Poison Ivy - vines as thick as my wrist!?

Question

I'm buying a home that has been vacant all summer. The poison ivy has overtaken the trees.

As an example, one medium sized tree has a vine of poison ivy as big as my wrist. About 8 feet off the ground, branches reach out from the vine about 4 feet, each trying to reach sunshine. The individual leaves are bigger than my hand. The ivy provides much of the shade in the yard!

Although I don't know for sure if I'm allergic, I am certain that my teenage children are - based on their summer camp experiences.

1) How do I kill the plants?
2) How do I remove the vines from the trees (some quite high)?
3) How do I dispose of it? I know not to burn it!

I do know that the kids can't get exposed from my rash (if I get one) but only from direct contact with the oils (on clothing, on surfaces, from the plants, roots, sap). I'm pretty certain that I can remove and discard clothing, and then use dish-soap in the shower to remove the oil from myself. Other hints?

Answer 1

We visited a park that had the exact same thing. I was amazed by the size of the vine and leaves.

Cutting down the vines does not mean you killed the plant. The plant will still grow again.

Wait till winter (if in a winter zone) then take a hand saw and cut the vines close to the ground. Careful to avoid contact with the dust and shavings – thus DO NOT use a chainsaw unless thoroughly protected. In either case go inside and shower afterwards to was off any stray oil and also wash your clothes. The oil can last on clothes for days and rub off on anything and sill infect you. Let the vines sit for a half year or so till the vines dry out then you can either pull them down or leave them to rot because they will be harmless after they dry out for a long time.

DO NOT cut live ivy in winter and pull it down thinking it cannot hurt you because it is dormant. I have gotten poison ivy bad in the beginning of February from dormant Ivy plants because the sap is as potent as the oil on the leaves.

In the spring use total brush killer to individually kill any new shoots that come up. You will have to be persistent with the new shoots because the only way to kill the whole plant is to keep killing the new shoots. Eventually the underground root system will die. I use a combination method of brush killing the new shoots individually then also spraying the whole area with a general weed killer. Double whammy that seems to work better.

Persistence is the key to killing poison ivy.

No need to discard clothing but just throw into the wash after carfully removing it.

Only brush killer will kill poison ivy. If in doubt check the lable to see if poison ivy is in the list of weeds killed. I still think brush killer works the best.

Answer 2

Are you sure it is poison ivy? The thick vine and large leaves makes me think it might be wild grape or virginia creeper. Poison ivy leaves have three leaflets.

Round Up is your best bet, spray on all the leaves you can reach and it will travel down to the roots to kill the entire plant. Spray, wait two weeks, respray any green that survives. May have to repeat 2-3 times. Once dead, put on lots of protective clothing and pull down vines. Dispose in garbage bags, double bag and label to protect the garbage pick up workers.

See the links below for pictures of poison ivy, similar plants and ideas for control

Answer 3

Go to your local hardware store and find the stuff that is called SEVEN, it will kill the plant and after it dies, you can take if off with gloves, the oils should be dried up and you won't get it.
And yes you can transfer it to you kids if you do get the rash, the oils stay on your skin, and if they touch it, they can get it.