I wonder who's bright idea it was to plant ivy in my yard.

RomeGrower · #1 03/04/13, 03:06 PM

I finally got to the project I've been wanting to do for a couple years now: clean out the ivy invested woods section of our back yard. What a mess of vines all through the soil. It's a big job, but I'm most of the way through it in two weekends. One more should do it. I've been wearing a sweatshirt and gloves, but still some part of it reached my arms and it looks like I've got poisen ivy going on. Yay.

Bearfootfarm · #2 03/04/13, 03:38 PM

Sheep will eat Poison Ivy like it's candy

RomeGrower · #3 03/04/13, 04:09 PM

That's good to know. Thanks. I'll let my son know. He'll be buying a bigger piece of land than we have in a couple years when he gets out of college.

dkhern · #4 03/04/13, 04:55 PM

if you are dealing w/poison ivy id spray w/roundup and kill then clean up. for the other ivy ground cover or climbing shouldnt cause rash in most people. people alergic to poison ivy can catch from being in smoke when burning. each time you get it you become more suseptable ask how i know. for minor outbreaks i like ivy dry. for sever outbreaks i do steroid shots. i have often slept in long sox on my arms to prevent spreading during sleep. clorix also works but burns.

frogmammy · #5 03/04/13, 05:13 PM

Why do you think someone planted poison ivy?

Mon

RomeGrower · #6 03/05/13, 07:12 AM

It's not all poison ivy, in fact hardly at all, but I seem to have some reaction to pulling up english ivy. I started getting the rash before I got to the area where I know there is some poison ivy. It's the english ivy that is a pain in the neck though. It's invasively spreading downslope from properties above me, swallowing trees and dominating the woods floor.

Silvercreek Farmer · #7 03/05/13, 08:00 AM

English Ivy can cause a rash as well. Here's some advice on getting rid (controling) it. www.fosc.org/EI-Removing.htm

frogmammy · #8 03/05/13, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomeGrower

It's not all poison ivy, in fact hardly at all, but I seem to have some reaction to pulling up english ivy. I started getting the rash before I got to the area where I know there is some poison ivy. It's the english ivy that is a pain in the neck though. It's invasively spreading downslope from properties above me, swallowing trees and dominating the woods floor.

Oh, that explains it! I know dogs can get sick from English Ivy, so it makes sense that humans can have a reaction to it!

Good luck getting rid of it!

They might have put it in to "hold" the dirt in place/prevent erosion. If you think that was the case you could try Lily of the Valley there in place of the English Ivy. Spreads like a house afire, but nice scent and looks good. I think it could probably choke out the Ivy, too.

Mon

RomeGrower · #9 03/05/13, 08:41 AM

Thanks Silvercreek Farmer and Frogmammy. I'm glad to get it off my land at least. We're going to put in hostas, ferns, azaleas and a couple paths. Also, I think we'll start a maple underneath the tall oaks to join the redbuds and dogwoods there. Our long term plan is to put a small water way rolling downslope into a small pond. Lot's of dreams in our family.

hippygirl · #10 03/05/13, 10:28 AM

Oh, you should see MY woods...smilax, muscadine, honeysuckle, and a host of other viney-things I can't even begin to describe! I swear, I think the only wild vine I do NOT have is kudzu (thank the Lord!).

Slowly getting rid of it, though...hack/dig/pull, hack/dig/pull (hurl expletives)...repeat.

Awnry Abe · #11 03/05/13, 08:01 PM

Perhaps a CGL or CGD.