topic Re: Poison ivy in Home

Poison ivy

granddi — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:27:37 GMT

We just moved into new home and yard men told us we have poison ivy! This is new to us for sure. I know it is very dangerous but is there any way to get rid of this?

There does not seem to be much but I know it can spread. We contacted a guy that says he can pull it but it will come back but recommends treating each plant. Estimates about $350.00.

Re: Poison ivy

jackthebear — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:33:27 GMT

goats will eat it

seriously

I would pay that just to get rid of it

Re: Poison ivy

GCR18 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:38:51 GMT

Are you allergic to poison ivy? $350 sounds expensive. I'd put gloves on, pull out the plants and spray the area. Don't touch anything with the gloves, then toss the gloves. Repeat as needed. Ortho and others make "kill the poison ivy" spray.

Re: Poison ivy

jlkz — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:41:49 GMT

With poison ivy you need to have the root dug out: pulling it may not get the entire root out: that's why it will come back. Check another service that will get the roots out. It may be more expensive, but worth it....especially if you have ever suffered the consequences of getting its oil on your clothes and then skin.

If you choose to spray the ivy poison, do NOT let the spray splash the oil on the plant back onto you.

This happened to me: couldn't see any splash on my tunic top. Went to the bathroom and evidently got the oil from the bottom of the tunic on my abdomen. Woke up in the middle of the night with that area on fire: scratching made it worse. Took a visit to the doctor's office and had to wear loose- fitting clothing for a while.

DH decided one autumn to ride the mower and blow the leaves into a huge pile. He then went back and forth over the pile: a cloud of dust arose. You guessed it: there was poison ivy oil on some of the leaves. The skin around his eyes blew up so much that we went to the emergency room. Last time for that method of leaf removal !

The oil can be blown by the wind onto anything. Wear old clothes and gloves that can be tossed after wearing to be safe.

The poison ivy comes from a seed that the bird eats and then expels onto the ground. It can then spread.

If you can, let professionals handle it....especially if there is a lot. Good Luck.

Re: Poison ivy

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:51:45 GMT

Our yard men pull it out during their weekly yard maintenance.

Re: Poison ivy

IamMrsG — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:54:44 GMT

I know a man who stood downwind from a fire where they were clearing land. There was poison ivy growing in the trees, and the smoke from the fire carried the contagion. The poor man suffered incredibly.

Re: Poison ivy

Fressa — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 15:05:27 GMT

We had this problem for years becasue we are surrounded by woods. Finally, we have a handle on the problem but we still have some new batches that show up each year. We use Round-up Poisen Ivy Killer spray. Make sure to wear clothing to cover all of yoiur skin, gloves and a mask. We did a healthy spray and then dug up the dead plants with our weeding tool (long handle). You don't want to do this on a windy day or after a rain

$350 sounds expensive to me but there are few people that will do this work. I know my friend paid $500 to have her front hill weeded. It all depends on what will work best for you. I might be incline to pay that if he pulls it up from the roots, then sprays with a killing spray. The further I can stay away from that stuff, the better.

Re: Poison ivy

Pooky1 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:14:30 GMT

i bought round up for poisin ivy. if you pull it out with gloves and throw them away. then throw clothes in washer with hot water and shower. scrub off well. i new someone that pulled out poisin ivy and had on a leather jacket. and she got poisin ivy bad. the next year when she put that jacket on she got poisin ivy again from the jacket.good luck.

Re: Poison ivy

kitcat51 — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:59:22 GMT

I also found poison ivy for the first time in my woods. Buy a product made for killing poison ivy, put it in a sprayer & you can do it yourself. Be sure to wear boots, tuck your pants in & wear a pair of gloves too just to be safe...I used all old stuff & after carefully taking it off I threw everything away. Don't ever burn poison ivy, the smoke can cause an awful rash, your face & eyes to swell horribly & you can get it in your lungs too...this happened to my son, the poor little kid suffered so much & he missed 7 weeks of school. Mind the saying...leaves of three let it be, leaves of 5 let it thrive.

Re: Poison ivy

ValuSkr — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 17:29:03 GMT

You can kill it yourself with a sprayer, vinegar, salt, and a very small amount of dish liquid. Worked like a charm for me a couple years ago when I had a 5' x 5' patch under a pine tree. Just be careful where you spray as it will kill anything. Clean up the dead plants in two or three weeks but be sure to wear protective clothing - the urushiol is still there and potent.

