Beware of poison ivy

Monday, July 12, 2021
Jenna Nees

One of the poisonous hazards that homeowners often deal with this time of year is poison ivy. Some individuals are lucky and never seem to get it, but others can be 10 feet away from it and still end up with it.

The best way to avoid the irritation is by learning how to properly identify poison ivy. There are two different forms of poison ivy found in Indiana. They include a low-growing shrub and a climbing vine. Aerial rootlets allow the vine to attach to other items including your fence, trees, house or other tall items around your property.

Poison ivy leaves are a compound with three leaflets attached to the petiole. When looking at the trifoliate leaf, the two opposite leaflets will have little-to-no petiole, while the terminal leaflet has a long petiole. The leaves have smooth, scalloped or irregular toothed margins. Poison ivy may have leaves that appear to be oily and contain greenish-white berries that grow in clusters.

There are a number of vining plants which poison ivy is often confused with. Some of those include fragrant sumac and Virginia creeper. Fragrant sumac does have three leaflets but is different from poison ivy. The main difference is that the fruit and leaves of fragrant sumac will be hairy. Virginia creeper, on the other hand, has five leaflets. Neither fragrant sumac or Virginia creeper contains a toxic substance that irritates the skin like that found in poison ivy.

Once you identify any poison ivy on your property, it is time to control it. To control it, you can cut the plant back to the ground or dig it up. When digging it out, try to get every last part of the root system, since any part that is left will allow the plant to resprout. When doing either of those methods, you stand a chance to come in contact with the plant and end up with irritation. Do not burn it, because the smoke it produces can cause irritation.

Using herbicides to control poison ivy is the method most homeowners gravitate toward. If possible, when applying the herbicide, try to cut a small segment of the plant and apply the herbicide directly into the open wound. When choosing a herbicide, look for one that contains amino triazole, glyphosate or dicamba. Make sure before using any herbicide that you pay close attention to the label. You should follow all directions on the label on how to dress when handling the herbicide, application method and all safety instructions.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Extension office at 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Evening and lunch appointments are available upon request.

Upcoming Events

July 19 – Fall Gardening -- Reaping the Benefits of Cool Weather webinar, noon, register at https://tinyurl.com/WIAWebinars21

July 23-30 – Putnam County 4-H Fair

July 28 – Indiana State Fair opens

Aug. 2 – National Night Out 4-H station, Putnam County Fairgrounds

Aug. 3 – Community Teaching Kitchen begins, 5 p.m., register at 653-8411

Aug. 21 – Enhancing Your Garden Soil Health program, 10 a.m., Indiana State University Community Garden, register at https://tinyurl.com/PHISH2021

Aug. 22 – Last day of Indiana State Fair

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