If you are searching for the best poison ivy killer, chances are you’ve already tried to kill this plant with no luch. The hardest weeds to kill are the type that need to be eliminated down to the root. Poison ivy is one of them. However, killing down to the roots is not an easy task.
You need the best poison ivy weed killer to do so. Pulling the roots would be a bad choice of killing, as the poison makes the plants hard to deal with.
When you try to pull up poison ivy, it can cause severe reactions, resulting in an itchy rash. One of the better methods of killing poison ivy is to use a chemical compound. Our list below shows the best chemical poison ivy killer.
In this article, we have selected the top-rated poison ivy killers. We built our list by examining the positive reviews about poison ivy killers from the verified purchasers across multiple websites.
Read all the comparison, pros, cons, specifications, ratings, our favorites and reviews of these poison ivy killers, and you can make a purchasing decision wiser and with proper knowledge.
What Are the Best Poison Ivy Killers?
While you can kill poison ivy organically, our list focuses on the chemical way, as it is more effective. I talk about organic methods later on in the article.
There are many options when it comes to killing or eliminating poison ivy using chemical methods. Some choices are ready to use, some need to be mixed with water before they are applied. These are the best poison ivy killers of the year.
Southern Ag Surfactant for Herbicides Non-Ionic
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Overview
This Southern AG product contains Alkyl aryl polyoxyethylene glycol and other ethoxylated derivatives (surfactant) 80%. The Poison Ivy herbicides work as a wetting agent to increase the effectiveness, coverage, and penetration of any herbicide that you use.
So if you want to get rid of Poison Ivy, this product can do the job. This best Poison Ivy herbicide can be used with Trimec, Atrazine, Brush Killer, and 2, 4-D Amine. This product is for use in Fungicides, Fertilizers, Herbicides, and Insecticides. We rate this product as one of the best weed killers for Poison Ivy and best brush killer.
Prepare 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, or 1 to 2 pints (0.95 liters) per 100 gallons (0.38 cubic meters). Because it is an addition, it comes in handy when you have to cover a lot of ground to kill.
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Spectracide Brush Killer Weed And Grass Killer
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Overview
This Spectracide best poison ivy killer product contains Diquat Dibromide (0.12%), Fluazifop-p-butyl (0.06%), Dicamba, dimethylamine salt (0.04%), other ingredients (99.78%). It is available in 8 liters of the bottle.
This Poison Ivy herbicides or Spectracide brush killer product is a non-selective herbicide that will only kill contacted Poison Ivy. It starts from the leave and then goes down to the roots.
When Spectracide brush killer works, it will kill the whole Poison Ivy plant. Do not spray to another plant like lawn grasses, shrubs, and trees.
For best results, wait for a warm or sunny day at least above 60 °F. It is the best time to get rid of them when Poison Ivy is actively growing.
15 minutes after you apply this Spectracide brush killer product and there is rainfall or watering will not wash away the effectiveness. Try to wait for high wind, apply when the air is calm.
Spray and cover the leaves of the Poison Ivy but do not overspray. Poison Ivy will begin wilting and yellowing within 24 hours after the application. Or as fast as in 3 hours.
We rate this product as the best for weed and grass. To kill completely kill the Poison Ivy plant and its roots, you only wait for one to two weeks. You can protect your plants with cardboard or plastic.
You can wash your plant right away when they are accidentally sprayed. Symptoms and the time to kill Poison Ivy will depend on temperature, application rate, and another factor. This Spectracide brush killer is ready to use. Best to shake well before use. Remove the sprayer from its slot beneath the bottle handle and unwrap the tubing. Pull hose plug to completely extend tubing.
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Roundup Poison Ivy Weed Killer Plus Tough Brush Killer Concentrate
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Overview
This Roundup Best Poison Ivy Killer product contains Glyphosate-isopropylammonium 18%, Triclopyr, triethylamine salt 2%. The Roundup Poison Ivy killer is effective to kill Poison Ivy as well as other weed. Roundup Poison Ivy killer can work as the best Poison Oak killer, Poison Sumac killer, Blackberry bush killer, and Kudzu killer.
This Roundup Poison Ivy killer is for use in recreational areas, fields, trails, around buildings, cabins, lodges, camp sites, vacant lots and wooded lots.
