Poison Ivy is an allergenic plant and belongs to the Toxicodendron family of trees. They are known for causing urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. They usually grow up to around 10 feet tall and can be found as shrubs or vines.
Let’s take a look at how to remove Poison ivy trees as well as how to kill their root systems.
How to Kill Poison Ivy?
Some of the most popular methods of killing Poison Ivy are:
- Foliar Spray
- Cutting the tree down and treating the stump with Herbicides
- Basal Bark treatment
All of the above methods have their own pros and cons, if you wish to learn more about them, make sure to check out my articles about how to kill a tree without cutting it down.
What Kills Poison Ivy the Fastest?
The fastest method for removing and killing Poison Ivy is by uprooting the tree straight from the ground. After the tree is removed dig up the surrounding area 8 inches deep and remove all the roots along the way. Once completed spray the ground near the roots with a strong herbicide.
Although this will be the fastest method, there is a risk that you might come in contact with the plant which will lead to painful rashes.
How To Kill Poison Ivy Using Herbicides?
You can also use herbicides and chemicals to remove Poison Ivy without needing to touch the plant. Although this will take a little bit longer, it will be much safer as well as more efficient to prevent future sprouting.
The most effective methods for killing Poison Ivy through herbicides are the Foliar Spray Technique and Basal Bark Treatment. The most effective chemicals for Poison Ivy are Glyphosate and Triclopyr. You can use products like Roundup, Garlon 4 Ultra, Relegate, Forestry Garlon XRT, and Triclopyr. (Amazon affiliate links)
One thing to note that is while using herbicides for killing Poison Ivy, the herbicides can also affect surrounding wanted plants as well, that’s why you need to be careful if the Poison Ivy is surrounded by other vegetation.
What Equipment Will You Need to Use The Herbicides?
Other than the herbicide, the only thing you will need is an effective delivery method. If you only have to kill a few Poison Ivy trees, then you should use a Roundup comfort wand. It is a small, portable spraying device that will give you a continuous herbicide spray without any extra gear.
For Basal Bark treatment, you will also need an oil-based solvent like kerosene, fuel oil, diesel. I will cover this aspect in detail while explaining Basal Bark Treatment.
Foliar Spray Method
- For this method, you will need a sprayer and a herbicide to go along with it.
- Make sure there is no wind during this as the herbicide can get carried away.
- Use an effective herbicide like Roundup, Triclopyr or Orthono Poison Ivy Killer (Amazon Affiliate link)
- Spray the foliage or the leaves of the plant with the herbicide.
- The herbicide will be absorbed by the leaves and transported to the roots, effectively killing the Poison Ivy over time.
- Make sure the leaves of the plant are not wet at the time of application, it will prevent the chemicals from being absorbed.
You should see the effects of the herbicide within a couple of hours. The leaves will start turning yellow and dry out slowly. Within a couple of weeks, the tree will be dead if the method is carried out properly.
Basal Bark Treatment
- For this method you will need a backpack sprayer for spraying the chemical, a strong herbicide and an oil-based solvent.
- Ideally, you should choose herbicides that contain Trycloper or Trycloper Ester as the main chemical. For Poison Ivy, Roundup and Triclopyr mentioned above are valid choices.
- The solvent to mix the herbicide in would seed oil.
- The ideal proportion for mixing should be 1 part herbicide and 4-part solvent, so about 20-25% concentration.
- Make sure that the tree is not wet while performing this technique as the chemicals are hydrophobic, which means they will not be absorbed as effectively.
- Once you have the solution, spray the entire Poison Ivy with this solution and let it dry out.
- Once dry, repeat this process again for faster absorption.
Usually when using Basal Bark Treatment only the bottom part of the tree is covered with the herbicide but because Poison Ivy is found as vines, spraying the herbicide on the entire stem will be much more effective.
Some types of herbicides in the market can directly be used for this method without needing to mix with anything like ‘Pathfinder II’, but these are more expensive. There are a lot of varieties in the market, so make sure to read the label before using them.
How Long Does It Take To Kill Poison Ivy?
The Time it takes to kill Poison Ivy highly depends on the method you are using to remove the tree. If you are simply digging the tree out of the ground then the results will be instantaneous.
On the other hand, if you choose to cut the tree to the ground and treat the stump with herbicide then it takes about 3-4 weeks for the tree to completely die.
Using herbicide while performing the Foliar Spray method will show results within a few hours but it can up to 2 weeks for the tree to finally die. Similarly, with Basal Bark Treatment, it can take up to a month for the Poison Ivy to completely die.
What is the best time to kill Poison Ivy?
The best time to kill Poison Ivy is during early spring to late summer. During this period Poison Ivy trees are producing new leaves, flowers, and berries. There are a greater number of leaves available for absorbing the herbicides which will increase the effectiveness.
Should You Hire A Professional For Removing Poison Ivy?
While Poison Ivy is a small tree, rarely growing more than 10 feet tall, you need to be very careful while working around them. The effects of Poison Ivy’s sap can sometimes show up weeks after coming in contact with it
If you are dealing with a couple of shrubs then it shouldn’t be a problem to kill the Ivy if you have proper PPE equipment.
On the other hand, if you have to remove a number of them then hiring a professional will be the way to go. Not only will it be more dangerous in this situation, but a professional will ensure that this invasive species completely die as fast as possible.
What Is Poison Ivy?
Poison Ivy is native to Asia and North America and they are commonly known for causing contact dermatitis. The skin rashes are caused by a chemical called ‘Urushiol’ which can be found in the clear sap that the plant produces.
The rashes can be itchy, irritating, and quite painful for some people. Their symptoms can easily last for 2 weeks, in some exceptional cases, they can last for more than a month.
Poison Ivy produces flowers between May to July. They also produce small white-colored berries during this time.
This species is usually considered to be an invasive weed variety that should be removed as quickly as possible.
How To Identify Poison Ivy?
Poison Ivy can be found as both small plants and climbing vines. The best way to identify them is through their 3-leaf clusters which have also led to the common expression “leaves of three, let it be”. The shape of Poison Ivy leaves can vary from oval to elliptical-shaped with both smooth and jagged edges.
What Precautions Should You Take While Dealing With Poison Ivy?
Poison Ivy can cause skin irritation by the white sap which contains a chemical called urushiol.
While dealing with this plant, make sure that you are properly covered and no part of your skin comes in contact with this plant.
Breaking the stem or uprooting this plant can also release some of the sap in the air which can cause irritation on your skin and eyes.
Make sure you are wearing full pants, gloves, full sleeves, boots, and an eye mask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Vinegar Kill Poison Ivy?
Heating one gallon of Vinegar and mixing one cup of salt in it is a good homemade solution for killing Poison Ivy. You can either spray the tree with this solution or pour it directly on the tree.
Will Bleach Kill Poison Ivy?
A solution of bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and salt is considered to be an effective solution for removing Poison Ivy. Spray this solution on the leaves, stems, and near the roots of the tree to kill it.
How to treat the skin rashes caused by Poison Ivy?
Applying cold compresses should relieve some of the pain caused by Poison Ivy. Other home remedies like Calamine lotion, Hydrocortisone cream should relieve the itching. For more serious cases, visit the doctor as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The fastest method for killing Poison Ivy is by digging them out of the ground and treating the area with a herbicide. Alternatively, you can also use the Foliar Spray method or Basal Bark treatment to kill the trees. The most effective herbicides to use on Poison Ivy are Roundup or Triclopyr-based herbicides like Garlon 4 Ultra.
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I am the guy behind Theyardable.com. I grew up on a homestead and I am here to share the knowledge I have and things I learn while living in the countryside.
