7 Ways To Get Rid of Poison Ivy (Natural And Herbicidal Strategies)

Who needs enemies when your backyard attacks you?

Poison ivy is a diabolical weed, thanks to its irritating oil known as urushiol that causes rashes and intense itching. Even though it’s a weed native to North America — and there are some ecological benefits — the hazards tend to outweigh the pros for the average (and sane) homeowner.

Oddly enough, some Europeans kept poison ivy as an ornamental plant in the 1700s, likely due to its novelty and association with the New World — at least until the itchy outbreaks.

In this guide, we’ll go over…

• Natural strategies to remove poison ivy
• The best herbicides when you need to pack a punch
• Low-tech and easy methods to keep the weed at bay

Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of killing this pesky weed!

Strategy #1: Manual Pulling (Most Hands-On)

Manually pulling poison ivy by hand is a simple, effective, and chemical-free way to remove the weed along with its entire root.

Why It Works

Many chemical methods simply do not get to the root (no pun intended) of the poison ivy, so it will regrow and require repeated applications of the herbicide.

With hand-pulling, homeowners don’t have to be concerned about:

• Chemical treatments polluting the soil
• Damaging nearby plants
• Contaminating water
• Harming animals

The best time to do manual pulling is after a rain when the ground is wet which makes the roots pull up significantly easier. Alternatively, you can also wet the ground with a garden hose to make it easier to pull out the ivy.

Contamination Risk

The biggest hazard with this method is the possibility of getting the oil on your body even with safety gear.

You need to have a strategy to deal with any urushiol on your clothes AND tools to avoid contamination and rashes. The best strategy may be to wear a disposable PPE suit and disposable gloves if you are dealing with a large patch.

You should NOT compost poison ivy since the oil will survive and can cause a reaction if it’s spread around in the future. If you burn poison ivy, it can be dangerous, and may cause severe lung irritation to those who breath in the aerosolized oil.

If you’re interested in tackling weeds more broadly, our guide on Homemade Weed Killers lists DIY recipes to complement your poison ivy control efforts.

9 Steps To Hand-Pulling Poison Ivy

1. Wear Safety Gear: It’s essential to make sure all of your skin is covered. Ideally, use disposable gloves and disposable clothes (or PPE Tyvek suit) that can be thrown away after. You may want to duct tape plastic bags over your shoes.
2. Wait For Wet Ground: Ideally wait until after it rains so that the ground is soft, making it easier to pull up the roots. You can also wet the ground with a garden hose.
3. Locate The Entire Ivy: Make sure that there aren’t hidden runners with roots underneath mulch, leaves, or debris. Take some time to identify the entire plant before pulling.
4. Dig Around Base: Loosen the soil around the base of the poison ivy with a shovel or trowel.
5. Pull Out Root: Firmly grab the ivy close to the ground, and slowly pull out the entire root.
6. Put In Bag: Immediately place the poison ivy in a trash bag. Do not compost or burn.
7. Look For Broken Roots: Inspect the area again to look for broken or missing roots.
8. Carefully Wash Gear: Put disposable gloves in trash and carefully wash clothes. Isolate contaminated clothes in washer and run a second rinse cycle (without clothes) to clean the washer of oil.
9. Wash Skin: Immediately wash any exposed skin with Tecnu or similar products.

Strategy #2: Plastic Bag (Safest Hands-On)

The plastic bag method is a simple strategy to clear small infestations of poison ivy by using a plastic bag to pull out and instantly isolate the weed.

Minimizes Oil Contact

This method is the best way to minimize contact with urushiol on your skin or tools since nothing comes in contact with it except the plastic. It guarantees containment of the ivy since it is immediately placed in the plastic bag and closed.

Protective gear isn’t required (though still recommended) and it doesn’t require cleaning tools or clothes afterwards if there is no contact.

The plastic bag method is especially ideal for scattered poison ivy or just a few bunched weeds.

Use Quality Bags And Gloves

One potential hazard of the plastic bag method for poison ivy is the possibility of the bag ripping and exposing your skin to the ivy.

Try to use high quality plastic bags or small trash bags instead of flimsy grocery bags. Also, I recommend wearing disposable vinyl or nitrile gloves just in case the bag rips.

This method will likely be clunky and slow if you try to clear a large infestation — it’s best for scattered and young growths of poison ivy.

