How do I kill poison ivy growing up on our brick house?

Question

Cheryl A · Answer

Rebecca Taylor · Answer

Hi Beverly, here are a few ways to get rid of it.

Graze a goat there. Spanish and Angora goats are especially fond of poison ivy.

Vinegar spray. White vinegar will kill poison ivy, though it might take a few days to notice. Fill your garden sprayer with straight, undiluted white vinegar and take aim at the poison ivy leaves and crowns. Try not to soak the ground, since it will result in inhospitable acidity in the soil. If you want, you can use calcitic lime to neutralize any vinegar in the soil afterwards.

Salt, water, and natural soap spray. Mix 1 gallon of water with 3 lbs of salt until well dissolved, add 1/4 cup of natural dish soap. Spray poison ivy leaves. This solution could also kill other plants in the area, so take care not to over do it.

Gin Spray. Mix 1 oz gin, 1 oz apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon baby shampoo, 1 quart water. Spray onto leaves and crown during hot part of the day. Should be dead by the next day.

Burn the roots with boiling water. A good option if you just have a few stubborn plants or vines in flowerbeds or near walkways. Take your tea kettle full of boiling water and slowly drizzle on the very base of the plant. This might take a few applications over a few days, but will eventually do the trick.

Smother it. Using cardboard (best option) or newspaper, cover the entire area with cardboard, then cover the cardboard with straw, wood chips, or grass clippings to keep the cardboard in place.

Nancy Turner · Answer

There are products you can purchase made for poison ivy if nothing else works for you.

Maura White · Answer

Chloe Crabtree · Answer

3 cups white vinegar

1/2 cup table salt

1 tablespoon liquid detergent or soap (I use Dawn) for stick-to-itiveness.

Mix vinegar and salt until the salt is completely dissolved. Stir in liquid dish soap, and pour into a spray bottle.
Spray onto the green growing leaves of the plants.
Wait a week, then repeat on any survivors. Best time to apply: during a dry spell.

Repeat as necessary.