Question:

   We have discovered, to our deep, itchy, dismay that we have poison ivy on our yard.  So far we seem to have seen it before anyone has been exposed.  Both of us react *badly* to it and we have a small child who hasn’t been exposed yet.  In the event that the RoundUp and another more broad herbicide we’ve used in different spots doesn’t kill it DEADEADEAD, what should we then try?  I’m not sure I’d like the blowtorch approach because of the smoke, some of the ivy is in with other weeds and the whole area could also catch fire.  

Babs, This is a repeat of something I posted just a couple of weeks ago. Ortho makes a specific "Poison Oak and Poison Ivy Killer."  It is a spray can, and whatever you spray with it looks like it’s been covered with white foam.  It is **very** effective.  I erradicated poison ivy from my (very woodsy) yard in just two years (I missed some plants the first year).   I am sure you are joking about the blowtorch.  However, just in case, here goes the warning:  never, never burn poison ivy.  If you are very sensitive to it, it may cause a bad reaction in your lungs. Last, but not least.  When I come in contact with the blasted things, a soap called TECNU, to which I was introduced in this same bulletin board, works wonders.  In the next hour or so of being exposed, it washes the oil away, and basically eliminates the poison ivy rash. If you only notice the exposure because of the rash, TECNU alleviates the itching and helps dry up the hives. Hope you don’t need it, though. Good luck, Cristina

Response:

        How about incinerating poison ivy?  After all the oil has to break down at some high temp?  Can it be done in a super hot Weber Kettle? …or does the stuff require a ’superfund’ type of cleanup         And how about some kind of natural way to biodegrade the stuff? I’m sure that some microbes thrive on the stuff. — A fool and his net access soon go their separate ways. "Any disclaimer issued by me is subject to change without notice"

Response:

:       We have discovered, to our deep, itchy, dismay that we have : poison ivy on our yard.  So far we seem to have seen it before anyone : has been exposed.  Both of us react *badly* to it and we have a small : child who hasn’t been exposed yet.  In the event that the RoundUp and : another more broad herbicide we’ve used in different spots doesn’t kill : it DEADEADEAD, what should we then try?  I’m not sure I’d like the : blowtorch approach because of the smoke, some of the ivy is in : with other weeds and the whole area could also catch fire.   :       Should we lay in a good supply of disposable HazMat Suits and : just keep fighting??   I am currently working on killing my bumper crop of PI.  I am using Orthro Brush-be-gone.  The first application has had dramatic effects!  I’m expecting to give one more application (I mix the product in a 6oz/24oz ratio in a small spray bottle and then spray it on the leaves). You can remove the vines by hand and then use the chemicals on the "stump" of the vine, but this means rubber gloves et. al. and disposal of the unwanted vines. Now, whatever you do, DO NOT burn PI (or anything similar).  Contrary to other posts, you do not need to be sensitive to PI to have a severe reaction to the smoke.  Inhaled allergens are usually nothing to worry about and usually do not cause a reaction, however PI smoke is no longer an allergen by normal definitions.  It is VERY easy to develop analphalyxis when you breath this in.  Death can ensue in 10 to 30 minutes if you breath enough of it and you are very young/old or have a medical history of asthma or allergies. Also, breathing this in will almost certainly cause you to develop a hypersensitivity to PI and other similar plants that will stay with you the rest of your life. Regards, Steve —

Response:

        We have discovered, to our deep, itchy, dismay that we have poison ivy on our yard.  So far we seem to have seen it before anyone has been exposed.  Both of us react *badly* to it and we have a small child who hasn’t been exposed yet.  In the event that the RoundUp and another more broad herbicide we’ve used in different spots doesn’t kill it DEADEADEAD, what should we then try?  I’m not sure I’d like the blowtorch approach because of the smoke, some of the ivy is in with other weeds and the whole area could also catch fire.           Should we lay in a good supply of disposable HazMat Suits and just keep fighting??                                   -babs — "Excuse me, while I dance a little jig of despair."

Response:

: : I am currently working on killing my bumper crop of PI.  I am using Orthro : : Brush-be-gone.  The first application has had dramatic effects!  I’m : : expecting to give one more application (I mix the product in a 6oz/24oz : : ratio in a small spray bottle and then spray it on the leaves). : My first attack on PI was Brush-B-Gone.  Yes, it works very well indeed. : But be aware that, in my experience, darned near nothing will grow : on an area sprayed with Brush-B-Gone for around three years.  So, : if you want to keep the area bare and discourage anything from : growing there for awhile, BB-Gone.  But if you intend to replant, : I recommend Round-Up (glyphosyte) instead.  Kills it just as dead just about : as fast, but doesn’t turn it into no-plant-land. My understanding of the action of this particular chemical is if the application is constrained to _only_ the leaves, then there isn’t any problem.   However, if the application is around the ground/vine, or on the "stump" if you decide to remove it physically, then the chemicals will bind to the soil and remain around for a while. Regards, Steve —

Response:

: I am currently working on killing my bumper crop of PI.  I am using Orthro : Brush-be-gone.  The first application has had dramatic effects!  I’m : expecting to give one more application (I mix the product in a 6oz/24oz : ratio in a small spray bottle and then spray it on the leaves). My first attack on PI was Brush-B-Gone.  Yes, it works very well indeed. But be aware that, in my experience, darned near nothing will grow on an area sprayed with Brush-B-Gone for around three years.  So, if you want to keep the area bare and discourage anything from growing there for awhile, BB-Gone.  But if you intend to replant, I recommend Round-Up (glyphosyte) instead.  Kills it just as dead just about as fast, but doesn’t turn it into no-plant-land. Linda B. Merims Waltham, MA

Response:

      We have discovered, to our deep, itchy, dismay that we have poison ivy on our yard.  So far we seem to have seen it before anyone has been exposed.  Both of us react *badly* to it and we have a small child who hasn’t been exposed yet.  In the event that the RoundUp and another more broad herbicide we’ve used in different spots doesn’t kill it DEADEADEAD, what should we then try?  I’m not sure I’d like the blowtorch approach because of the smoke, some of the ivy is in with other weeds and the whole area could also catch fire.  

I’m very allergic and do anything to keep it out of my yard, even to the extent of spraying in the neighbor’s yards. I’ve found that Roundup works fine, although I don’t know whether the dead plants still release the oil and so I avoid the area for a few months to be sure. Sometimes, especially for well-established plants, more than one application is necessary. Whatever you do DON’T BURN POISON IVY. The allergy-producing oils are released by burning, you could inhale them, and sensitive people can get FATAL or at least very unpleasant cases of dermatitis in the lungs.

Response:

I’ve heard goats love the stuff and would mow it right down. Are you able to keep goats in your situation? Might be better than chemcials… or not.

Response:

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