Poison Ivy Removal
Summer is just around the corner and that means more outdoor activities. It also means growing poison ivy plants in your yard or woods. When it's sunny and warm and wet, plants thrive. So if you'd like to spend time outside or let your kids play outdoors without worrying about poison ivy, here are some tips for poison ivy removal.
Ways to Remove Poison Ivy
You don't have to use harsh or toxic chemicals for poison ivy control. There are less harmful ways to deal with these difficult plants. It may take a little bit longer to see permanent results this way but at least you won't harm the environment, and ultimately you and your family, in the process. All three methods involve a little manual labor, but it's worth it if you want to eliminate the poison ivy in around your home. These methods may not work so well for large patches of the plant. But if you only have a little to deal with, give the organic way a try.
The first method to try is just pulling up the plant. This can be an effective poison ivy removal method if you only have a plant or two to get rid of. You want to pull out the root system with the plant, or else it won't do much good. So experts suggest wetting the ground beforehand so the ground around the root system will be more pliable and you'll stand a better chance of getting rid of the whole plant. You want to avoid leaving any of the roots behind. Also, because the toxins in poison ivy remain after the plant has been dug up, don't burn the plant or throw it on a compost heap. It's best to wrap the plant in a plastic bag and toss it with the garbage.
If you have a larger patch of poison ivy to destroy, this next method may work better. Instead of pulling the plants up, try smothering them. This will take some time (perhaps a full year) but may be an effective poison ivy removal system. Using thick, non-sunlight penetrating material (or materials), cover the poison ivy patch and hold down the material with rocks or dirt to ensure the poison ivy is starved of sunlight. Once the plants are dead, pull them up with their root systems to completely deal the patch a death blow.
Another way of handling larger areas of poison ivy is to routinely cut or mow them. This also starves the plant's root system, eventually destroying it. But be careful. Using this organic method of poison ivy removal also exposes you to the plant's toxin.
Know anyone who has a goat you could borrow? Odd as it may sound, goats can eat poison ivy without being harmed by its toxin. Other grazing animals can fill the same role. So if you live in a more rural area, poison ivy removal may be accomplished with the help of farm animal friends.
Hopefully these tips will help you with how to get rid of poison ivy without harming yourself or the environment. Be careful when exposing yourself to these plants. Wear thick gloves and avoid making contact with your skin or eyes. And never burn these plants. The toxin becomes airborne and can infect the inside of your body too. So be careful and try these earth friendly methods for poison ivy removal.