How to Kill Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is a type of plant which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family that is characterized as a woody vine which based on most accounts causes skin irritation due to its production of urushiol. The result is an uncontrollable urge to scratch the itchy rash which results from coming across with the plant. Because of the unwanted results produced when people come in contact with the Poison Ivy plant, the question of how to kill poison ivy or remove it has become of primary importance.

When considering how to kill Poison Ivy, the first area of concern is to have as little skin as possible exposed before attempting to approach it. This is because the itchy rash is triggered when the person’s skin comes in contact with the plant. All parts of the Poison Ivy (from the leaves to its roots) are considered as potential triggering mechanisms that can cause rashes. The organic method is one of the most common ways used when thinking how to kill poison ivy. This method involves the complete pulling out of the plant by the roots. It must be remembered that the roots must be properly disposed and not burned. Burning the roots can generate fumes that when inhaled can lead to worse health threats than just an itchy rash.

Aside from the organic method another natural process used on how to kill Poison Ivy is by simply smothering the plant. How to kill Poison Ivy by smothering? The method involves the cutting down of the plant as close to the ground as possible. You then need to place mulch, taps, cardboard, newspapers, old carpeting, or any material that can effectively cover the top part of the plant’s remaining portion. Always remember that the Poison Ivy plant remains toxic despite being dead for a considerable time. So when you use the smothering method be very careful when pulling back your preferred smothering agent.

Another possible solution to the question of how to kill Poison Ivy is to resort to the use of herbicides. Try to look for an herbicide that is glyphosate or triclopyr based when attempting to kill the Poison Ivy plant. These ingredients are capable of killing numerous types of woody plants which makes them very effective when dealing not only with Poison Ivy but other vines as well. A word of caution though when using herbicides to decide on how to kill Poison Ivy, these ingredients can also affect other plants which you may want to keep. Make sure you use a tank sprayer or any container which you can effectively control the direction of the liquid as it is squirted. An alternative is to spray on the herbicide to completely isolate the area you wish to treat.

All of these methods can be used to deal with how to kill Poison Ivy. The most important thing is to always take precaution and remember that safety always comes first. Always check that you have completely removed the roots of the Poison Ivy otherwise there will always be a possibility that it can sprout again and you will be facing the same problem all over.