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Few plants have a reputation as notorious as poison ivy. Known throughout several communities for being irritatingly pervasive, leaving a dreaded red rash if it touches bare skin. The urushiol oil found on the leaves gives them their trademark shiny appearance and causes near-instant inflammation upon contact.
Poison ivy can be recognized by distinctive three-leaf clusters and the reflective sheen of the oil or sap on the leaves and appears in moderately shaded areas of forest or gardens. Two related plants, poison oak, and poison sumac have similar effects on the human body but are somewhat less pervasive and easier to recognize.
The appearance of poison ivy anywhere on your property should be cause for immediate action. The plant can spread fairly quickly and make enjoying a yard or garden all but impossible. Getting rid of poison ivy is even more important than everyday weddings, as poison ivy can be excruciatingly painful to a grown adult and actually dangerous to pets and children who might try to eat the leaves.
Although it is easy enough to simply cut poison ivy down and throw it away, the plant possesses significant regenerative capabilities and will usually regrow in short order. A gardener’s best bet to rid their property of poison ivy is a powerful chemical herbicide applied as directly as possible to the roots of the plant.
As poison ivy tends to be found in areas that see relatively high traffic – lightly wooded trails, well-worked garden soil, and sunlit front or back yards – a specialized herbicide should be used to avoid damage to desired plant life and residual effects on a passerby. It can be worth doing some advanced research to find out what kind of spray is best for the area before buying, as selecting the right herbicide will avoid damage to any benign plants and often prove more effective than guessing and checking.
Many people shy away from using chemical treatments on their lawn at all, preferring a more organic method of weed control that does not risk the side effects and aftermath of chemical treatment. While there are certain appeals and advantages to this approach, poison ivy may be the time to make an exception. It is among the more harmful weeds likely to be found in their yard and can regrow easily enough. No half measures will be sufficient to eradicate its presence.
A possible bright spot for any landscaper facing off against poison ivy is the reassuring knowledge that they are far from the first to have had this problem. Numerous products line the shelves of any farming or gardening supply shop that are designed specifically to do away with troublesome poison ivy outbreaks.
With so many options of how to handle poison ivy, it can be hard to decide which one is the best choice for keeping your yard clear. Here are the ten best products you can choose to keep poison ivy out of your plants this year.
Comparison Table
| Product | Features | Latest Price |
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1. Roundup 5203980  |
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2. Bonide (BND506)  |
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3. Ortho MAX  |
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4. Brush Killer Concentrate  |
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5.Crossbow Concentrate  |
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CHECK PRICE | 6. Southern Ag Surfactant  |
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7. BioAdvanced 704655A  |
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8. Hi-Yield 11484  |
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9. Spectracide  |
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10. Compare-N-Save Concentrate  |
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CHECK PRICE |
Our Best Best Poison Ivy Killer Reviews and Comparisons
1. Roundup 5203980
Product Highlights
One of the best-known names in weed control, Roundup has created a powerful and dedicated herbicide to help you clear out poison ivy.
Features
- 1.33 gallons per purchase
- Spray wand included
- Rainproof in 30 min
- Visible results in 24 hours
What We Like About Roundup 5203980
Roundup uses a minimal formula with only two active ingredients to make simpler particles that are quickly absorbed into leaves.
What We Don’t Like About Roundup 5203980
As with many Roundup products, this weed killer is not safe for use on lawns or gardens and will kill benign plants as well if used without proper shielding.
PROS
- Fast-acting formula
- Trusted brand
- Applicator wand included
- Chemically formulated to penetrate oily coating of poison ivy
- No mixing required
CONS
- Not safe for use on lawns
- Does not penetrate soil to kill roots
2. Bonide (BND506)
Product Highlights
This spray is marketed with convenience in mind, in a ready-for-use bottle and for an attractively low price.
Features
- 32 oz per purchase
- Rainproof inside a day
- Visible results overnight
- Four-week application schedule
What We Like About Bonide (BND506)
This formula is safe for use on most common grasses and flowers letting you get rid of poison ivy without decimating the rest of your lawn.
What We Don’t Like About Bonide (BND506)
The spray bottle in which the herbicide arrives is flimsy and uncomfortable to hold and use for any significant length of time.
PROS
- Relatively affordable
- Safe for lawns
- No aerosol spray
- Kills or prevents a wide range of harmful plant life
- Easy to store and move
CONS
- Poor-quality spray bottle
- Can cause hand fatigue if several applications are needed
3. Ortho MAX
Product Highlights
This spray gets rainproof in a hurry sidestepping one of the most common pitfalls of weed removal.