I don't like to use Round Up. Its chemicals are bad for the environment and, adding insult to injury, it's expensive. And it sure beats paying someone $350.

Re: Poison ivy

Eileen in Virginia — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 17:50:45 GMT

It's worth it to hire professionals to remove your poison ivy. If you decide to remove it yourself, make sure you're covered so you don't get the oil on your skin. I'd buy some cheap clothes and just throw them away when you're done because the oil will stay in your washer and dryer for a long time, spreading it to other clothing. DO NOT burn the poison ivy or any other plants that it's touched. I've read about people who did this and breathed the oil in through the smoke, resulting in serious lung problems. Poison ivy can spread quickly, so it's important to stay on top of it. Good luck!

Re: Poison ivy

Tigriss — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 22:48:34 GMT

If I knew what I was doing, or could YouTube it, I would do that. Get poison, get those disposable coveralls (the kind you use to get under a house at Lowe's), face masks, shoe covers, goggles, and gloves. Then spray, let it die and then dig it up! I double black bag the dead plants, just put a bag in a large outdoor can so you can toss the plant in, and then tie and put in the trash. I would then back fill the area with topsoil just to be sure of not bothering with shaking the roots of dirt, just chunk it all! Then all is well. You may need several of the gear, one set for poisoning it, then one for pulling it all up once it is dead. Plan a two-day operation or so when the weather is good and not going to rain.

If you are unsure of all of this, then call around and get estimates to pull it. I would take pics so the companies would know the size of the area they will be dealing with. The money will be well spent if you don't get poison ivy on you or the kids or the hubby or even someone you detest. It is not fun!

Re: Poison ivy

RedTop — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 23:55:54 GMT

I would pay the money and let a professional take care of the problem.

I say this because my husband needs to be treated for the 3rd time for poison ivy/oak on his neck. Steroid shots or dose packs clear it up quickly, but apparently my husband is reinfecting himself by his c-pap mask or razor---both of which he claims is cleaned after each use. OTC products do nothing for him, and he must be careful with repeated steroid use due to his diabetes and COPD.

As to how he got it in the first place? He has no idea. I see poison oak growing on a tree in the woods behind our house, but my husband does not go in that area. However, the one dog who follows my husband everywhere when he's outside, does go in that area, so I think my husband came in contact with the oils from the dogs fur.

This has truly been a huge PIA, so I would be glad to pay the money, and avoid possible exposure.

Re: Poison ivy

candys mine — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 03:07:09 GMT

ALWAYS wear gloves when doing yard work! I grabbed a few dried up vines one day just to clear them out of the walkway and just that short exposure was enough to make me blow up like a balloon. I was watching the rash and welts go up my arms on the ay to the Doctors. They said the dried plants are worse because there is no water only concentrated oil left. they also said to wash off with Cold water first so as to keep the pores in your skin closed. I would pay to have it removed for sure!

Re: Poison ivy

Ibby114 — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 16:28:00 GMT

I had lots of poison ivy in my yard and I used Roundup- and yes, I was covered from head to toe so not even one leaf hit exposed skin! It took a couple of applications but it eventually killed the ivy. I've noticed certain areas coming back a year or so later, so I just spray again. It's much more under control now though.

Did the company offer you a guarantee with their quote? Depending on the size of your property (mine is small), It might be worth it then.

Re: Poison ivy

Financialgrl — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:15:13 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
I would pay the money and let a professional take care of the problem.

I say this because my husband needs to be treated for the 3rd time for poison ivy/oak on his neck. Steroid shots or dose packs clear it up quickly, but apparently my husband is reinfecting himself by his c-pap mask or razor---both of which he claims is cleaned after each use. OTC products do nothing for him, and he must be careful with repeated steroid use due to his diabetes and COPD.

Yep, pay the money - a year ago I had poison ivy on my legs and I'd use everything to get rid of it. I used rubbing alcohol and one day even bleach on it (I know u r not supposed to do either but calamine lotion was worthless). I ended up having to take prednisone - which worked - however, prednisone causes me to be edgy, emotional, and angry.

Yuk, I'm itchy just thinking about it!!

Re: Poison ivy

granddi — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:35:35 GMT

Well as a newbie to Poison Ivy, we will spend the money to remove. Hope it is successful.

We told our neighbor and they seem uninterested. Hoping its not in their yard too so that our efforts fail to control.