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Garden Gate:  I am losing the battle with poison ivy  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 10:19:42 AM
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I've tried all "natural" methods to eradicate this awful plant, and back it comes each year, only stronger. I am severely allergic to it, and really am even afraid to pull it with rubber gloves, wrapped up like a mummy.
Here's the thing...there is some between both of my raised beds--RIGHT where I need to be to pull tomatoes, and green beans. I can wear my rubber knee high boots, but I'm still going to step in it and then I have to take my boots off...so I'm going to get it anyway.
If I have to break down and use a chemical, will that harm the soil and the contents of my raised beds?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 12:10:25 PM
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Have someone else lay a couple of layers of heavy black plastic down, then use rocks, bricks, stakes or whatever to hold it down, the heat created by the sun on the black plastic will kill the plant, and parts and or peices that are visible this fall need to be burned, again by someone else, way far away from your house.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 12:11:33 PM
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P.S. keep the black plastic down year round in the trouble spots, one day it will not come back
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 2:27:02 PM
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A friend of mine swears by 'Brush B Gone'. I've never used it. Also, fyi, the burning thing may not be a good idea. My mom burned the stuff years ago and the smoke from it got in her lungs. She was a sick puppy for quite a while. I like that plastic idea, Teresa. I'm going to try that one.
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 5:35:38 PM
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Jonni, want a goat or two? They love the stuff. The only thing is I touch them and get it on me.
Sorry you're having trouble with that nasty weed. It is all over here. And of course it's where I can't put my goats, like in the garden.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Cabinprincess
True Blue Farmgirl
682 Posts
Melody June
Athens
TX
USA
682 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 06:21:39 AM
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Poison Ivy has a cousin here in TX that has five leaves but the same deadly oil in it. It took us forever to figure out why my son and I kept getting the worse case of the rash that kept us in the Dr's office year round. I finally had to get a man from the county extension office to come out and find what was making us so sick and how to get rid of it. It looks just like poison ivy but really has five leaves instead of three. For us it is just short of deadly.
He told us to use Round Up. The roots are very long and will just come up somewhere else.
He wrote me a list of how to get the oil off everything including my all my garden tools. I had to hire someone to spray it at the ground, cut the green part off and bag it and take it to the dump. Never burn it, the oil travels in the smoke and it will get in the eyes and lungs.
That happened to us when the neighbor burned it off his fence line.
I am not saying what you should do! Only saying what we went through. Your Extension Office will be able to help you in your area I sure.
Smiles, Melody June
God's gift to you are your talents, your gift to Him is how you use them. |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 07:00:12 AM
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Thanks, all. I have read that burning it can be deadly, especially for the lungs. So sorry your mother found that out the hard way, Janice. Must have been awful for her!
Last night, I went out (in the rain) and took stock of all the places I see it...it's even in my rose bed. Never has been there before, as that was a bed we created with all new soil and plantings. Maybe birds drop it?
Melody June, we have that 5 leaf thing here, too, I think it's called Virginia Creeper. My neighbor tells me that we have poison ivy growing up our tree, but it's the creeper. Maybe she's also used to the 5 leaf thing you have?
I will call the extension service. Hopefully, I can talk to someone there other than the receptionist (who, bless her hear TRIES to help, but can't)...
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2864 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2864 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 07:26:00 AM
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Jonni
Borrow a goat. They love it & it will be GONE! |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 08:25:31 AM
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sorry about the burn it thing, I have burned it without any problems, but I never will again after reading what you all wrote, I had no idea it will cause respitory problems.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 11:50:51 AM
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The 5 leaf thing might be poison Oak. I don't think the Virginia Creeper is poison. At least I'm not allergic to it. I have it all over the place. I am all the time pulling it up and throwing it on the brush pile. Our neighbor has it growing up the side of their carport. Using is as a sunscreen. Yes, round up works but you have to keep after it for at least a couple of years to get rid of it. That goes for Poison Ivy, Oak and creeper. Or at least it worked for me.
Belle |
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
940 Posts
T
MI
940 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 2:22:58 PM
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Let us know how you are rid of it. I like the goat idea BTW.... If I can just find a couple of those. I'm finally over my bad reaction. The steroids I had to take to be rid of the darn stuff all in my body caused my blood sugar to spike dangerously high!!! I don't know what I would have done without taking that though....
Nasty evil stuff. (I think it should be registered as a "torture" with the UN....that, and Sponge Bob cartoons) |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 6:15:02 PM
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Jonni:
I'm having the same trouble with poison ivy. I'm just getting my eyelids opened all the way from the stuff!!!!!! I did have gloves on, but (not thinking) I was wiping my eyes and face and neck with my gloves on. Oh, well... We live out in the country and that stuff grows all over, it just comes up and starts growing crazy. My hubby kills it, but give it a week or so, and it's back.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 8:08:29 PM
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| You could have poison sumac. It's really baaad. It grows more like a shrub or tree if left alone. |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 8:12:54 PM
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I like to grow my veggies organically, but I don't have any problem at all using extra-strength Round-up (or glycosphate, generic name) to kill poison ivy. It is a systemic herbicide, so when you spray it on the leaves, it kills the whole plant down to the roots. Follow the label directions - it is important to watch the weather report so that you don't spray just before it rains and washes the stuff off the leaves. Be careful of spray drift, you might want a big piece of cardboard or something to protect your garden plants from the overspray.
There are times when you just have to admit that some chemicals are very useful, and that the damage that they might do is minimal compared to the actual health risk you get from things like poison ivy.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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farmmom22
True Blue Farmgirl
616 Posts
Tammy
Scottsville
KY
USA
616 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 9:11:49 PM
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My chickens either eat it or dig it up. Not sure which one but they are in a chicken tractor and I move them around it.
http://afarmgirljourney.blogspot.com/
Farmgirl Sister #492
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. -Carl Bard |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2009 : 09:07:49 AM
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I'm with you, Brenda. Maybe I will do the round up AND the black plastic. Now, for the pieces in my rose bed...any farmgirl want to barter a hazmat suit?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Garden Gate: I am losing the battle with poison ivy |
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I am losing the battle with poison ivy
