Poison Ivy: How to remove it safely without chemicals

If you’re allergic to poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), I don’t have to tell you how want-to-peel-your-skin-off itchy it can be. In my youth, I was allergic to this devil of a plant and would spend a few weeks every spring or summer in great misery. Fortunately, I grew out of my sensitivity and have absolutely no reaction to the plant’s resin now, even if I pull it out with my bare hands (not intentionally, but sometimes I realize it after the fact).

What causes itching from poison ivy?

What we’re actually allergic to in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac is the oily sap called urushiol, which causes a form of allergic contact dermatitis. Because of its sticky properties, urushiol can stick to garden tools, clothing, skin, hair, your dog’s fur, just about anything.  And it’s not just the leaves which contain the sap – it’s in every part of the plant, including the roots.

For gardeners, a poison ivy allergy is a serious handicap, since it’s so easy to brush up against a plant without being aware of its presence. In fact, I know of more than a few gardeners who are so allergic to poison ivy that they run from it in fear and call non-allergic friends to remove it for them.

But if you’re new to removing this noxious plant, you should be warned that poison ivy likes to fight back. It can be very difficult to remove entirely (including all roots) and you’ll be doing it while trying to not make physical contact with any part of the plant. It can be quite challenging.

Dos and Don’ts for handling poison ivy:

• Do not use chemical (synthetic) herbicides on poison ivy. Not only are herbicides bad for the soil and plants surrounding the poison ivy, but the resin can spread even when the plant is dead.
• Do not use a flame weeder to burn poison ivy. Burning creates airborne particulate matter which carries the sap. If you inhale the smoke, it can cause reactions ranging from mild allergic symptoms to death(!). The wood of the plant burns before the resin does and when carried on smoke, you’ll breathe in the urushiol, coating your airways with this sticky oil. If you’re allergic, you’ll be incredibly ill.
• Do not use a weed whacker on poison ivy – the resin will get all over your legs.
• Do not use pruners to cut poison ivy back, even with gloves on. The resin will stick to the pruners and gloves where it will be easily spread to other hardware or clothing which you may contact later.
• Do cover your hands and all exposed skin in Ivy Block or a similar product to create a barrier between your skin and the sap.
• Do wash all clothing and gardening gloves that come in contact with the resin.
• Do wash your hands, arms, and any other areas of exposed skin with a poison ivy control soap when you’re done gardening for the day.

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How to remove poison ivy safely

According To Mike McGrath, former editor of Organic Gardening magazine and host of You Bet Your Garden on NPR, the best way to remove poison ivy is with a heavy-duty garbage bag. But before you do anything, clothe yourself from head to toe, including gardening or work gloves, so you don’t come in contact with the urushiol.

Wrap the garbage bag completely around the plant, covering it entirely, and then slowly pull it out of the ground. While still holding the plant in the garbage bag, carefully wrap the bag around any exposed portions of the plant. Immediately dispose of the bag and plant in a garbage can. Do not use the same bag twice, as the sap from the plant will be all over the bag. After you’re finished, immediately wash your clothing thoroughly and scrub every part of your body clean with soap and water.

It’s a good idea to plant a perennial in place of the poison ivy because if you don’t pull out every last piece of the root, the plant will probably grow back. And then it may seek revenge. Poison Ivy is nothing if not persistent.

More information on poison ivy is at poisonivy.org and the center for disease control’s page on poisonous plants