Poison Oak or Just a Weed?

Question

This is in my flower garden. Is it poison?

Cindy Luby · Answer

it looks likes wisteria.

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

I have lots of wisteria. It has smaller leaves longer and rippled, and many leaves on each stem. Sorry-I don't think it is that.

Lori Bryant · Answer

It's poison oak alright! It hates me and I hate it!!

Kim · Answer

it's poison ivy

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Kinda thought that. Thanks so much. I won't be working in that flower bed:) These plants are all in it and the bed is filled with azaleas, lilies and other plants. Anyone know how to get rid of it if other flowers are well established around it?

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Sylvia Smothers Lawing not sure which if any might be. Here are a couple o links to help you decide. You could also use a baggie (inside out so you don't touch the leaves) to pick, seal and bring to a local nursery to have it identified accurately. Poison ivy link - http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/bio406d/images/pics/ana/toxicodendron_radicans.htm Poison oak http://www.poisonoakandpoisonivy.com/poisonivypoison.html

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Thanks, but I am highly allergic to it. Don't believe I want to get that close. I could take the picture. Good idea.

Cindy tustin · Answer

Looks like poison, regardless remove carefully.!!

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

I checked out the poison ivy link above.The leaves are not shiny,they don't have any red tint. I think they are poison, but I am not sure. I am going to do some more research before I try to do anything with it. Thanks for all the comments.

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

I am so allergic to poison oak that I must be sure. I will do some more research.

Emilia Menthe · Answer

It is poison ivy. 'Leaves three, quickly flee.' It the cut of the leaves. I didn't become allergic until my 40's and oh, my! Use round-up cause it likes to come back alot here in Texas. Your pets can get the oils on them and transfer the oil to you. Good luck!

Tim Koeller · Answer

Yes, animals can and will transfer the oils to us humans.  I was petting the dogs at my mom and dad's farm.  Rubbed my eyes as they were sore, low and behold - poison oak in the eyes.  In 24 hours they swelled shut.  Steroid shot and eyedrops took 2 days to bring it down.  Be afraid...very afraid!

Elaine J · Answer

Yes, and the oil (Urushiol) can remain on clothing, think shoes, and you can react to it up to a year later!

Cyndi Moore Tippett · Answer

I am not very allergic to poison ivy, but I cover up like I am doing surgery when I tackle it in my yard. I have been waging war in my yard for the last two months. It was growing in the trees and along the ground. I use disposable gloves, long sleeves and long clothing and take a shovel and chop once at the root and then carefully put it in a plastic garbage bag. I then strip off gloves and throw away, then take all the clothes that might be contaminated and wash them immediately. Then shower.... have not had any poison outbreak.

Nancy Hand · Answer

Yes!! That is Poison Ivy :)

Tracy Boyle · Answer

Yes! Poison!

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Thanks everyone. You guys are the best. I am going to get Round up and take all precautions you mentioned.

Lorraine Edwards · Answer

Sylvia I'm with you - don't chance it--I have contracted poison ivy over the last two seasons and both times I was fully covered with gloves, long sleeve shirt, long pants, socks and shoes. Came in, threw the clothes in the washer and scrubbed in the shower, head to toe, including shampooing! Still, got it on my forearms, but was able to keep it under control. I really hate that it lurks and hides in beds, under other stuff, crawling up trees, etc. and keeps me from tending the beds. I got it twice last year and vowed to hire someone else to do the gardening, so that's what I did. Call a weed control company to come over, identify it and rid the area of it. In NJ I had a company come out and spray for it. Good luck and stay far away from it!

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

I know, I so wanted to work in that flower bed. Now, I will just spray the poison and stay away.

Joanie J · Answer

when we where clearing brush and weeds from our front yard and burning it,poison ivy was thrown into the fire and from the smoke and fumes I ended up getting welts on every exposed part of my body,including my face...never,never ,burn poison oak or poison ivy. The doc said you can even get it in your lungs.I ended up digging up all the crawling, spreading roots under the soil.