The two combinations of ingredients have the power to kill even the toughest weeds and grasses. Roundup Poison Ivy killer will kill weeds to the root. It will not wash away even after a rainfall or watering in 30 minutes.
How long does it take roundup to work? Roundup Poison Ivy killer works very fast and you can see the result within 24 hours after application. You should see Poison Ivy plants start wilting and yellowing in about 12 hours after applying.
For each 1 quart (0.95 liters) can cover over 1,500 square feet (0.01 ha) at 6 oz (0.23 kilogram)/gal. It is one of the best sprays for Poison Ivy killer in this list and one of the best herbicide for Poison Ivy.
For tank sprayers, mix 6 fl. oz (0.18 liters) per 1 gallon (3.79 liters) of water. Spray Poison Ivy until completely wet with this Roundup Poison Ivy killer. Avoid high wind when applying to Poison Ivy that is actively growing. This is to prevent contaminating other healthy plants.
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Bonide – Poison Oak Killer and Poison Ivy Weed Killer
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Overview
This Bonide Poison Ivy killer is a herbicide product as Poison Oak killer that contains 2,4-D, dimethylamine salt (0.6%), Dicamba, dimethylamine salt (0.07%), MCPP-P, and DMA salt (0.14%). This product can kill Poison Ivy as well as other weed including Black Medic, Chickweed, Clover, Dandelion, Dollar weed, Henbit, Morning glory, Oxalis, Pigweed, Plantain, Purslane, Ragweed, Spurge, Wild Carrot, Wild Garlic, Wild Lettuce, Wild Onion, and others.
This Bonide Best Poison Ivy killer and Poison Oak killer product use the Trimec (a combination of 2-4, D, Mecropro-p, and Dicamba) to kill broadleaf weeds to the roots. This product works systemically and travels throughout the plant.
When applied, Bonide Poison Ivy killer and Poison Oak killer will kill Poison Ivy after a few days. This Bonide Poison Ivy killer and Poison Oak killer will wash away if your water after each application. Do not overspray or it will cause damage to other plants.
It is available in 32 oz (1.21 kilogram) in a spray bottle. Bonide Poison Ivy killer and Poison Oak killer will completely kill Poison Ivy in 4 weeks. The best product to kill Poison Ivy and an effective product as Poison Oak killer. We arte this product as the best ready-to-use.
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Ortho Poison Ivy Killer MAX And Tough Best Brush Killer
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Overview
This Ortho Poison Ivy killer product contains Triclopyr (8.0%). It is available in a 32 oz (1.21 kilogram) bottle. It can kill Poison Ivy, as well as a great way of getting rid of Poison Oak, Kudzu, Wild Blackberry bush killer, Honeysuckle, Maples, Mesquite, Ragweed, Raspberry, Trumpet Creeper, Virginia Creeper, Wild Grape, Wild Rose and others.
Ortho Poison Ivy killer can be used for homes, cabins, buildings, fence lines and trails. Apply this product at the time when Poison Ivy is actively growing. Apply throughout the season.
If you notice a very hard to kill weeds, you should repeat the application if regrowth happens. With 16 oz (0.6 kilogram) can cover up to 1,600 square feet (0.01 ha). With 32 oz (1.21 kilogram) can cover up to 3,200 square feet (0.03 ha).
This Ortho Poison Ivy killer product worked even better than expected on Poison Ivy. When you are experiencing Poison Ivy infestation, a couple of weeks after application the Poison Ivy will be completely dead. It is one of the best herbicide for Poison Ivy.
Use the coarse spray to reduce drift to plants. Spray Poison Ivy to the completely wet trunk, stems and foliage. Do not spray to plants or grasses, or they may die too. Foliage spray is not recommended for Poison Ivy’s control in lawns.
Use this formula with a tank sprayer or a hose-end sprayer to the garden hose. This product is a great way and an effective way to cover large areas of Poison Ivy. It keeps Poison Ivy to come back for years.
For safety reasons, wear gloves, goggles, and other protective gear during each application. This Ortho Poison Ivy killer is one of the best product to kill poison ivy. We rate this product as the best for wide area.
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BioAdvanced Brush Killer Plus
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Overview
This BioAdvanced brush killer product contains Triclopyr, triethylamine salt (90.80%). It is available in 24 oz (0.91 kilograms), 32 ounces (1.21 kilograms), 1 gallon (3.79 liters), and 1.3 gallons (4.92 l) bottle.
