Weeds - Poison Ivy, Poison Oak
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  (January) I wonder what kind of advice you give on the subject of poison ivy, and containing its spread. As someone who grew up in the north watching out for a much smaller and less frequently encountered version of poison ivy (we never found those thick vines covering trees!), I am still shocked at how much there is here and how large it is. I like to keep it out of my yard, which is in a still woodsy area of Conway. If I see a small bunch, I carefully dig out its roots, but I have a larger patch down by my driveway that I don't know what to do with. I'd like to keep it from spreading, or even better, get rid of it. At least I know not to burn it...but what might be the best method of getting rid of it? It looks pretty stubborn. I also don't like using poisons if I can help it. Thanks for any advice you can offer. 

  Without the use of poisons, the only method would be to dig it up. Cutting it would not be effective, and could actually help it to spread. The key is to get roots and all. When the plants are dormant, you can still break out if you come into contact with the oils inside the stems, so use caution. I do think that Round-up or similar glyphosate product is also good, when the plants are actively growing. While dormant, you don't have a lot of options.

  (March) We recently built a house and two of the trees that were left in our yard have poison ivy growing up them. This past November, we cut the vines as close to the ground as we could and pulled down as much as we could. How do we prevent it from growing back? As far as I can tell, it hasn't started growing yet, however I have not checked on it since before our last snow. I would love to get rid of it for good so that I don't have to worry about my children playing in the yard! 

  You can bet it will begin to grow again this spring. If it is growing on woody trees, you can spot spray with Round-Up or similar product. As long as you are not spraying the foliage of the trees, there shouldn't be a problem. Spray the new poison ivy foliage as it emerges, and watch it throughout the season. Don't spray until you see signs of growth. One application will probably not do the trick, but keep after it all season, and it should kill it.

  (June) I have poison Ivy down in my azalea bushes & clematis around my mailbox. Is there any way that I can get rid of it without killing the azalea bushes and flowers or does it all need to be sprayed and cut out.? I have already suffered the pain of the poison ivy. Any help will be appreciated. 

  Poison ivy is quite prevalent this year, and growing well along with all the plants this year. There is nothing you could spray with that would kill poison ivy without killing or damaging the azaleas and clematis‑‑if fact, you would probably kill them easier. Spot spray with a glyphosate product, such as Round‑up, putting a shield between the desirable plants and the poison ivy, or hand pull the poison ivy, using protection of course.

  I have poison oak growing in my evergreen bushes. What will kill the poison oak without harming the evergreen? 

  Nothing will kill poison ivy without damaging the other plants, but you can spot spray. Monsanto makes a foam spray of Round-up which doesn't have as much drift to it. Place a shield between the poison ivy and the desirable plant, then spray. Leave the shield in place until the chemical has dried. Another option is to put the Round-up on a sponge (while you are wearing rubber gloves), and then sponging the poison ivy--avoiding the shrubbery. Fall is a good time to kill poison ivy, since the plant is a perennial and is storing food and water in the root system now. Be sure the plant isn't drought stressed before you try to kill it.

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