The Garden Column: Be Aware of Poison Ivy
Monday, July 19, 2010
By Juergen Jaenicke, MG
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)
Poison Ivy can grow almost anywhere; you can find it in almost any garden, roadside, thicket, woods, park or even along sandy beaches.
Poison Ivy is a very undesirable weed that rapidly takes over an area by growing over the ground and climbing over trees and shrubs. It is very poisonous to many people, causing a very painful rash that can last for a few days to weeks. A skin rash can result from direct contact with any part of poison ivy plant or from exposure to the smoke from burning poison ivy plants.
Its shiny three-part leaves that grow on a vine or low-growing bush can identify the plant. The leaves of poison ivy grow opposite each other and consist of three leaflets two to four inches long. The greatest danger in touching the plant is in spring and summer when the volatile toxic oil is present in all parts of the plant. Even the smoke from burning poison ivy may cause some people to develop an itchy rash or burn.
If you brush against poison ivy, change your clothes as soon as possible and take a hot soapy shower. Launder all the clothes you were wearing as the toxic oil may remain on those clothes. Poison ivy cannot be easily or safely removed by digging as the vine has a rather extensive root system and the handling of leaves, stems or roots ia hazardous. Chemical control of poison ivy is very effective and safest for the applicator. Once the plant dies, it is best to let it decay because the dead plant is still poisonous. The non-selective herbicide Roundup (glyphosate) can be used to control/kill poison ivy; use according to label instructions. Treatment should be made during the summer. Do not burn, because the toxic material is volatile and can be carried in the smoke with disastrous results for any susceptible person downwind.
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)
Poison Ivy can grow almost anywhere; you can find it in almost any garden, roadside, thicket, woods, park or even along sandy beaches.
Poison Ivy is a very undesirable weed that rapidly takes over an area by growing over the ground and climbing over trees and shrubs. It is very poisonous to many people, causing a very painful rash that can last for a few days to weeks. A skin rash can result from direct contact with any part of poison ivy plant or from exposure to the smoke from burning poison ivy plants.
Its shiny three-part leaves that grow on a vine or low-growing bush can identify the plant. The leaves of poison ivy grow opposite each other and consist of three leaflets two to four inches long. The greatest danger in touching the plant is in spring and summer when the volatile toxic oil is present in all parts of the plant. Even the smoke from burning poison ivy may cause some people to develop an itchy rash or burn.
If you brush against poison ivy, change your clothes as soon as possible and take a hot soapy shower. Launder all the clothes you were wearing as the toxic oil may remain on those clothes. Poison ivy cannot be easily or safely removed by digging as the vine has a rather extensive root system and the handling of leaves, stems or roots ia hazardous. Chemical control of poison ivy is very effective and safest for the applicator. Once the plant dies, it is best to let it decay because the dead plant is still poisonous. The non-selective herbicide Roundup (glyphosate) can be used to control/kill poison ivy; use according to label instructions. Treatment should be made during the summer. Do not burn, because the toxic material is volatile and can be carried in the smoke with disastrous results for any susceptible person downwind.