Comments on: Look, But Don’t Touch

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:18:37 +0000

Kate ~

Thank you, thank you so much for the information. I now know that what I have in my back yard is definitely poison ivy, and can warn guests appropriately. It also helps to explain why what I’m spraying it with doesn’t seem to make much of a dent. I understand that it’s difficult to kill. While I am not a fan of chemicals, it may be time for Round-up, maybe even the concentrate. Thanks again.

By: Steve Gosser

Steve Gosser — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:44:30 +0000

This was very interesting to read. I unfortunately got it a couple weeks ago and It’s still not completely gone away. Luckily it is finally drying up now. It itches like no other itch I’ve ever experienced.

By: J

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:49:13 +0000

Just remembered a trick I learned in my toxicology class back in college. You can put some weed killer in a plastic bag and then place the bag over the leaves so that the chemicals get absorbed into the plant and kill it. I tried it with some success on some very stubborn vines (not poison ivy) that were growing all over the fence and garage at my moms old house. I imagine it would also work if you severed the stem and placed a baggie of weed killer on both ends. A baggie of weed killer on the root end would theoretically allow the chemical to be drawn into the roots and kill the whole plant.

By: Elspeth

Elspeth — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:09:42 +0000

Thanks for the hints – and yes, I had read those tips, including the axe, although even that needs to be gentle so the sap/oil does not spray around. My concern is that the [hopefully] dead plant will still be up there and still able to inflict attacks on anyone below. I have used a spray on the plants that I can reach safely.

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:38:38 +0000

Oh, and here are more tips.
Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
Wear disposable gloves under work gloves to prevent the oil from seeping through the work gloves to your hands.
Wear a sweatband. If urushiol gets into your sweat you don’t want sweat to drip down your face… it makes me itch to think of it.
Wash everything afterward but be prepared to throw away the work gloves.
DON’T BURN POISON IVY! The oil will get into your lungs.

By: Steve V

Steve V — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:51:46 +0000

I don’t know anything about removing poison ivy from trees, but if I had that problem, I would take an axe to the lower parts of the vine and see if the rest just dies off. Almost all of the plants in a given area are connected. Too bad there isn’t a virus that you could give them. Or a poison ivy borer. I have some in my yard and am looking to get a spray for it.
For Jewelweed, you can also crush up the stalks of the plants, they contain even more juice than the leaves.

By: John English

John English — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:37:38 +0000

Another clue to ID is that the center leaf is symetrical (both halfves match \/ ), the side leaves are asymetrical (only one half matches |/ ). We’ve also found that jewelweed (touch-me-not) is a good natural antidote within those first few hours. Just squeeze the juice from the leaves on the contact area.

By: J

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:27:20 +0000

I had poison Ivy several times over the period of about 2 years (1994-1995). My first encounter was in the wooded area behind the playground behind my old elementary school. Me and 3 of my friends were looking for balls that any of the kids might have lost over the fence during recess and at some point I apparently scraped my leg on a stick and simultaneously or subsequently got poison ivy in the same place so I actually had it in the scrape (as well as all over my legs). I got it 3 or 4 times over the next couple years, but (thankfully) have not had it in about 14 years.

By: Elspeth

Elspeth — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:12:54 +0000

Does anyone know someone locally who is able to remove LARGE PI plants in trees? .. someone who knows what they are doing but isn’t outrageously expensive. We have discovered two really large plants that are probably the origin of the entire population in our yard, most of which we have been able to control. I checked online but the nearest person listed was in Philadelphia. I have read all the hints about how to remove it yourself… Thanks!

By: Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:31:56 +0000

Here’s a poison ivy online quiz: http://www.poison-ivy.org/quiz/index.htm

And for even more about poison ivy – certainly more than you want to see of the rash – click here: http://www.poison-ivy.org/index.htm