Non toxic removal of poisen ivy?

[daniellebluetoo]

I've heard of the vinegar method, but with mixed results.... ANy one have any tried and true methods?

Blessings, Danielle

[lunarlady]

I've heard goats will do the trick, but they remove EVERYTHING, so you have to sort of be willing to go for total destruction.

[tayndrewsmama]

Digging up the roots. That stuff is about as hard to get rid of as rasberry bushes.

[Chicky2]

I was gonna say goats, too.

[Erinz]

I've tried all the methods and can tell you NONE of them worked for me. We have a TON of it on the lower part of our property The only (arguably) non-toxic thing that keeps it under control is mowing it with the big tractor. I've read somewhere that the roots stay viable for 50 years or something, which means it will never be completely gone. My husband bought a full suit to wear to pull it from the trees and fences and then we mow the rest. Before kids it was the one thing I would spray. My husband refuses to use spray and I haven't had a moment where I haven't been either pregnant or nursing in nearly 5 years now so I haven't been able to spray. I can tell you the places I did spray are growing again this year, so it didn't kill it completely there either. No easy answer with that stuff. Boo.

[Autumn Breeze]

We mow what the kids might get in to. They also know what it looks like. I'm very allergic, always end up on Steroids when I get it. (except when I was pregnant, I applied jewel weed tincture to it)

Have you tried the vinegar? I just tried it on the weeds in the cracks in the driveway and was very happy with the results, though it seems to work better on very sunny areas. I know P.I. likes the shade.

[daniellebluetoo]

Oh I LOVE the goat idea!

Unfortunately or is it fortunately.....the PI infected area doesn't belong to me...
It's owned by the book store where I give reiki in their courtyard ;-( They have kids, I have a son and a few of the neighborhood kids come to play... She DOES spray with "round up" I think.... it makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it...

Has anyone used the vinegar, soap, salt combo????

Thanks for all the information mamas!

for the PP who had to use steroids, OOph! Thats awful!..... As far as I know, I'm not allergic to it... I only say this because i've NEVER had it, and I grew up on many farms and was in the woods often.

[Autumn Breeze]

yeah. my grandmother is immune, she can roll in it and not get it. I wasn't so lucky LOL

[Erinz]

I've used the combo, didn't work.

I'm super allergic so I just don't mess around! I never used to be. It wasn't until I volunteered to do some trail rehabilitation after some major storms at my favorite state park that I really started to get it.

(also just realized you are talking PI, I've only dealt with PO although I think the allergen is nearly identical)

[root*children]

Sounds like a smaller, contained area. I would pull it. I've done it bunches, with great results. Yes, it's an ongoing thing, but after that first big pull, if you stay on top of it, less and less comes up each year.

I put on my long sleeves and long pants, and put plastic bread/bagel bags over my hands and have my trash can right next to me. I only pull after a good rain, so the roots are loose, it is very satisfying for me to tug and get a huge amount of root system out I put them right in the trash, opting not to compost them or put them out with yard waste, so no one has to touch them (remember, NO burning!!) Then I turn gloves inside out or shake them off right into the trash can as well.

Good luck!
Julie
http://root-children.blogspot.com