Individuals vary in their sensitivity to poison ivy. Mild cases of inflammation usually subside within a few days. If the inflammation is severe or extensive, consult a physician.
To reduce the incidence of inflammation from poison ivy a person should:
>Be aware of surroundings and be able to spot poison ivy plants.
>Destroy poison ivy plants in landscape areas.
>Avoid contact with pets that might have contacted poison ivy.
>Wash contaminated skin with soap and water immediately.
Poison ivy may be controlled in a variety of ways. Grubbing is quite effective if
only a few plants are involved and the soil is adequately moist. Poison ivy vines climbing on trees should be severed at the base. Bury, bag or destroy roots and stems because the dry material also contains the skin irritant. Mowing and plowing are of little benefit.
Herbicides are effective when applied properly. Spraying or wicking are two ways to efficiently apply chemicals. Products containing glyphosate (Roundup, Green Light Com-Pleet, Ortho Kleenup) or 2,4-D amine (Ortho Weed-B-Gon, Green Light Wipe Out) and triclopyr (Ortho Poison Ivy Killer, Ortho Brush B-Gon, Green Light Cut Vine & Stump Killer) provide control but must be used according to label restrictions.
These products should be carefully applied to the plants and leaves to provide control. They must be used with utmost care as they can drift onto other desirable plants or wash down into the desirable plants root system, causing significant damage. Cutting a poison ivy stem and painting the cut end immediately with one of these products may also be an effective way to kill the plant without harming adjacent plants or causing needless environmental damage.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service