If you try to use this strategy for larger and mature ivy, you are likely to miss some of the root system which will lead to regrowth.

4 Steps To Using Plastic Bags

1. Wear Protective Gear: Ideally, you shouldn’t touch the ivy whatsoever with this technique, but I recommend wearing disposable gloves, long pants, and a long shirt just in case there is contact.
2. Put Hand Into Bag: Place your hand into the plastic bag like a mitten. Preferably, use thick and small trash bags but grocery bags can work as well.
3. Grab and Pull Ivy: Grasp the ivy at the base and slowly pull it out.
4. Invert Bag: Once the weed is pulled out, immediately fold the plastic bag over the poison ivy and tie it closed.

Strategy #3: Boiling Water (Best For Small Spots)

Boiling water can be a highly effective way to kill young, scattered, and small poison ivy patches. If you have a heat source, water, and a pot — that’s all you need for this super easy strategy.

The boiling water scalds the weed’s tissues and causes its cells to rupture from the heat.

Where To Use It

The hot water instantly damages leaves, stems, and visible growth — great for driveways, cracks, and along fences. You can also use this method near edible plants since you don’t have to worry about soil poisoning or chemical drift.

The best thing about this method is you just need a pot or kettle of boiling water and pour it over the annoying weeds.

Impractical For Large Infestations

Let’s be real: boiling water on the stove and carrying it to your yard has limited applications. You aren’t going to travel back and forth boiling water for large poison ivy infestations since it would take forever to complete the eradication.

Risks

There is also the ever-present risk of scalding or burns to yourself or loved ones.

Unfortunately, scalding water kills everything it touches including garden plants and your lawn.

Poison ivy can also have deep roots, particularly with larger or mature plants, so boiling water isn’t going to be very effective with them — or it will at least require multiple treatments.

4 Steps To Using Boiling Water

1. Boil Water: In a large pot or kettle, boil about 1/4 to 1/2 gallon of water.
2. Trim Ivy (Optional): Cut the poison ivy down to its base to make the scalding water more effective and to target the roots.
3. Pour Water: Slowly pour the scalding water onto the poison ivy, especially targeting the crown (base) and roots/soil.
4. Repeated Pours: Depending on maturity and number of weeds, you may need to repeat the boiling water method for a few days.

Strategy #4: Smothering (Set It And Forget It)

Smothering poison ivy with cardboard, tarp, or mulch is an easy and cheap way to get rid of poison ivy while minimizing contact with the irritating oil.

How It Works

The concept is to cover the poison ivy, put some heavy weights or rocks over it to keep it in place, and let time work in your favor. It’s a set it and forget it strategy that kills the poison ivy over several weeks to months.

And not only does it kill the visible poison ivy, but it will also kill the entire root system because new leaves can’t sprout due to the blocked sunlight.

Homeowners don’t have to worry about toxic chemicals in the soil or damaging nearby plants and wildlife.

This method is perfect for small to medium patches of poison ivy or infestations where manual pulling is impractical. For tackling other invasive creatures, check out our guide on 12 Ways To Get Rid of Drain Flies.

Patience Required

The biggest downside to smothering is likely the length of time required to actually kill the poison ivy.

It can take several weeks at the fastest but could take months (or an entire season) to kill the weed and its roots.

Signs of Dead Roots

You’ll know when the roots are dead because no new growth will appear — especially after rain — once you remove the cardboard/tarp. There should also be little resistance when you pull up a poison ivy stem which means the root is probably dead.

However, there may be little you can do about roots that survive along the edges of the smothered area.

You may also need to monitor the spot in case the cover shifts by animals/weather or if weeds start growing along the edges.

7 Steps To Smothering Poison Ivy

1. Cut Ivy Near Ground: This step is optional but cutting ivy close to the ground with pruners or shears will speed up the smothering process.
2. Clear Debris: Remove any sticks, rocks, or obstructions to the tarp or cardboard to keep it close to the ground.
3. Cover Area: Place a tarp, cardboard, or mulch over the area making sure to cover the ivy completely.
4. Secure With Weights: Make sure the ground cover is secure with rocks, bricks, or stakes. Verify that there are no gaps or areas where light can shine through.
5. Wait It Out: Allow the smothering to go on for at least several weeks or through the growing season.
6. Monitor: Periodically check the area for no new growth around the edges.
7. Verify Dead Roots: After removing the cover, you will know when the roots are dead if there are no new sprouts after rain storms.