This Bioadvanced brush killer product has penetrating formulas specifically designed to get rid of Poison Ivy down to the roots as well as Kudzu, getting rid of Poison Oak, as Blackberry bush killer, Bramble and more. This Bioadvanced brush killer product can be used around homes, cabins, buildings, fences, walkways, trails and wooded areas.
You have to be careful not to touch other plants because this product will kill or injure all woody plants contacted. Quickly wash the desired plant that is accidentally sprayed. To avoid any drift apply when the wind is calm. Ortho Best Poison Ivy killer is not safe for pets and people, so keep them away when applying. Do not apply this product around fruits or vegetables. It is hazardous. It is not a pet-friendly Poison Ivy killer.
Apply when Poison Ivy is fully leafed out and actively growing. Rain or water will not wash away (after 4 hours of application). If a weed is very hard to kill, you can re-apply the application. This Ortho Best Poison Ivy killer is one of the best herbicide for Poison Ivy and it is a selective systemic herbicide that can enter plants through their leaves, green or cuts woody shoots, and roots then move throughout the plant and interfere with processes found only in plants. Visual symptoms, such as wilting and yellowing, appear in 1 to 6 weeks.
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Organic Vinegar Weed Blocker
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Overview
This Bite Blocker Poison Ivy killer product contains Soybean Oil (20%), Citric Acid (4%), Lauric Acid (4%) Inert Ingredients (72% Total): Purified Water, Coconut Oil, and Sodium Benzoate. This organic Poison Ivy killer is available in a 500 ml spray bottle. It is one of the best brush killers on the market.
This organic Poison Ivy killer product can kill Poison Ivy as well as other weeds and grasses by natural or organic means. The organic Poison Ivy killer is a natural alternative to chemical-based herbicides that pet-friendly poison ivy killer that is safe for pets and humans. It is a natural Poison Ivy killer.
It is derived from fatty acids of plant oils such as Soybean Oil, Citric Acid, Cedar Oil, Purified Water, Coconut Oil, and Benzoic Acid. These ingredients show that it is a natural Poison Ivy killer.
Based on weather conditions or extreme vegetation infestation re-application may be necessary. Breaks down plant mass into beneficial ground nutrients.
You must fully cover the desired plant, so they do not get sprayed accidentally. Use cardboard or plastic to cover. This product will not damage clothing, wood, or most plastics.
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Ferti Lome Hi-Yield
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Overview
This Ferti Lome weed killer product contains (6.36%) Triclopyr acid 0.6 lb (0.27 kilogram) or gallon. It is available in a 473 ml bottle.
The brush killer can kill Poison Ivy as well as unwanted woody plants, and vines. It can be used around homes, cabins, buildings, trails, fences, walkways and other non-crop areas.
For foliage spray, mix 8 to 16 tablespoons with 1 gallon (3.79 liters) of water. This can cover up to 500 square feet (46.45 m²). It is one of the best brush killers on the market and the best herbicide for Poison Ivy.
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Brushtox Brush Killer with Triclopyr
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Overview
If Poison Ivy is hard to kill and you want a weed killer that is very powerful, arm yourself with this Brushtox brush killer in the fight against more than 60 woody plants. They are including mesquite, oaks, locust, wild rose, and sweetgum, and 30 tough broadleaf weeds like Canada thistle and dog fennel.
See the Brushtox brush killer label for a complete list of weeds that can be killed by this Brushtox brush killer.
This Brushtox brush killer product is a concentrated herbicide that works on ditch banks, fence rows, rangeland, and permanent grass pastures. The product can be applied to control broadleaf plants.
The timing to apply this Brushtox brush killer product application must be right to achieve the best results. You can use USDA Planting Zones Guide for temperature and weather conditions for application timing.
Make sure to apply on a dry day for the most effective application. It is one of the best brush killers on the market.
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Ways to Get Rid of Poison Ivy Plants Organically
Manually pull by hand
The most affordable and quick way to get rid of Poison Ivy is to try pulling the plants. This way works fast and you will notice immediate results. Probably the best way to get rid of Poison Ivy fast.
Especially if you are immune to the allergic effects of Poison Ivy. You can just do the pulling without worrying.