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Thank you, you sound like me. I can't dig it up, I'm too allergic. I am going to see if the Round Up will kill it. This flower bed is well established with regular ivy and azaleas and many other plants. The roots probably go all under the other plants.

Maggie Lais · Answer

I too think it could definitely be poison oak. Are there any other Oak trees nearby that it could be from? If there are no oaks anywhere nearby, assume the worst. It can look like a ground cover, a vine, a low shrub, a tall shrub, and the branches can even get woody. The bare stems are as toxic as the leaves, even in the dead of winter. I think you would tend to see more hints of red in the fall... good luck!

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

I was told to spray it with Round Up, leave it alone for a year and spray again. My friend said her doctor told her that it remains toxic for a year after it is dead. I don't need to plant anything in that bed. I just want to contain the poison ivy so it doesn't spread.

Colleen P · Answer

you need to get the round up that is for poison ivy. it will say it right on the front label.

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Thanks I will-tomorrow

Lorraine · Answer

The ONLY poison I use in my yard is a generic version of Round-up for Poison Ivy (the instructions tell you how to mix it for various types of plants), which I mix up and use in the sprayer-bottle of Round-up that I originally bought--much cheaper that way. When I first moved into my house (8 ys ago) there was lots of P.I. all over my wooded lot, growing up the oak trees, etc. I did 'Poison Ivy Patrol' once a wk for several seasons, zapping every tiny sprout I could find. You can also spray the vines on the trees, because they have aerial roots that will absorb the poison and kill the plant. I'm happy to say that after 2-3 seasons I had virtually eradicated it from my lot (although my neighbor's lot is infested), and now I only have to patrol occasionally to get any new plants that may be trying to grow (since birds love the berries, they can spread seeds in their droppings). I'm ashamed to admit I had to resort to using this awful herbicide, but for this one purpose it's about the only thing I could find to use, and I did a lot of research.

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Exactly what did you use. And, am I to understand that you did not attempt to remove the plants?You sprayed them weekly for three years during growing season?

Maggie Lais · Answer

I have a feeling that working with Poison Oak or Poison Ivy is like when I try to use bleach in the laundry. It doesn't matter how careful I am, I always seem to end up with a drop or two of bleach somewhere, like the rug, my shirt, my shoes... so, along those lines, I think that to kill the plants is a much wiser route, especially with your severe allergies. it is so hard to remember, after a few hours of hard gardening in the sun or humidity, that every outer surface of your protective clothing should be assumed contaminated with the poison oil. The fact is that it can transfer from clothing or boots, or plastic goggles, to a water tap when you rinse off your shovel, from the water tap to your Golden Retriever's beautiful coat when she stops to catch the last few drops of water, and then to your kitchen rag rug, and even to the bedspread on your side of the bed! I would spray the H#*l out of it, cordon the area off, and stay away during high heat, as this nasty oil can be released into the air in high temperatures! And For sure, do not burn the debris! It will absolutely be released into the air, where you could breathe it in. Additionally, municipal dumps or composting operations cannot take it, so you may need to bag the dead plant in Plastic, and send it to the landfill. In this case, I think it would be an appropriate response to go at it full force with spray, and remove debris like stems and dropped leaves in cold weather, to reduce your exposure. There is lotion called Tecnu? that is very helpful. and before you touch any Poison Ivy/Oak, read up on the best methods for washing it off...it is very specific, and easy to do it the right way. So! I wish you the best of luck!

Sylvia Smothers Lawing · Answer

Thank for the input. I will be very careful:)

Patty S · Answer

Even burning poison Ivy will sent the poison oil through the air in the smoke, no fun if you get the infection. Our wooden land was full of it when my kids were growing up. I had bumpy itches oozie kids all summer until I taught them how to identify it.

Poison Oak or Just a Weed?

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Poison Oak or Just a Weed?

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