Poison ivy is a serious thing. To discover any growing near your home or on you property means that you need to handle the problem as soon as possible before someone is harmed by it. This is not just any other unwanted plant, it requires special attention and special precautions. Consulting first with a gardener or landscaper might be in your best interest.
The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that you should never try to get rid of it by burning it. This is more than advise, it's a warning and it should be heeded. The rash that you get on your skin is nothing compared to the rash you will have in your lungs if you attempt it. This is very dangerous for you and for anyone in the nearby areas. Depending on the circumstances it could well become a public health hazard.
What you want to use is a very powerful, concentrated herbicide. You will mix it with water, but it does need to be three to four times as strong as it would normally be. At the normal strength you will never be able to get rid of it. This is a very resilient plant, it will survive and continue to spread if it is not fully killed. Be very careful not to get any of the herbicide on yourself or any of the surrounding plants. Whatever plant it touches will die.
Dressing appropriately and protectively for this task is very important. You need to have gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and shoes that cover your feet completely. The less exposed skin you have the better. Remember that either the herbicide or the ivy could give you a very bad rash, so you need to be very careful.
Take the weather into account when you are planning to do this. You need to make sure that it won't be raining, or windy. The rain could dilute the herbicide and make all of your hard work and efforts ineffective. The wind could spread the herbicide beyond the area you're focusing on, killing other plants that you don't want killed. Fair or mild weather is an absolute must for this task.
Once you get it all sprayed it will actually be a few weeks before you are able to notice the results. If it has worked then you'll see the leaves turn yellow and shrivel. Once you see this happen then it is time to finish the job. You will have to dress protectively again and remove all of the plants remains from the area. It is very important that you dig and get all of the roots as well. Any left behind will mean that they will only grow back.
The dead stalks and even bare branches can cause severe reactions. This is why dressing to deal with the problem is so very important. Even just a little bit can lead to a rash that is irritating and dangerous for some people.
Once the job is done you want to keep a close eye on the general area. Poison Ivy can be persistent. Even when you take care of the problem properly, it could try to come back year after year. So be sure to watch for it and be prepared to repeat the process if necessary.
Are you looking for answers? Is poison ivy contagious? How do you get rid of poison ivy? All this can be answered through using the net for your search. Websites on the net give valuable information that can be helpful.