Strategy #5: White Vinegar (DIY Favorite)

If you are looking for a way to kill poison ivy that is non-toxic, white vinegar should be a top choice.

All you need is a garden pump sprayer (or regular spray bottle) and mix together white vinegar, table salt, and dish soap.

Why It Works

White vinegar contains acetic acid which burns and dries out the leaves — it is particularly effective on young poison ivy plants. When you add a bit of table salt to the mix, it damages the poison ivy’s ability to suck up water and damages the roots.

A dash of dish soap helps the vinegar-salt solution stick to the weed so it can penetrate deeply into its cells.

If you want an even stronger solution, you can buy horticultural vinegar which has a much stronger acetic acid content of 30%-50% instead of the standard 5%.

People love using white vinegar as a weed killer since it is cheap, readily available, and it’s safe for pets, wildlife, and children. It also won’t poison any nearby water sources like ponds, streams, or wells.

Soil Damage

Probably the biggest drawback of using white vinegar to kill poison ivy is that it can damage the soil and prevent desirable plants from growing in the area where it’s applied.

Obviously, if the poison ivy is in an area where you aren’t growing anything, then it won’t matter — but you should be careful if the ivy is in a cultivated area.

Use Barriers

White vinegar and salt won’t discriminate between healthy plants if you get the solution on them — it will kill anything it touches — so focus on spraying only the leaves. I recommend using plastic or cardboard barriers to shield grass or ornamental plants that may get damaged by the vinegar.

The white vinegar spray may require repeated applications since it doesn’t always kill the roots — it will likely be less effective for larger and mature poison ivy.

If you don’t use this strategy when it is hot and sunny, the white vinegar won’t be nearly as effective since its main purpose is to dry out the weed.

5 Steps To Using White Vinegar

1. Gather Ingredients: For a garden pump sprayer, mix: 1-gallon of white vinegar (preferably horticultural), 1-cup of salt, and 1-tbsp of dish soap. Stir until salt is dissolved. [For a 32-ounce spray bottle, use this ratio: 30-oz vinegar, 2-tbsp salt, 1/2-tsp dish soap.]
2. Pour Solution: Carefully pour the mixture into garden sprayer or spray bottle. Make sure the salt is dissolved or it may clog the sprayer.
3. Wait For Sunny Day: This strategy works best on a hot and sunny day. The sunny and dry weather accelerates the drying out of the poison ivy due to the vinegar.
4. Spray On Ivy: Carefully spray the vinegar ONLY on the leaves and stems, and try to avoid getting any of it on the ground or on desirable plants. You can use cardboard or some type of barrier to shield healthy plants from the spray.
5. Reapply and Monitor: Check the area in a few weeks and re-spray to any existing or new growth. You may also want to pull out any new weeds to remove the roots.

We invite you to read our guide on 9 Ways To Get Rid of Ants to keep other yard pests in check.

Strategy #6: Glyphosate (Best Broad-Spectrum)

Glyphosate is an herbicide developed in the 1970s that is highly effective for killing poison ivy — especially woody vines or large infestations.

Some of the most popular brands in the U.S. that use glyphosate include:

• Roundup
• Compare-N-Save Grass & Weed Killer
• Eraser (Hi-Yield)
• Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer

How It Works

This chemical works in killing poison ivy because it blocks a key enzyme known as EPSP synthase which plants need for growth and making proteins.

As the poison ivy absorbs the glyphosate, it moves through the weed and down to the root system — slowly killing the entire plant over 1-2 weeks. If you have thick and woody vines, glyphosate is strong enough to penetrate the thick stems which many natural methods can’t do.

Glyphosate typically only needs a single treatment which reduces the risk of exposure to the irritating oil.

You can buy Roundup in pre-packaged pump and sprayer bottles or you can buy generic glyphosate and use your own garden sprayer — it’s easy to apply and use.

Known Cancer Risk

The biggest disadvantage with glyphosate is that it’s likely carcinogenic to humans with enough exposure — specifically Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Though the cancer risk appears to be more connected with industrial use rather than homeowners who use it occasionally with precautions.

EPA Judgement

The EPA has concluded that glyphosate is safe if properly used with the recommended instructions. It’s essential to wear protective clothing when using glyphosate to avoid accidental skin exposure. You definitely do NOT want to inhale this stuff as well.

