Table of Contents
If you’ve ever struggled with poison ivy, you know how frustrating it can be.
You might even think it’s plotting against you when it keeps coming back again and again!
Although there are many ways to treat poison ivy so that it won’t return, these aren’t always the most convenient solutions.
If you have a little space or only a few plants that are affected by poison ivy, you may also be worried about keeping your other plants safe.
While there are many options for removing poison ivy from your property, not all are good for your other plants or safe to use around them.
Read through to learn about different methods for getting rid of this annoying vine without killing any other plants.
But before we start, let’s know what Poison Ivy is.
What Is Poison Ivy?
Poison ivy is a flowering plant that grows in the woods, fields, and along the edges of roads.
It’s common to find poison ivy in the eastern United States and Canada.
Poison Ivy grows as a shrub with shiny leaves with three lobes on each leaf that grow in three clusters on a short stem.
The leaves can be green, yellowish-green, or red-brown, depending on which variety you’re looking at.
They are duller than oak leaves due to their spongy texture (which makes them easier for insects like aphids).
The plant produces small white flowers from May through October.
These flowers contain nectar for bees who visit them during pollination season (May through September).
In addition to being pollinated by bees, some varieties produce berries that become ripe after being exposed to certain temperatures between 20°C – 30°C (68°F – 86°F) for about four days before eating begins.
Read also: 7 Tips for How to Trim a Pine Tree Without Killing It
How To Get Rid Of Poison Ivy Without Killing Other Plants
If you want to get rid of poison ivy without killing your plants, here are something you can do:
Apply The Weed Killer With A Watering Can Or Pump Sprayer.
Different brands on the market contain chemicals that kill both vines and leaves at once.
These products will be labeled “weed killers” or “herbicides.”
They usually come in spray bottles so they can be easily applied directly onto the plant’s stem or leaf surface.
This ensures that only one part of your plant gets sprayed each time.
Otherwise, some parts can absorb more than others because they have less coverage than others!
What Kills Poison Ivy But Not Your Plants?
There are several options if you have an area of poison ivy and want to get rid of it without killing your other plants.
1. Vinegar-Based Spray.
Vinegar-based spray effectively kills the plants and roots in an area, but it won’t necessarily kill all the plants that look like poison ivy.
If you do this method regularly, it will help keep any new growth from sprouting up around your yard or garden space.
You can buy a concentrated vinegar solution at any hardware store for about $5-$7 per gallon (depending on where you live).
Use 1 part vinegar plus 1 part water in an empty spray bottle; fill up until full with water and shake before spraying onto poison ivy plants as needed.
Also check: How To Get Rid Of Mushrooms In Flower Bed
2. Diluted Bleach Solution.
Bleach has been used since ancient times to kill things like pests such as ants or flies.
However, it’s not exactly safe for humans, so don’t try using this method unless instructed by someone who knows what they’re doing!
For bleach solutions to work effectively against unwanted vegetation, it needs something called “phosphate” in the soil composition.
This phosphate allows the bleach access to plant tissue through roots.
Will Just Vinegar Kill Poison Ivy?
Vinegar is among the best ways to kill poison ivy and related plants.
It’s not a good choice for killing poison ivy because it can also kill other plants in your yard.
Vinegar is highly toxic to humans (more than 50% of people who drink vinegar will experience some kind of reaction), so don’t use it on any plants you care about.
How Do I Get Rid Of Poison Ivy Naturally?
There are different ways to get rid of poison ivy naturally. These include:
1. Vinegar
Vinegar will kill the leaves and stems of poison ivy plants, but not the roots.
Use diluted white vinegar (1 part vinegar per 1 part water) on all parts of your plant until it dies or falls off naturally.
2. Saltwater Immersion
You can use saltwater immersion as another method for killing weeds without harming other plants around them.
Boil water in large pots filled with soil and drop dead leaves from your backyard garden.
You will do this until they turn brown before rinsing out any remaining liquid after leaving them overnight.
3. Bleach
Bleach also works wonders at removing unwanted vegetation from lawns without harming other grasses or trees nearby.
Simply mix one tablespoon per gallon of hot tap water thoroughly until all traces have disappeared.
Or you can mix up a solution using 1 cup bleach with 2 cups of water, then pour it over each plant individually until they’re gone.
You can use this solution regularly throughout the summer months when growth starts happening again after fall rains stop falling onto bare ground surfaces around us here at home.
You may like:
Will Poison Ivy Killer Kill Other Plants?
If you’re wondering whether or not poison ivy killer will kill other plants in your garden, the answer is yes.
An efficient way to get rid of poison ivy is by using Roundup, an herbicide that kills plants but doesn’t harm humans or animals (though it may be harmful if inhaled).
Roundup contains Monsanto’s patented PCB compound (polychlorinated biphenyls), which kills any plant it comes in contact with.
However, this compound only affects the root system.
Therefore, if you spray on a small area around your shrubbery or tree trunks, don’t let any runoff onto nearby plants where they can absorb some of its effects from their roots through their leaves.
Precautions In Getting Rid Of Poison Ivy
You must adhere to the following precautions when getting rid of poison ivy:
- Keep yourself safe by using gloves when you handle poison ivy plants.
- Wear protective gear like long pants when you’re around poison ivy plants.
- Ensure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling them to avoid spreading the plant’s oils onto other areas of your body that could be sensitive or delicate (like your eyes).
Conclusion
If you have an outdoor space, poison ivy is growing in it.
It’s not the world’s ugliest plant, but it’s also one of the most annoying.
That annoyingness is because poison ivy leaves and vines irritate human skin when they come into contact with it.
Also, avoid touching your face or mouth after contracting poison ivy; this can irritate and burn in some cases.
Don’t eat or smoke while working around these plants, either!
Keep pets away from these plants too.
They’re good at getting between people trying to get rid of them safely by spreading them further than intended through their paws or having little ones run up close enough for an accident.