However, if you do it yourself, make sure to wear gloves, goggles, clothing to cover every part of your body. Duct-taping your pants around your socks to protect. Duct-taping the edges of your shirt sleeves to your gloves.
It is absolutely necessary to do. Extra precaution before the task could save your life and save you many hours and days of discomfort from allergic effects.
You have to make sure to wash your clothing, pants, and shirt, at a high temperature and do it two times to be safe.
Before pulling the Poison Ivy, dig out the surrounding about 10 inches or 25.4 cm beneath the plant to pull roots out easily. Cover the area with cardboard or mulch to prevent regrowth afterward.
The best time to do this is after a rain. Deposit the Poison Ivy into a paper bag for garbage collection.
It is one method that may give the solution when you ask a question : how to get rid of poison ivy without killing other plants? Yes. You can get rid of Poison Ivy without harming cultivated plants.
Hot water
Pour 1 bottle of hot water onto Poison Ivy to kill them. Do this if Poison Ivy growing in a crack in a path or next to the driveway, but not at the garden bed. Hot and boiling water will kill anything including Poison Ivy it touches.
But by doing this it will kill Poison Ivy but not completely. After the boiled Poison Ivy dies, new plant growth will emerge. When you see this, boil one kettle of water and pour it on it. After that, this method will kill Poison Ivy naturally.
Suffocate
How to get rid of poison ivy without killing other plants? Only cover Poison Ivy plants with a plastic tarp or cardboard to suffocate and kill it. Leave out your cultivated plants.
When they die, check the surrounding treated area for new growth. If you miss an underground root out of the tarp or cardboard, this may send up shoots.
Salt and dish soap
Mix 1 cup of salt in 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Place into a water sprayer or pump sprayer. Spray the Poison Ivy.
This mixture is a natural way to kill Poison Ivy and get rid of the plants. Make sure not to spray other plants because they will be killed too. Do this on a sunny day to avoid the wash off.
It will take two or more application but this method works. It is a natural Poison Ivy killer.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to apply and use the best Poison Ivy killer?
The best control with chemical herbicide happens when it is applied to Poison Ivy plants in the flower or fruit stage of growth. Applications of herbicide at earlier stages of growth are not as effective.
But delaying application until Poison Ivy is in the flower or fruit stage might not be practical. So the best time to apply herbicide to kill Poison Ivy is in the early summer months when there are sunny days and possible calm wind.
How to use and apply the best Poison Ivy killer?
Every brand of poison ivy killer has different features. However, basic practices must be followed when using chemical Poison Ivy killers.
A few are ready-to-use. You do not need ave to do anything before application. Products in concentrated form, you must read the instruction label on the package. Mix a specific amount of water to get the right strength and mixture.
Use wand sprayers for the best result. There are pure spray bottles, but you can not control them as well as a wand sprayer.
Spray the killer on the leaves of the poison ivy plant. As much as possible, it would help if you saturated them.
You have to remember that Poison Ivy is hard to kill. Consider these chemicals as potential killers.
You have to prevent the spray from having any contact with nearby plants. Try to use cardboard to protect those nearby plants.
These Poison Ivy killers are usually rainproof pretty quickly and can be waterproof in 30 minutes.
Before the application, you have to know the weather forecast to avoid any rain. It is recommended that the chemicals should stay longer on the leaves for better results.
See if there is no wind when you are going to apply. Just a slight wind can be easily carried the chemicals onto other nearby plants.
Since these are poisonous chemicals, you should always wear protective gear, such as goggles, gloves, long sleeves, and long pants. It would be better to wear a breathing mask.
Always read the safety instructions on the label and follow them accordingly.
What type of plant is Poison Ivy?
Poison Ivy has scientific name Toxicodendron radicans. The plant is not an ivy, or like English ivy. It is a plant that has many forms.
You can find the Poison Ivy plant crawling along the ground as climbing trees as a vine, a bushy shrub, or a runner vine. The Poison Ivy plant grows in North American and can be found in disturbed sunny areas.
They mainly spread where humans exist in one area. This spreading means you will find the Poison Ivy plant along roadsides, houses, rest areas, trails, etc.
Unfortunately, the Poison Ivy plant thrives well at a higher level of CO2 as well. The plant keeps growing even during sudden climate changes.