Similar to white vinegar, glyphosate won’t discriminate between desirable plants, so you need to carefully spray it on the poison ivy only — use barriers to shield garden plants if required.

6 Steps To Using Glyphosate

1. Protective Clothing and Mask: I always recommend wearing protective gear when dealing with poison ivy, but when spraying with glyphosate it is even more important so you avoid the urushiol AND getting glyphosate on your skin or breathing it in.
2. Pick Calm Day: To avoid the glyphosate from drifting onto desirable plants (or onto your skin or into lungs), choose a non-windy day. Also choose a day without forecasted rain so it won’t wash off the poison ivy and into the ground.
3. Mix Glyphosate: You will need to follow the instructions to dilute concentrated glyphosate or just use the pre-packaged sprayer and pump if using Roundup brand.
4. Spray On Leaves: Spray the solution directly on the poison ivy leaves while avoiding the ground or neighboring plants.
5. Wait It Out: Glyphosate needs time to work so avoid cutting or pulling the poison ivy for at least 7-10 days.
6. Monitor and Re-apply: Check the poison ivy in 3 weeks and reapply if needed.

Strategy #7: Triclopyr (Best For Woody Vines)

Triclopyr is a highly effective selective herbicide that kills poison ivy while sparing grasses.

The most common name brands in the U.S. that has triclopyr include:

• Ortho Brush-B-Gon Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer
• Crossbow Herbicide
• Southern Ag Brush Killer
• Brush-B-Gon

Due to the selective design of triclopyr — which targets the hormonal systems of broadleaf plants — it largely spares grasses so you can worry less about your lawn.

This powerful herbicide works perfectly for mature and woody poison ivy which kills the weed all the way down to the roots — and mostly prevents regrowth.

Fast Effect

Triclopyr also takes effect quickly unlike many alternatives including glyphosate.

It targets the hormonal system of poison ivy which may cause visible plant damage within 24-hours or a few days — working much faster than glyphosate.

If you have really thick and woody poison ivy, triclopyr works great as a stump treatment after cutting the stem. It will also be very effective on climbing vines on fences etc.

Use Barriers

Even triclopyr will spare grasses due to its hormonal targeting, it will still kill other broadleaf plants like trees, shrubs, and flowers.

It’s essential to use barriers to avoid overspray or wind drift that may get triclopyr on your garden (and edible) plants.

Wait For Dry Day

You may also need to wait until the soil is dry and without forecasted rain if you spray triclopyr near desirable garden plants.

A wet ground can transport triclopyr through the saturated soil which can negatively impact your garden.

Triclopyr is also toxic to ponds, streams, and other water sources. The herbicide is harmful to fish, aquatic plants, and other organisms — so be careful that runoff doesn’t go into water.

The amine salt form of triclopyr can cause damage to eyes as well as skin irritation — so protective gear is required.

5 Steps To Using Triclopyr

1. Choose Right Time: The best time to apply triclopyr is when poison ivy is actively growing during the late spring to early fall season. Wait for a dry day (or preferably a few dry days) with little or no wind.
2. Select Spray Type: Use a pre-made spray bottle mix of triclopyr or mix your own from a concentrate.
3. Use Barriers: If spraying near garden plants or trees, shield your desirable plants with cardboard or a plastic barrier/sheet.
4. Spray It: Apply the triclopyr to the poison ivy leaves and stems until wet but not dripping. For woody vines, cut it at the base and spray on the triclopyr for root penetration.
5. Monitor: Check the ivy again in 1-2 weeks. If there is any poison ivy still alive, reapply the triclopyr.

Final Thoughts

When you need to banish poison ivy, there are a variety of strategies available. You’ll need to decide if you want the power of real herbicides, or if you can be a bit more patient with natural methods like vinegar, smothering, or boiling water.

Some homeowners may opt for the old school method of just pulling the pesky weed, but whatever you choose — make sure to be safe with protective clothing.

The oil known as urushiol is a definite risk to your health and even if it gets on your clothes, gloves, or tools — it is still a hazard and can cause reactions weeks later.

Just be safe and be sure to wash your clothes and tools if they come in contact with the weed. I hope you enjoyed our article and please ask a question below or share your experience in dealing with poison ivy!