The Ins and Outs of Poison Ivy
Now that the weeds are growing, it is time for maintenance. But remember that Mother Nature has her own defenses while you are taming her back. Toxicodendron is one of those weeds that has it's own defense. Toxicodendron is a genus that includes Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, and Sumac. One little brush of these plants can cause an allergic rash and blisters that can last up to three weeks. The rash is caused by Urushiol (a chemical in the sap). As with all allergic reactions, it should be taken seriously.
Before we get into getting rid of it, we need to identify it.
Poison Ivy is the easiest to identify. It is a woody vine with smooth leaves. The leaves are always grouped in clusters of three. The clusters alternate on the vine.
Poison Oak is similar to poison ivy in appearance. It is a woody vine with smooth leaves. The leaves are clustered in groups of three alternating on the vine. The difference is the shape of the leaves. Also, poison oak berries are fuzzy.
Poison Sumac is a bit tougher to identify. There are other plants that have a similar appearance. Poison Sumac is a small tree or shrub with pinnate leaves running parallel on each stem. There are usually between six and twelve leaves on each stem.
This is not Toxicodendron. This is Virginia Creeper.
Now that it has been identified, lets get rid of it. First, cover yourself. Make sure that you are wearing long pants, long sleeves, shoes, and gloves. Next, lets put together our arsenal. You will need the usual tools of destruction. This includes pruners, loppers, and a shovel. Add plastic bags (trash, grocery, and bread bags) to this list. Don't forget the salt and vinegar.
Find a good access point at the base of the plant to dig it out touching it as little as possible. Dig the plant out taking as much of the root base as possible. Pour salt and vinegar mix onto any remaining roots. Note; Salt and vinegar will kill anything that it comes in contact with.
If you cannot dig it up, cut it as close to the base as possible. Pour salt and vinegar on the remaining stem. With this method, you will need to possibly reapply the mix to the stem as new growth may be seen.
Next problem is getting rid of the plant. A good way to do this is using plastic bread bags as gloves. They are great to help protect your arms and should be taken off by turning them inside out. Make sure that the trash/grocery bags are open in a manner so as little of the plant touches the outside of the bag as possible.
Do not compost or burn the plant. The smoke from the burning plant still contains urushiol. If inhaled, it can be deadly. Composting it just contaminates your compost. The best thing to do call your county extension agent and find a drop location. Make sure that you clean all tools before you take off your protective clothing. Immediately put clothing in wash. Take a luke warm shower with a good de-greasing soap like dish soap. Do not use hot water. Hot water opens pores increasing your risk of it staying on your skin.
So, you got it anyway. No, it's not contagious. Unfortunately, there is no quick cure. Keep the rash area clean. Use a calamine lotion or Benadryl gel to relieve the itch. I like to take a Benadryl before I go to bed for about three days to keep me from scratching in my sleep. This seems to lessen the length of time that I have the rash.
Before we get into getting rid of it, we need to identify it.
Poison Ivy is the easiest to identify. It is a woody vine with smooth leaves. The leaves are always grouped in clusters of three. The clusters alternate on the vine.
Poison Oak is similar to poison ivy in appearance. It is a woody vine with smooth leaves. The leaves are clustered in groups of three alternating on the vine. The difference is the shape of the leaves. Also, poison oak berries are fuzzy.
Poison Sumac is a bit tougher to identify. There are other plants that have a similar appearance. Poison Sumac is a small tree or shrub with pinnate leaves running parallel on each stem. There are usually between six and twelve leaves on each stem.
This is not Toxicodendron. This is Kudzu.
Now that it has been identified, lets get rid of it. First, cover yourself. Make sure that you are wearing long pants, long sleeves, shoes, and gloves. Next, lets put together our arsenal. You will need the usual tools of destruction. This includes pruners, loppers, and a shovel. Add plastic bags (trash, grocery, and bread bags) to this list. Don't forget the salt and vinegar.
Find a good access point at the base of the plant to dig it out touching it as little as possible. Dig the plant out taking as much of the root base as possible. Pour salt and vinegar mix onto any remaining roots. Note; Salt and vinegar will kill anything that it comes in contact with.
If you cannot dig it up, cut it as close to the base as possible. Pour salt and vinegar on the remaining stem. With this method, you will need to possibly reapply the mix to the stem as new growth may be seen.
So, you got it anyway. No, it's not contagious. Unfortunately, there is no quick cure. Keep the rash area clean. Use a calamine lotion or Benadryl gel to relieve the itch. I like to take a Benadryl before I go to bed for about three days to keep me from scratching in my sleep. This seems to lessen the length of time that I have the rash.
Comments
Post a Comment