Features
- 32 oz per purchase
- Rainproof in two hours
- Kills woody plants as well as broadleaf
- Bottle comes ready to use with a proprietary spray nozzle
What We Like About Ortho MAX
The manufacturer has designed this bottle to fit directly into their proprietary spray gun, making it fast and easy to put to use.
What We Don’t Like About Ortho MAX
With only 32 oz in each bottle, this formula is unlikely to last you very long.
PROS
- Fast waterproofing
- Works on poison ivy, oak and sumac, as well as other toxic species
- Proprietary spray bottle included
- Suitable for use on tougher woody plants
- Can kill residual growths such as stumps, vines, or seedlings
CONS
- Bottle is not compatible with other brands of spray gun
- Relatively low volume of spray
4. Brush Killer Concentrate
Product Highlights
This herbicide is designed not only to kill weeds off but to prevent the second generation from them coming in from the first’s seeds.
Features
- 32 oz per bottle
- Concentrate product
- Rainproof in 30 minutes
- Results in less than a day
What We Like About Brush Killer Concentrate
Thanks to a particularly potent blend of chemical ingredients, this will kill not only the plants but also the seeds the dead plants drop, preventing unwanted plant growth of any kind after spraying.
What We Don’t Like About Brush Killer Concentrate
This product comes as a concentrate and must be diluted before use to achieve safe and desirable results.
PROS
- Fast acting
- Waterproof in an incredibly short time
- Preventative applications
- Dilutes to cover a much larger area
- Satisfaction guarantee
CONS
- Needs to be diluted before use
- Not safe for use around desirable plants
5. Crossbow Concentrate
Product Highlights
This product offers you a working solution for poison ivy and much more in a package big enough to last through the season.
Features
- One gallon per purchase
- Concentrate product
- Suitable for use on many kinds of soil
- Generally safe for use on lawns
What We Like About Crossbow Concentrate
The active chemicals in this product are harmful to broadleaf plants but not to grasses, making it usable directly on your lawn.
What We Don’t Like About Crossbow Concentrate
This weed killer has a hard time penetrating roots or woody stems, making it hard to kill poison ivy down to the base.
PROS
- Sizeable quantity of product with each purchase
- Safe for use on lawns
- Makes up to 96 gallons of spray solution when properly mixed
- Effective on tough plants like kudzu and blackberry vine
- Works on perennial and invasive species
CONS
- Struggles to penetrate to the root
- Does not work well on woody plants
6. Southern Ag Surfactant
Product Highlights
This can be used in connection with nearly any other herbicide spray without fear of adverse side effects from mixing chemicals.
Features
- One gallon per purchase
- Compatible with both generic and brand name herbicides
- Increases root and bark penetration
- Increases root and bark penetration
- Non-ionic formula prevents unwanted chemical bonding
What We Like About Southern Ag Surfactant
Got some leftovers from another spray? Mix with this in a solution for an effective, penetrating herbicide.
What We Don’t Like About Southern Ag Surfactant
Because this is mostly a surfactant spray it may need a stronger herbicide to kill off more developed poison ivy.
PROS
- Compatible with other products
- Exceptionally economical dilution formula
- Helps weaker sprays penetrate roots and bark
- Aids in rainproofing by speeding up absorption
- Safe for use on lawns
CONS
- Will need a partner agent for most poison ivy
- Slow to produce results
7. BioAdvanced 704655A
Product Highlights
This product includes a formula to break the surface tension of the water, making it absorb into leaves and roots faster and more effectively.
Features
- One gallon per purchase
- Works on everything from shoots to developed bushes
- Spray wand included
- Can be used alone or in solution
What We Like About BioAdvanced 704655A
BioAdvanced can be used in different concentrations to allow you to properly adjust the amount you need to use for each case.
What We Don’t Like About BioAdvanced 704655A
BioAdvanced can be used in different concentrations to allow you to properly adjust the amount you need to use for each case.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Can be diluted to cover more area
- Spray wand included
- Kills bushes, vines, stumps, and other toughened growths
- Specially designed for fast absorption into the plant.
CONS
- Unreliable spray hose
- Relatively expensive
8. Hi-Yield 11484
Product Highlights
This formula is specifically made to penetrate and kill off thicker stems and stumps.
