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Siwsan

(27,255 posts)
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 10:00 AM Jul 2023

I think I just found the poison ivy equivalent of the massive creature from the movie 'Alien'

A HUGE vine climbing up the plum tree. I somehow managed to snip through the lower portion and a couple other segments and then gave the exposed inside of the vine a big dose of Brush Killer. I'll keep checking on it to see if it starts dying off. I won't even TRY to remove it until after winter, if even then.

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I think I just found the poison ivy equivalent of the massive creature from the movie 'Alien' (Original Post) Siwsan Jul 2023 OP
Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2023 #1
Truly the answer to so many problems these days. NT Probatim Jul 2023 #3
Would vinegar be a solution? 2naSalit Jul 2023 #2
I have so much poison ivy slightlv Jul 2023 #4
Unfortunately the only thing I've found that works is a spray called Brush Killer Siwsan Jul 2023 #7
Sounds a lot like my continuing battle with it. WestMichRad Jul 2023 #9
I feel the same way NJCher Aug 2023 #10
Borrow a goat; they love poison ivy brer cat Jul 2023 #5
I wish I could have a small herd of goats to keep the back lot grass in check! Siwsan Jul 2023 #8
I have snuffed giant poison oak vines. usonian Jul 2023 #6

2naSalit

(92,341 posts)
2. Would vinegar be a solution?
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 10:12 AM
Jul 2023

It would only be worth doing if it won't harm the tree, though. I have tried it in various solutions, including the industrial grade which isn't cheap. It only works so much but might help on the foliage near the ground, that won't hurt the tree. It makes stuff shrivel up and dry out, doesn't do much to the roots that I have found so that needs different treatment.

Having an allergy to mint, I have to watch out for numerous plants because there's a lot of different kinds of mint out there.

slightlv

(4,231 posts)
4. I have so much poison ivy
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 10:38 AM
Jul 2023

all over my yard, and we've been trying to get rid of it for years!!! We've tried everything we can think of... that might kill it but won't harm the trees. Obviously, we've not been successful. If you find something, please share. I've had 2 really bad rashes so far. This last time I went out to attack it, I wore gloves that went all the way up past my elbows and anchored them with rubber bands. Did the rubber bands on my long pants, too. That was over knee high socks! Problem with that is I was overheating in no time flat.

I'm really picky about what gets put on the yard. I won't do chemicals of any kind. My cats don't go outside, except in the catio we built for them. But we do have wandering cats from other residences, and we do have feral cats that are welcome here. In addition, there are opossums and raccoons and deer. None are turned away. I can't grow a garden to save my life (horrible black thumb), so instead all wildlife endear themselves to me. That's why I refuse chemicals. I couldn't live with myself if I knew something I did had harmed or killed one of these critters, wild or domestic.

But it does make it harder to get rid of the poison ivy!!!!

Siwsan

(27,255 posts)
7. Unfortunately the only thing I've found that works is a spray called Brush Killer
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 11:55 AM
Jul 2023

It seems to work really well on poison ivy. I also use it the Branson Pear seedling trees and Trumpet Vine sprigs. I don't do a wide spray. I put it on the narrow spray and just hit where I've snipped. I had poison ivy in a garden in the back yard and used the Brush Killer. I haven't seen it return. Now I'm carefully using it on the stuff growing on the foundation of the house because that garden area is where I feed the ferals so I don't want it anywhere but on the poison ivy.

WestMichRad

(1,750 posts)
9. Sounds a lot like my continuing battle with it.
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 12:09 PM
Jul 2023

If you keep pulling it up taking as much root as you can get, it will eventually die out. The secret seems to be pulling the new growth before it gets big and grows more roots.
I’m currently dealing with a rash on my foot. I think I brushed against some the other day when wearing sandals. It had been growing under one of my blueberry bushes. Thought I had exterminated it there, but apparently not.
(scratches foot…)
No way will I use brush killer near my gardens!

NJCher

(37,684 posts)
10. I feel the same way
Wed Aug 2, 2023, 10:50 AM
Aug 2023

I just couldn't live with myself:

That's why I refuse chemicals. I couldn't live with myself if I knew something I did had harmed or killed one of these critters, wild or domestic.

Life is tough enough in the "wild," let alone humans using harmful chemicals.

brer cat

(26,121 posts)
5. Borrow a goat; they love poison ivy
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 10:48 AM
Jul 2023

and take care of it very quickly. They are also very fun to watch. We had poison ivy and wild blackberry taking over part of our yard. We borrowed a mother goat and youngster and they did a great job!

Siwsan

(27,255 posts)
8. I wish I could have a small herd of goats to keep the back lot grass in check!
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 11:57 AM
Jul 2023

I'd even fence it in if there was a 'rent a goat' company near by. Unfortunately they aren't allowed.

usonian

(13,543 posts)
6. I have snuffed giant poison oak vines.
Thu Jul 27, 2023, 11:45 AM
Jul 2023

There are non-Roundup weed killers that will kill them to the root. Let it soak into the leaves and down the stem.
Cut later if you do so.

Alternatively, I use a manual pole pruner (Fishers) and snip it at the base.
Snip plants often enough and they get no nourishment from the (departed) leaves and they just die.
The pole pruner is also good at grabbing the cut vine and hauling it (at a 4 or 5 feet distance from you) to a trash pile.
That's where the segments come in handy. You can't yank a vine twisted around a trunk.
Do not burn.

The oil remains even when the plant is dormant, and that's when it looks like every other dormant plant. "GOTCHA!"
That's why I haul any cuttings to a special pile, and spray in the spring when the leaves are red.

it will all take time because poison (oak|ivy) seem to have extensive root systems.

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