Gage County
1115 West Scott St.
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370
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Gage County |
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Poison IvyLeaves of Three, Leave It Be! |
POISON IVY is a woody shrub or vine with hairy looking aerial roots. Poison ivy has a compound leaf consisting of three leaflets. The leaflets are two to four inches long, dull or glossy green with pointed tips. The middle leaflet is usually a bit bigger than the two side leaflets. The margins of the leaflets can be toothed, lobed, or even smooth. The leaves are positioned alternately on the stems. Blossoms appear in late spring, white berries in late summer. Poison ivy can be found in one of three forms; as an erect woody shrub, a trailing shrub running along the ground, or a woody vine. It grows to 10 feet or more. The vine is usually seen growing on trees or other objects for support. It has aerial roots along the stem that give it the appearance of a "fuzzy rope." Yellowish-green flowers occur in compact clusters in leaf axils, and are produced in June or July. The waxy, berry-like fruit is grayish-white, with distinct lines marking the outer surface, and is about three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter Poison ivy can be confused for other plants in the woodlands. All parts of the plant are poisonous at all times of the year - including the roots. And, even the dead leaves in winter! The oily toxin in Poison ivy is transmitted when the plant is injured - a break or just a nibble from an insect. Because the sticky, oily toxin is easily transmitted, there are indirect ways to contact it, for instance, from the fur of the family pet, garden tools, garden gloves, clothing, golf balls or other objects that have come in contact with an injured plant. The oily toxin can remain active for several months to a year on objects. If you know you've been exposed to poison ivy, change clothing immediately and wash the exposed skin with soap and cool water. A visible reaction, redness and swelling may be apparent within 12 to 24 hours. Contact your family physician or pharmacist for recommendations for effective non-prescription medication. PLANT CONTROLPoison ivy control can be done at any time of the year, but is best achieved May through July while the plants are flowering. Poison ivy should be accurately identified before you attempt any control measures. Spraying is recommended over burning because poison ivy oil vaporizes when hot, carries in smoke and can cause a severe rash. Be careful not to expose yourself to any smoke of burning poison ivy; even wood with a poison ivy vine attached to it. Take extreme caution to avoid inhaling smoke or contact smoke with skin or clothing - you can contract a rash just from this exposure. Poison ivy foliage within reach can be sprayed with glyphosate (sold under the trade names Roundup, Kleenup and others) according to label directions. When using this or any herbicide, always read and follow label directions carefully. Take care to avoid other plants and do not spray so heavily the herbicide drips off the leaves. Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide and will kill any vegetation it contacts. To kill poison ivy that climbs high into trees, cut the vine off 6 inches above ground level. Treat the stump with glyphosate (according to label directions) immediately after cutting to kill the roots and prevent sprouting. If resprouting does occur, treat the leaves with glyphosate. Poison ivy can be very persistent, so you may have to spray the vines two or more times for complete control. Poison ivy can spread along fence or hedge rows and under trees by birds dispersing the seeds. Treating young seedlings with glyphosate will kill them and limit the spread of poison ivy. |
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Extension is a Division of the
Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States
Department of Agriculture. |
