Subject: Re: Poison Ivy and Oak
From: <zvan@my-dejanews.com>
Organization: Deja News - The Leader in Internet Discussion
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 98 09:42:13
Message-ID: <MOD$980731.24961@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$980730.7127@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
In article <MOD$980730.7127@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
nowdesigns@aol.com (Nowdesigns) wrote:
>
> How can I kill poison ivy and oak with out using chemicals and without getting
> it -- again?
> Nancy Worrell
> Nancy Worrell designs
> http://members.aol.com/designsby
>
>
start by cutting all the berry-producing vines or shrubs around your house
(avoid touching the chainsaw's blade, and wear long sleeves and a hat. the
sawdust has the bad stuff). cut the vines on your fences with a cutter.
go further afield to make sure all vines within 100 yds of your house are cut
(poison ivy is particularly easy to spot in the fall).
they will sprout innumerable suckers from their roots when cut, both close
and far from the main stem. control what you can with the lawnmover and the
rest with the weedwhacker. you will have to cut them many times to kill them,
as they draw on large roots for energy. in two years they should be gone.
have someone else replace the string on the whacker for you when needed.
you will not be able to mow or whack near a chainlink fence (the whacker's
string can't take the beating). in the winter, dig under the fence and put
down black plastic, one foot on each side or as needed to reach mowing
distance. this is a lot of work if you also have thick grapevines. cover with
dirt. in holes in the plastic, plant local berry shrubs. that will do several
things for you: provide birds with an alternative food source, helping
prevent the spreading of PI berries, reconstitute the hedgerow that you just
destroyed, and later cast a heavy shade for long term prevention of new
growth. eventual PI seedling will also be easy to uproot. do this only in
areas where PI grows. if the area is very sunny, PI won't grow anyway.
if you don't eliminate the seed source, which is spread by the birds, you
won't win. -- -- zvan
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