Looking for a safe and effective way to kill poison ivy plants growing around your property? As it turns out, late summer and fall are the best times of all to find it, cut it back and begin eliminating it for good!
Poison ivy can be difficult to spot during the spring and summer. Its green foliage often blends right in with trees, shrubs, weeds and other plants. This is especially true when it grows along fence rows, woodland edges and underneath established trees.
But once late summer and early fall arrives, poison ivy becomes much easier to identify. Its leaves are often among the first to begin changing color, turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red while much of the surrounding vegetation is still green. And that colorful foliage can give you the perfect opportunity to locate poison ivy plants you may not have even realized were growing on your property.
Even better, fall is also a good time to weaken and eliminate unwanted perennial weeds and vines. By carefully cutting poison ivy back and treating the remaining growth with horticultural vinegar, you can begin tackling troublesome plants before they have another chance to spread.
How To Kill Poison Ivy In The Fall
Why Late Summer & Fall Are The Perfect Times To Spot Ivy
One of the biggest advantages of tackling poison ivy in early fall is simply being able to find it. Poison ivy is famous for its clusters of three leaflets – hence the old saying, “Leaves of three, let it be.” Although that is a helpful starting point, plenty of harmless plants also have three leaves or leaflets, so identification shouldn’t rely on that rule alone.
Poison ivy can grow as a low plant, sprawling ground cover or climbing vine. Mature vines can become thick and woody and are often covered with hair-like aerial roots that attach themselves to tree trunks and other surfaces.
In early fall, its foliage can turn yellow, orange, red or combinations of all three. Because the color change can occur before many surrounding plants turn, patches can suddenly become quite noticeable. But before you start removing anything, it’s important to protect yourself!
Protecting Yourself
Every part of a poison ivy plant contains urushiol, the oily substance responsible for the allergic skin reaction associated with the plant. It is present in the leaves, stems, roots and vines.
Even worse, the oil doesn’t suddenly become harmless when the plant dies. Dead vines and roots can still contain it and cause a reaction.
Before working around poison ivy, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed shoes or boots and protective gloves. Disposable nitrile gloves worn underneath heavier work gloves can provide an additional barrier. Avoid touching your face, eyes or exposed skin while working.
When you’re finished, carefully remove your gloves and clothing without allowing contaminated surfaces to contact your skin. Wash exposed skin promptly with soap and plenty of cool water. Tools, boots and other equipment that contacted the plants should also be thoroughly cleaned because urushiol can remain on surfaces.
Most importantly, never burn poison ivy! Burning the plant can send particles into the smoke. And inhaling them can cause a serious reaction involving the lungs and airways.
How To Cut Ivy Back
Once you have identified the poison ivy and are properly protected, the first step is to carefully cut back its top growth. For smaller plants, use hand pruners or loppers to cut stems close to ground level. For established vines climbing trees, cut through the vine near the base.
There is no need to pull a climbing vine out of the tree. In fact, doing so creates more opportunities to come into contact with the plant. Once severed, the upper portion will eventually die back on its own.
For larger vines, making a second cut a few inches above the first can create a visible gap. This makes it easier to see that the vine has been completely severed. Avoid using a string trimmer or mower to cut down poison ivy. Cutting by hand is slower, but it gives you far more control.
How To Kill Poison Ivy In The Fall With Horticultural Vinegar
Cutting poison ivy down removes its leaves and vines, but it doesn’t necessarily kill its extensive root system. If the roots remain alive, new shoots can appear. This is where horticultural vinegar can be used as a non selective contact treatment on remaining foliage or fresh regrowth.
Horticultural vinegar is different from the vinegar found in your kitchen. Household vinegar typically contains around 5 percent acetic acid. Horticultural vinegar products contain higher concentrations and can damage plant tissue much more aggressively.
That also means they require considerably more caution. Always use a horticultural vinegar product according to its label instructions. Wear the protective equipment listed on the label, which may include chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection. Concentrated acetic acid can cause serious skin and eye injuries.
When using it on poison ivy, target only the plant you want to eliminate. Horticultural vinegar is nonselective, meaning it can injure grass, flowers, vegetables and other desirable plants it contacts. Affiliate Link: 45% Pure Vinegar – Concentrated Industrial Grade (1-Gallon)
Spraying is most effective when foliage is present and conditions are dry and calm. Avoid windy days when spray can drift onto nearby plants – or back toward you. Established poison ivy can have a substantial root system, so a single application may not eliminate the entire plant.
Giving A Second Treatment
Persistence is the real secret to getting rid of established poison ivy. After cutting the plant back, continue checking the area for new shoots. Removing the original foliage takes away much of the plant’s ability to create energy through photosynthesis.
When new foliage appears, the plant has to use stored energy from its roots to produce it. By repeatedly removing or treating that new growth before it can replenish the roots, you gradually weaken the plant. Small plants can often be controlled fairly quickly, while older, established vines may require repeated attention.
Marking the location can be helpful, especially once leaves begin falling and the poison ivy becomes harder to distinguish from surrounding vegetation. Continue checking the area the following spring as well. If new shoots emerge, deal with them while they are small to kill poison ivy for good rather than allowing the plant to become established again.
Be Careful When Removing Ivy Debris
What you do with the vines and leaves after cutting is every bit as important as how you cut them. Never add poison ivy to a compost pile. And again, never burn it.
Instead, follow your local yard-waste or trash-disposal requirements for poison ivy and other irritating plant material. If bagging is permitted where you live, carefully contain the debris without crushing or handling it more than necessary.
Be especially cautious with old, woody vines. A dead poison ivy vine can still contain urushiol, so don’t assume it is safe simply because the leaves are gone.
What About Digging Out Poison Ivy Roots?
For very small poison ivy plants, removing the entire root system can be an effective option. But it requires extreme caution. Poison ivy can spread through underground roots and rhizomes. Leaving portions behind can allow new plants to appear.
Unfortunately, digging also puts you in close contact with the root. If you decide to dig a small plant, wear full protective clothing and gloves and avoid direct contact with any part of the root system.
Poison ivy might be one of the most frustrating plants to find growing on your property, but early fall gives you a big advantage. With patience, careful handling and a focus on safety, you can turn those easy-to-spot fall colors into an opportunity to finally kill poison iv once and for all! Happy Gardening – Jim & Mary.
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The Farm @ Old World Garden
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 16 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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