Features
- 16 oz per purchase
- Specialized for woody stems and roots
- Can be diluted for greater coverage
- Best used inside the stumps
What We Like About Hi-Yield 11484
This formula is a cut above other products and will kill off any poison ivy to the root in one application.
What We Don’t Like About Hi-Yield 11484
This is a fairly small bottle as compared to other products, necessitating either diluting or repeated purchases.
PROS
- Fast acting
- Reliable
- Useable either alone or in solution
- Works on leafy and woody plants
- Can be applied by pouring, spraying, or being brushed on.
CONS
- Harder to properly apply than most
- Is not safe for use on lawns or gardens
9. Spectracide
Product Highlights
Use this product to get rid of poison ivy not only in gardens or lawns, but patios, walkways, your front-drive, and more
Features
- Concentrate product
- 64 oz per purchase
- Rainproof after just 15 minutes
- Results in under three hours
What We Like About Spectracide
This herbicide can be used on several hard surfaces such as wood or concrete without discoloration or damage.
What We Don’t Like About Spectracide
There are multiple reports of this product not killing weeds to the root or failing to prevent them from returning.
PROS
- Fast acting
- Rainproof in only a quarter of an hour
- Safe for use on wood, metal, and concrete
- Ideal for landscaping
- Balanced dilution formula
CONS
- Does not kill to the root
- Long turnover time before the treated area can be worked again
10. Compare-N-Save Concentrate
Product Highlights
This herbicide has taken the Amazon Editor’s choice award for its balance of price, quantity, and effectiveness against poison ivy and other undesired plants.
Features
- One gallon per purchase
- Results in two to four days
- Rainproof inside two hours
- Can be diluted into 85 gal. of herbicide solution
What We Like About Compare-N-Save Concentrate
Between the solid performance times and the affordable price per fluid ounce, this product has received considerable accolades from the gardening community and is listed as the Editor’s Choice in its class on Amazon.
What We Don’t Like About Compare-N-Save Concentrate
The formula used is relatively basic, meaning this product will get rid of weeds but has not been engineered to be safe on other things as well.
PROS
- Highly recommended
- Good price for quantity
- Covers a whopping 630,000 square feet when fully diluted
- Kills to the root in as little as two days
- Strong preventative action removes the need for a second round of spraying
CONS
- Glyphosate-based formula is not safe for use on lawn, near pets, or in contact with crops of any kind
- Can be difficult to correctly dilute, especially in large quantities
Helpful Hints:
Although marketed as a way to get rid of poison ivy, take note that most of these products can kill off other weeds as well. Use this to your advantage to create a better budget for your gardening needs.
By contrast, poison oak and sumac can have stems with different enough composition that they may actually require different products to remove. Check labels carefully to make sure you have selected the right herbicide for the plants in question.
Keep in mind that although the plant may be dead, the harmful side effects of poison ivy are produced by contact with the oily resins found on its leaves. Even a dead poison ivy plant should be handled with long tools if possible, or thick gloves and fully clothed if not – not shorts and T-shirt while tackling these plants.
Once you have killed the plants off, make sure to dispose of the dead poison ivy as quickly as possible in a yard waste collection program. Burning or mulching poison ivy can present a serious hazard to you and those around you.
Herbicides like the ones listed above may be intended for use on plants, but they are still potent chemical agents and can be harmful to humans and animals as well. Keep pets and small children out of a treated area for a minimum of seven days from the day of treatment. If the herbicide was used in a grazing area for livestock, consider adding several days for safety.
These are topical herbicides, meaning they can harm you even if not inhaled or injected. Use these products only while fully dressed, including long pants, long sleeves, and closed shoes. For added safety, use an extended sprayer wand and face mask to prevent unnecessary exposure to the spray.
One thing that many people overlook especially when ordering herbicide online, is that the product you are ordering may be subject to restrictions at its destination. Before buying a poison ivy killer take a moment to familiarize yourself with local regulations on chemical herbicides and permissible methods of use.
If you do come into contact with poison ivy while you are spraying, immediately remove contaminated clothing, shoes, and accessories. The irritant oils can adhere to any of these and spread from one to the other. Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cool compress for 15 minutes at a time.
If available, apply calamine lotion to soothe symptoms and speed up recovery. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen, or there are signs of a more severe allergic reaction.
When applying a product to kill poison ivy, try to choose a sunny day with moderate temperatures. This will make the plant’s pores open and absorb the weed killer faster, speeding you along to your goal of a weed-free lawn.