Toxicodendron radicans...aka Poison ivy. It's armament is defensive in nature, though it is A VERY offensive plant. Urishoil causes severe rash and itching in most of the population. Even a tiny amount can cause a reaction.
It must be removed... With extreme prejudice. Frequently found hiding along Virginia creeper, this too must go.
Because I'm hyper sensitive to the stuff, I have to choose my armament carefully. In all instances, within an hour of suspected contact I wash with a washcloth and Dawn dish soap... Twice. Then a third wash with my normal shower soap. Every. Time. Take no chances! I also choose full body covering using tyvek chem suits and long rubber gloves that all get disposed after use.
Phase one: Arial bombardment. This is targeted, since the chemical in use is pretty nasty. This is after one round and about 4 days. A second bombardment was conducted.
Offensive weaponry consists of round up poison ivy and brush killer.
Here is the main bed in Jeopardy. After the RU had had a chance to work, I will clear the rest of the ground with a solution of 30% vinegar.
I have debated if I am going to pull up the dead vegetation first, or just apply weed cloth over it and mulch. Pulling it would be cleaner, but it poses significant risk to myself. Covering it allows the urishoil to remain there, but it is not exposed and should lose it's potency after a season or so as long as the plant is dead ( yes, you can still get rash from a dead plant months after it's demise!). I may go that route with a heavy layer of mulch. Working on a full tyvek suit is no fun (but better than a rash!) On the coolest of days, and we don't get many of those here!
It must be removed... With extreme prejudice. Frequently found hiding along Virginia creeper, this too must go.
Because I'm hyper sensitive to the stuff, I have to choose my armament carefully. In all instances, within an hour of suspected contact I wash with a washcloth and Dawn dish soap... Twice. Then a third wash with my normal shower soap. Every. Time. Take no chances! I also choose full body covering using tyvek chem suits and long rubber gloves that all get disposed after use.
Phase one: Arial bombardment. This is targeted, since the chemical in use is pretty nasty. This is after one round and about 4 days. A second bombardment was conducted.
Offensive weaponry consists of round up poison ivy and brush killer.
Here is the main bed in Jeopardy. After the RU had had a chance to work, I will clear the rest of the ground with a solution of 30% vinegar.
I have debated if I am going to pull up the dead vegetation first, or just apply weed cloth over it and mulch. Pulling it would be cleaner, but it poses significant risk to myself. Covering it allows the urishoil to remain there, but it is not exposed and should lose it's potency after a season or so as long as the plant is dead ( yes, you can still get rash from a dead plant months after it's demise!). I may go that route with a heavy layer of mulch. Working on a full tyvek suit is no fun (but better than a rash!) On the coolest of days, and we don't get many of those here!
