Helping a friend tidy up this front foliage in front of their townhouse. Noticed what I believe is poison ivy. Can anyone confirm? Also, what’s the best method to remove it.? It looks to be only one plant. Was thinking I would just put my hand inside a heavy duty construction trash bag and rip it out at the root. Then pull the plant into the bag and seal it up. Thoughts on this technique?

by boner_toast

24 Comments

  1. Better_Weakness7239

    Sure is.
    Yank with rubber gloves or use a plastic bag. Never burn because you can inhale the urushiol oil.

  2. brightlights121

    That would work, and I also keep poison ivy spray and if it’s tight like this just spray some on the leaves and it will kill it within a few days. But pulling at the root is probably best. I have to spray poison ivy leaves that come through my neighbors fence but I am careful not to get it on wanted plants.

  3. justabuckeye

    It’s a pain to remove because it will break at the root and resprout. Do what you can to get as much of the root as possible.

  4. MedicFisher

    Looks like Poison Oak to me. I would lift it out by the roots with a shovel. Then, discard by whatever means is available to you without anyone touching it.

  5. Ohno-mofo-1

    Spray, dig out.
    Bag it and toss the bags.

    Shits evil…

  6. libertybadboy

    Use a shovel or trowel to get the root out, use nitrile gloves or chemical gloves that won’t absorb the oilm and do not burn or weed wack. Just dig it out and throw in the trash.

  7. Azilehteb

    You have the right idea, when they’re small you can just rip them out the same way you pick up dog poop with a bag.

    It’s after they get big that there’s more complicated procedures, because you have to cut them down, minimize contact with all the bits, clean up the debris, and decontaminate any tools used or clothes worn.

    Don’t let it get big.

  8. MTBisLIFE

    Careful to pull as much root out as you can. The urushiol oil is what causes rashes. It is the same consistency as motor grease and is completely clear. Wash thoroughly (T H O R O U G H L Y) after handling with soap and water and possibly a degreaser if your skin makes contact. It’ll get on whatever equipment like gloves you use to touch it, so be careful about handling that equipment after removal so you don’t subsequently make contact with the oil. 

  9. Yes, or a relative. Always remember… All Ivy is poisonous, you may not have a reaction to it but someone who gets blisters easily… Stay away. Any vine like this that creeps on trees or ground is poisonous. Even honeysuckle. The flowers are not but everything else is. Poison I’ve is present even as dry leaves and can cause rash. Studies show that poison ivy and juniper creeper and all others oils can live on a tractor tire, cart handles, even gloves with those plastic bumps for over 30 years. Use leather or cotton gloves.

  10. We live in the country and if you’re going to be working by or in poison ivy and you know ahead of time take a bar of lava or any mechanics grease hand cleaner to get the oil of poison ivy off. If I know I’m going to be working in it I will rub my legs arms hands if not wearing gloves with a wet bar of Lava. Let it dry, it will look chalky but that’s what you want. It will absorb oils from another nasty plants. Fyi… You have 4 hours before itching and blistering, then with hot water scrub the living dickens of all your skin. I use Lava again in the shower, hot water but not burning, scrub yourself with the bar itself not a washcloth and you must scrub all body parts exposed with pressure like you’d scrub crayon off of wall. Lol. Rinse. You may have to do it again. Even if blisters come up wash it with hot water and do the same. It will get that oil off.

  11. YellgoDuck

    This is a good reminder for me to always wear gloves when pulling random “weeds” I can’t see.

  12. Confident_Chipmonk

    I’m very allergic to poison ivy, so I don’t intentionally go near it when it‘s active.

    I’ve had success eradicating it by using a two pronged approach. I spray the active vines with 30% roundup diluted per label instructions and cut gaps in the vines just above ground level with a brush cutter in the winter.

  13. Plantguysteve

    Put on gloves. Pull from the base without touching the leaves. Place in trash bag carefully. Wash gloves and hands.

  14. mrsyence

    The safest option is to smother it. Cover with cardboard and weigh that down with grass clippings

  15. It’s not exactly great for the environment, but crossbow broadleaf herbicide absolutely nukes poison ivy. I sprayed the perimeter of my house to prevent encroachment and it didn’t need a re-spray for 4 years.

  16. PRC-77Killer

    I have a lot of it in the wooded area beside my house. I was thinking of spraying it this fall and mulching over it with grass. Will that work?

  17. If this is the whole plant, get the ground very wet, then w a plastic bag act like you are picking up dog poop. Pull slowly and it should come out whole. This works well on new plants that are small. Need pruners and shovels for bigger plants.

  18. happydog888

    The easiest approach is to spray it with an herbicide with the active ingredient triclopyr. Just be careful not to get it on surrounding plants. It’s usually sold as poison ivy killer or brush killer

Pin