If poison ivy plants are taking over your yard, learn how to safely eliminate them with the following steps. Once the poisonous plants have been removed, clear the land where they once were and plant grass seed. Soon, you will have a healthy, lush lawn that you can enjoy spending time on.

Materials

• dust mask
• disposable gloves
• long sleeved pants and shirt
• boots
• garden scissors
• trash bags
• weed killer
• garden spade
• heavy duty detergent
• scrub brush
• rubbing alcohol
• bucket of warm, soapy water
• lint free cloth
• rake
• wheelbarrow
• grass seed
• grass seed spreader
• water hose

Locate The Poison Ivy And Wear Protective Clothing

Poison ivy grows on vines and bushes. Three shiny leaves with pointed edges grow on each branch of a poison ivy plant. Small flowers or berries are often located between the groups of leaves. After you have located all of the poison ivy plants in your yard, prepare to eliminate them. Cover your face with a dust mask and protect your hands with disposable gloves. Put on long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Work boots will cover your ankles and prevent the plants from touching the lower parts of your legs. 

Eliminate The Plants And Dispose Of Them Safely

If poison ivy plants are growing close together, use a garden spade to loosen the soil around them. Grasp the poison ivy stems with both hands and pull them upwards so that the roots are removed from the ground. Place each plant in a trash bag. Spray plants that are spread out throughout your yard with weed killer. Aim the weed killer at the top of each plant and be careful not to get it on any flowers, shrubs, or grass that is growing nearby because it can kill them.

After the poison is administered, the poison ivy plants will wilt, indicating that they are dead. This could take a couple days. While you are waiting, avoid touching the plants with your bare hands because the resin on the plants can cause you to break out in a rash. Seal the bag that contains the rest of the plants and dispose of it immediately. 

Wash Your Clothes And Tools And Remove The Dead Plants

Wash your clothes in hot, soapy water. Rinse your boots off with water and clean them off with a scrub brush and detergent. Place tools inside of a bucket that is filled with warm, soapy water. Clean the surface of each tool off with a lint free cloth and a small amount of rubbing alcohol.

All of the cleaning steps will disinfect the clothing and tools so that resin that was on each surface is eliminated. Once the other poison ivy plants have wilted, cover your hands with gloves and pull them from the ground. Place the plants and gloves in a bag and dispose of them.

Clear The Land And Plant Grass Seed

Place a wheelbarrow next to the areas where the poison ivy was previously growing. Remove sticks, rocks and other debris that are on the ground and set them in a wheelbarrow. Use a rake to even out the dirt that is on the ground. Use a seed spreader to apply grass seed liberally over the cleared areas. Water the ground well. Continue watering the ground on a daily basis. Soon, you will have a beautiful lawn with lush, green blades of grass. Hire a lawn mowing service to help you keep the lawn well-maintained throughout the year. 

For more information on how to handle problems like poison ivy, contact a professional like those at Williams Lawn Care & Landscaping, Inc.