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While mucking about in my (new) yard, I found a bunch of plants that I believe are poison ivy (three shiny leaves, aggressively tendriling vines, and the bigger leaves have the little "mitten" indentation. No berries that I've seen). There's quite a lot of it, and some of the vines are encroaching onto the driveway. It seems unusual that the previous tenants wouldn't have noticed this - they did a lot of gardening - so I'm questioning whether my identification is right.

Can someone confirm whether this is poison ivy, and if it's not, tell me what it is?

I'm in Western Massachusetts, so we definitely have poison ivy in the area.

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avp
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2 Answers2

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I'd say yes, it has all the markers we have available at this time of year. Terminal leaflet larger than the other two, terminal leaflet has stalk, the others not. Leaflets pointed, edges bumpy and sometimes indented. Looks very close, you can wait for flowers and fruit which would provide further confirmation if that is possible or of interest. But note that flowers and berries may or may not appear; in my area there are lots of patches of poison ivy but they always seem to be vegetative, producing flowers and berries rarely.

Poison ivy is very persistent. It could be that the previous owners tried to keep cutting it back but it re-grew and they gave up. I had a patch that I could mow and eventually got it under control, but it still comes back during dry spells when mowing is not generally necessary. Note mowing is not usually recommended (I don't seem to be sensitive to it, yet), the effects can be serious, but I sense you know this already. Thick gloves and pruners might help.

Investigate with your local suppliers whether there are any chemical approaches that are permitted and suitable in your area. Safety first, especially if there are children.

Colin Beckingham
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This looks like poison ivy. Good for you to catch this! I would use good old glyphosate, Round up. Don't spray it, use rubber gloves and with whetted finger tips apply to a few of the leaves. I would of course cut those plants back allowing a good 2 feet of vine and healthy leaves to treat.

Get those thick black rubber gloves made for chemicals. That will protect you from the chemicals of poison ivy and you can dip into the glyphosate to whet a couple of fingers but not 'dripping'...wipe onto healthy leaves you've left after cutting the vines back. Wait three weeks and do it again to whatever healthy leaves are left? Cut all the way back for winter. Rake up debris like crazy.

In the spring, keep an eye out for new shoots. Treat those shoots. Don't eat them! Some people think eating poison ivy will make one immune to poison ivy. That is just nuts. This might take a year or two to get under control. Teach your kids what to look out for asap. They will be living with this stuff after all...it will be everywhere.

how to kill poison ivy

stormy
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