How to remove poison ivy/oak from my shrubs?

Cindy
by Cindy
My azaleas are overgrown and need to be removed but there are vines grown around them that are poison ivy. How can I remove them?
  8 answers
  • Mun354006 Mun354006 on Jul 04, 2016
    wear along sleeve shirt and glove,spray yourself with Deet spray,I would cut pieces off of your poison ivy plants, till you get down to the vines root area then dig out roots. Keep a lg plastic bag to keep vines cuts in. Take shower immediately,wash clothes by self with Hot water Good Luck
  • Ren Ren on Jul 05, 2016
    Be sure to have soap/salve with jewelweed in it to use after if you get the poison ivy rash.
  • Cathy C Cathy C on Jul 05, 2016
    Don't forget to wash your poison ivy clothes in a seperate load w/ good laundry soap and hot water. The oils in the clothes can be spread into other clothes in the washer and then watch out!
  • NANCY DIEBLER NANCY DIEBLER on Jul 05, 2016
    Go to the thrift store buy a long sleeve shirt, Pants, gloves, don't forget shoes. Cover your hair with a bandanna, wear protective goggles, And even a bandanna over your nose and mouth in case you touch your face. Have a big trash bag waiting. When you're finished pull everything off turn it inside out as you go. Remove your gloves last tile your bag and dump it in the trash. I do not wash my clothes that I've gotten that I've used to remove poison ivy because the oils can still clean even after being washed. Never never burn the clothes or the poison ivy.
    • Cindy Cindy on Jul 05, 2016
      So good to hear your advice, as well as others. I agree also to throwing away the clothes instead of washing them, thank you so much.
  • Sue Kiene Sue Kiene on Jul 05, 2016
    I agree with what Nancy Diebler and Munchknsitr said, protection protection protection. When you are done shower not a bath. Start at the top of your head. Wash everything at least twice. Rinse from top to bottom so that water is removing soap/oils etc. off of you. Make sure you get every crease. If you are using a washcloth, make sure it gets into the wash with the remainder of your clothes. Nancy added shoes to her thrift store purchase and I heartily agree with that. One thing to think about is your azaleas are overgrown, are you moving them to another location? If you are which if it were me, I would be relocating a trimmed version, I would remove all of the dirt from the roots because in all probability there is poison ivy somewhere in those root balls and you are just going to move the stuff somewhere else in your yard. Then I would get agricultural grade Roundup, not the light weight stuff you get at Lowes and Home Depot and mix it kindof heavy duty and spray it covering the complete area and kill everything in that location. I am assuming that there is nothing there that you want. If there are shrubs there or a tree if you do not spray it directly on the tree or shrub, it will not kill it. Have fun. I found poison ivy in 2 places yesterday when I was out weeding. Luckily I saw it first and today now that it is sunshiney and hot and humid I am going to spray the heck out of it and say bye-bye.
  • Patricia fehr Patricia fehr on Jul 06, 2016
    I agree with the need to wash off ASAP. I recommend using the old standard bar of Fels Naptha (aka laundry soap). You can usually get it at the grocery store and it last forever. Also cheaper than other washes. I've used it since I was a kid.
  • Diane Rich Diane Rich on Jul 15, 2016
    Here is a link. Please be extremely careful and read this whole post please. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2014/03/what-kills-poison-ivy/
  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Sep 06, 2023

    This is just the thing! I find this works wonderfully. You have to cut down the weed and then brush this on the top of where you cut it. Bonide