Poison ivy removal - looking for real professionals

[Anonymous]

Used my then mowing company a couple of years ago. They sprayed the area once and pulled out some. Managed to be PI free for a few months... Now it's making a virulent comeback. Current landscaper says they can't 'eradicate it just cut back during regular maintenance'. I really don't want to have to do this over and over again. The area is currently bare with only PI - I believe this is the chance to get it all nuked. Please recommend companies that specialize in PI removal and know what they are doing. Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

I didn’t know this was hard

[Anonymous]

Following.

I have a small hillside the top border of which the former neighbors planted daylilies that have proceeded to march down the slope. It is now enmeshed with poison ivy and horse nettle. Everything need to taken out and the poison ivy eradicated.

I can't do it myself because I am very allergic to PI and handling the slope would entail risk of rolling down it.

[Anonymous]

Generally speaking, spraying with herbicides containing glyphosate or triclopyr should work for eradication.

[Anonymous]

It's a very unpopular task I'd say because you really have to pull it all up and get rid of it at the roots. If the only thing there is PI, you might have some luck killing it and then pulling it up by the roots. But just now that the branches can still give you the itchy rash. Even without leaves and even after the plant is pulled up. So take it out very carefully while fully protected.

[Anonymous]

You could find a friend with a goat, though you'd still need to pull it up most likely.

[Anonymous]

You need to pull it all up, spray, and then pull up whenever you see sprouts. You can also do a weed torch and till if nothing around it you want to save.

It doesn’t take an expert, just persistence.

[Anonymous]

PP here with PI infested slope.

OP, I don't know about you, but i can't safely even spray my slope as it is too steep for that. I did find this service available in Maryland and DC, but know nothing about them. Also found that the best months to remove are May through July.

https://poisonivycontrolofmaryland.com/poison-ivy-removal-service-washington-dc-maryland/

[Anonymous]

OP here. PP with the slop - I definitely want to defend us here. I know a lot people tend to equate outsourcing this to yard men to lazy or negligence, but seriously, the yard was already affected when I bought the house, and we are talking about not a few vines, but a big area or challenging terrain here (mine's also sloped, although not to the point that I can't safely stand on it)

Also people have different levels of sensitivity... Some may only suffer a mild to moderate dermatitis but seeing my mom's nightmarish reaction I don't want to tempt fate.

I saw MD service too. I live in VA. Tried to ring them a couple of times today but didn't get through. Will try again and I hope they service NoVa area!

[Anonymous]

No provider is going to do this properly. You have to go out there and pull it up yourself.

[Anonymous]

Don’t burn it. You can get poison ivy in your lungs.

You can rent goats. They love to eat poison ivy. Or use chemicals. Just don’t burn it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. PP with the slop - I definitely want to defend us here. I know a lot people tend to equate outsourcing this to yard men to lazy or negligence, but seriously, the yard was already affected when I bought the house, and we are talking about not a few vines, but a big area or challenging terrain here (mine's also sloped, although not to the point that I can't safely stand on it)

Also people have different levels of sensitivity... Some may only suffer a mild to moderate dermatitis but seeing my mom's nightmarish reaction I don't want to tempt fate.

I saw MD service too. I live in VA. Tried to ring them a couple of times today but didn't get through. Will try again and I hope they service NoVa area!

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't think anyone is lazy here. I just don't think there are a lot of companies that are setup to specifically remove PI. Landscaping people by and large will remove PI by spraying usually, as part of their yard maintenance service. If the slope is so steep that you cannot work on it safely, you will likely not find someone else that will take on that risk, either. Honestly, if it is so steep no one is able to be on it, it's not really causing any harm. Maybe a bit of a PITA in that you have to be somewhat vigilant about pulling out babies that pop up.

My DH is horribly allergic, and has to be on steroids if he is exposed. I recently met a lady from a plant swap who is also similarly reactive. What they both do when they have to deal with poison ivy is to wear long sleeved clothes and long pants, tuck the pants into long socks, put on barrier creams on hands and face, then Tyvek suits, long rubber gloves, masks, and eye protection, and spray (most of that is a good idea when using herbicides anyway). Strip and trash anything that's not washable, wash clothes upon coming in, and take a shower. This routine works very well, and you don't have to do it with any great frequency. You have a window of about an hour if your skin comes into contact with poison ivy, and have something like Tecnu on hand to wash with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t burn it. You can get poison ivy in your lungs.

You can rent goats. They love to eat poison ivy. Or use chemicals. Just don’t burn it.

100%. DH accidentally burned some (we think) and ended up in the hospital.

[Anonymous]

There are goat rental services.

[Anonymous]

Those who mentioned goat here - can you recommend a goat rental service? I called glorious goats and they're no longer in business