Poison Ivy

[Erin Bollinger]

Hi neighbors-

Wondering how, if at all, people manage poison ivy? I’m very allergic- my husband not at all- but we also have two young kids who would love to explore along the ravine side of our own property (or scramble up the hillside to get back home after a walk in the ravine). And I’m wondering what people do/what they use to eliminate it? 

I can tell that some has maybe been pulled along Walhalla? But it seems the ivy is really prevalent along the roadside this year…

Thanks!

Erin

299 Walhalla

[Heather Gott]

I'm very sensitive to it too. I get it every spring from my dog's fur when she has tromped through the underbrush on her walks and then cuddles next to me. 🙃 There is a poison ivy herbicide you can get from Oakland Nursery. I use that if it is growing in the human-used areas of our yard. Otherwise I just wear tall boots and long sleeves in the ravine. 

Heather Gott

Realtor

The Columbus Team

Keller Williams Capital Partners

614-329-2651

hea...@thecolumbusteam.com

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[Molly Calhoun]

Yes - there is a lot of poison ivy currently and I too get it just looking at it.  I believe the plant may have benefits for wildlife so we only manage our own property. The most effective sprays seem to be the ones you leave on until the plant dies (getting down into the roots). It’s tempting to uproot sooner but more risks involved doing that…

Good luck,

373 Molly

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[Cindy Decker]

As Molly says, poison ivy does have benefits to wildlife,  berries in fall and possibly other attributes.  It's the kind of plant that is opportunistic, meaning it moves into spaces where  it doesn't have much competition. It also likes the sun more than shade.  

There's not a ton of poison ivy along the road,  although I know a few areas where it has spread. We don't routinely target it in our cleanups, though.  It's just not as aggressive as some other plants. 

I don't remove it on my own property unless it's in an area where I'm going to be running into it. Like Molly and Erin,  I'm sensitive to it.

Unlike a lot of other plants,  once you pull poison ivy out by the roots it is gone and stays gone. 

When I do pull it,  I make it the last act of the day and immediately come in and shower,  using alcohol to  wipe arms, hands, face.  That will cut the oil that causes the rash.  Gloves and gardening clothes go immediately into the wash.

If you have animals,  know that they can carry the oils on their fur.  

One last tip,  Virginia creeper is often mistaken for poison ivy.  It's another vining plant with similarly shaped leaves, and some young leaf clusters seem to at first have only three leaves. Both Virginia  creeper and poison ivy can vine along the ground or choose to climb trees.   (neither is a threat to trees like wintercreeper is.)  

  This is Virginia creeper,   five evenly serrated leaves originating from a central point.   It's green in summer but can be bright red in fall.

This is poison ivy.  Leaves of three, let them be.   But you will notice some leaves are scalloped and some are not. 

In spring,  it starts out red before the leaves mature.  That's when you will really see the oil shine on the leaves. 

So my suggestion would be to pull the poison ivy if it's in an inconvenient area, but plant other things....  even Virginia creeper, which would like the same habitat.

Using an herbicide has mixed results. The oils help protect the leaf from absorbing the killer.  Better to pull and bathe immediately.

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[Clare Balombin]

In my yard I use Natria (principally, ammoniated soap of fatty acids) on poison ivy. It causes the leaves to shrivel up and disappear. Sometimes the poison ivy returns the next year in the same place. Other times, no. 

Clare

391 W

[Erin Bollinger]

Thanks for all the ideas! I think we (my husband!) will need to find some time to manually remove the poison ivy- found more closer to our house and will try to avoid herbicides with the kids running around. 

Also for those who have trouble identifying it- the Seek app by naturalist is pretty accurate. Once you find it a few times it becomes hard not to see it. 

[Pari Sabety]

I use Fels-Naptha soap after I encounter poison ivy when I'm gardening (also wear long sleeves and pants).  The soap will wash off the poison ivy oil and stop it from further harm.  You can get Fels-Naptha at Beechwold Hardware in a large, yellow bar.