. I've noticed that there is very little (if any) regrowth and it looks like it's finally getting under control - and we had a LOT of poison ivy! For vines that had climbed up trees, I just cut at ground level and sprayed regrowth. As Mom2cats said, do NOT pick up the dead leaves (or pull the dead vines out of the trees - just cut off at about 6').

If you do end up with a rash, you can use either lye soap or jewelweed soap. Caution: You become more sensitized to poison ivy with every rash outbreak! You can order the jewelweed soap here: http://store.yahoo.com/herbal-remedies-usa/poisonivykit.html . I have no affiliation with this company - but after having to get shots/steroid packs with my last outbreak, I tried the jewelweed soap/spray at first "itch" - and it worked beautifully! (with 24 hours, the blisters were gone)

Good luck with this and let us know how it goes!

This may sound frivolous, but if you have the room and tons of patience, get a goat.
They eat all of that with no problem.

Moogie - thanks for the jewelweed link! I have it bookmarked in case I ever need it (I pray I don't!!!) I had no idea that jewelweed soap existed, let alone would help. After the horrible rash I got 3 years ago, and ended up on steriods, etc (plus I'm diabetic, which didn't help one bit!!) -- almost ended up in the hospital over the whole mess, I am really paranoid about this weed! So I appreciate your info.

And you're right about the Brush-Be-Gone too - is great stuff.

Hi, thanks for the advice. I'm highly allergic to poison oak, became really sick from it and had to get shots at the hospital, so I could breath and get my blood pressure down. I happened to get into it during winter, thought it was grapevine. Was gathering to make wreaths. By the next morning my lips were so swollen I could see them puffed out (no mirror needed). My one eye was swollen closed and the otherone was nearly there. It got so bad just over night. It felt like acid, and would burn everything it touched, from the ozzing liquid coming out of my skin. I've never seen anything more dangerous to myself, at least. I found the only thing that relieve the pain and stopped the spreading was aloe vera plant. It helped relieve the pain and heal really fast. Calomine lotion, etc. that the doctores told me to use, didn't help at all. I'm glad there are products out there to help. I have trouble identifying poison oak and ivy. They look similiar to several other plants. So, I end up taking out anything that has three leaves or looks like small oak leaves. I need to learn how to spot it at different stages of growth. Everytime I've got exposed, the reaction was so much worse. I've only had it 2 or 3 times. And came close to dying last time. So I really appreciate your information. I knew about the jewelweed plant, having studied herbal healing, etc. But didn't know about the soap. Thank you, I will have to get some.

Mom2Cats and Auzzie - I know just what you mean about the terrible rash - my friends all thought I had that flesh-eating disease on my legs!!

This last outbreak, I used the jewelweed soap and spray and most of the small blisters on my arms were gone overnight. I had another large patch that took longer - but the itching was under control within minutes - just took longer for the rash to disappear (and it didn't spread at all - Yea!!)

You both sound like you have serious complications with any poison ivy outbreak - I pray that you both never have any "close-encounters" with that plant again!! :-)

Did you know you can grow jewelweed yourself, and have it at hand when needed? Not sure where it is sold; a friend has it growing wild in her area and offered it to all of us. I don't have enough to share (sorry :( but maybe someone else does?

Moogie,
Thanks for your imput. You've sure had some experience with the "POISONS"! I will put your knowledge to work right away.
Gloriaglo