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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.

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.

This is a very hearty and resilient plant and you will not be able to kill it off with just anything. What you will need to use is a very strong, concentrated herbicide. Though you will dilute it some with water, it will still need to be at least three to four times as strong as normally recommended. Be very careful to not get any of it on yourself, or on any surrounding plants as any plant that it touches will die.

You need to dress appropriately to do this. Make sure to wear long pants, long sleeve shirt, and gloves. You are wanting to reduce the amount of exposed skin as much as possible. Not only do you not want to come in contact with the plant, but also the herbicide. Either one of these could give you quite a rash.

It's very important that you choose a day with fair weather for this task. You need a day with no chance of rain. The rain would dilute the herbicide, while also washing it to nearby areas, killing off other plants. Wind poses a similar problem, except without the dilution. It would just be spread to surrounding plants that you were not wanting to kill off. Be sure to check the full forecast before starting.

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.