Poison Ivy
It starts as a mild skin irritation then turns to
severe
itching, later developing from red inflammation to
blistering, and ultimately oozing sores. If you have
experienced this unpleasant condition, then you have
likely suffered with poison ivy. This troublesome plant
is very common in our area and your yard may contain some of these invasive and
aggressive plants.
Poison ivy is widely distributed in New England and
varies much in form from low freestanding plants to
tree-like vines.
Poison ivy is always
characterized by its
shiny three leaves,
which have a serrated
edge and pointed
leaflet. The central
leaflet has a longer
stalk, and the lateral
leaves are almost
stalkless.
The allergic reaction
is caused by urushiol
oil within the plant.
This pervasive oil is
in all parts of the
plant: leaves, roots,
and stems. It has
been shown that
urushiol oil can
remain active on
surfaces, including dead plants, for up to five years.
Urushiol oil causes an allergic reaction in over 85%
of people who are exposed to it. The oil itself causes
an annoying and potentially dangerous reaction.
Although some people exhibit immunity, immunity
levels can change with age. Often the first-time sufferer generally takes longer
to show initial symptoms
(up to 7-10 days). Always assume that you are
susceptible, even if you have never experienced the
rash before.
How to eradicate poison ivy? Cutting, handling, or
pulling the stems can be very dangerous because stems
and roots can hold urushiol concentration 10 times
more than leaves. Ripping out poison ivy is difficult
and often only encourages re growth. Burning or
mowing plants is extremely dangerous because smoke
or dust can get into the lungs causing systemic
reactions. Our experience has found that the most
effective control is through the systematic use of an herbicide. Because of the
invasive nature of the plant, even chemical controls, although extremely effective,
take time and multiple applications to fully eradicate
the plant.
Be aware of what poison ivy looks like and remember
'if it has leaves of three, let it be'. If you spot or suspect poison ivy in your landscape, call your arborist for
proper identification and to discuss control options.
