Identification and protection
Before declaring war, we must identify the poisonous plants and delineate areas to be treated. Some places may be colonized in part, meaning poison ivy shares an area with other native plants. Other places can be completely covered with poison ivy.
Once such areas have been identified, dress appropriately. Wear thick or waterproof trousers and rubber boots slipped into plastic bags. The plastic bags will be in direct contact with the plants and can be discarded after use. If the goal is to extract plants, wear gloves and an old shirt with long sleeves that can be discarded after use. Ensure that no part of your skin comes into contact with the plant or its sap. Do not touch your face with contaminated gloves.
Poison ivy reproduces with difficulty from fragments of roots or stems, so the best way to prevent reproduction is to remove it. Digging and removing the roots and stems by hand minimizes the ability of the plant to reproduce stems. Uprooting is easier after a good rain when the ground is wet and soft. In addition, you should avoid sudden gestures to avoid accidentally getting plants in contact with your face.
Remove poison ivy
Complete removal is the most effective and affordable way to fight poison ivy and poison sumac, although risky for the person who is responsible for this task. It is also possible to smother new shoots in the spring by covering with mulch or ideally thick black plastic. You can leave the mulch in place a full season and even longer.
It is important to pick up any dead plant with its seed. In the fall, once the surrounding vegetation has disappeared, these clusters of seeds are clearly visible.
Eliminate poison ivy
Any poison ivy plant (or other poisonous toxicodendron), even dead, can still cause dermatitis, and should be handled with care. The easiest way to dispose of the plants is to fill garbage bags and throw them out like household waste. You can also bury the dead plants at least one foot (30 cm) deep into the ground to avoid any possibility of regrowth. Do not burn poison ivy plants, because the urushiol could volatilize and be transported in the smoke and cause very serious reactions to a sensitive person.
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