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Q&A: Alternative Poison Ivy Control
National Gardening Association
Question: My wife is very sensitive to poison ivy, but also does not
want to use an herbicide. Is there any sort of shrub or ground cover
which would choke out the poison ivy? Do you have any suggestions for
eradicating it?
Answer: Unfortunately, there is no plant that can outcompete the poison ivy. You might be able to smother at least some of it by cutting it off at ground level or digging out what you can, then covering the root area with heavy cardboard or numerous sheets of newspaper, then topping that off with a heavy layer of organic mulch. If it manages to come up through that, cut it off again, then replace the covering. Eventually the root reserves should become exhausted. There are some new, soap-based herbicides that are considered quite environmentally friendly and safe to use. Avoid using a flame weeder, however, since the smoke from burning poison ivy can be extremely irritating to lungs.
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Posted Comments:
06-26-2008 20:01
Chris Clerkin wrote:
I'm deathly alergic to this stuff so I can't cut rub or otherwise risk airbourn exposure. My husband got rid of ours by pouring boiling water on the plants then spraying them with straight vinegar during the heat of the day, worked like a charm!
Good luck
Good luck
06-20-2007 11:38
S Sinclair wrote:
poison ivy
Jewel weed usually grows near poison ivy and is a great treatment for it. Break open the stalk and rub the sap on the affected. Itching stops within seconds. Jewel weed has a small orange and yellow flower and grows 2-4' high. More info at
http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm
http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm
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