Poison Ivy can pose a problem just about anywhere. Regardless of whether you live in the country near a wooded environment or live in the suburbs, poison ivy plants can invade the areas around your home and even your gardens. While there are some people who are immune to the allergic reaction caused by these wild plants, there are many others that can have sometimes deadly reactions without even actually touching the plant.

The reaction to poison ivy is most commonly typified by a dermatitis like skin reaction that has raised bumps on the skin and is very itchy. However, poison ivy can also cause respiratory symptoms, wheezing, and in the most severe instances, anaphylactic shock. http://www.medicinenet.com/poison_ivy/article.htm There are very strong oils within the leaves of the poison ivy plant that can be found in the air anytime poison ivy is burned or disrupted by mowing or weed eating.

There are many practical ways that you can eliminate this plant from the area surrounding your home and also a number of home remedies for treating the allergic reaction on the skin once you have come into contact with this plant. Since commercial herbicides are often dangerous when used incorrectly and can pose a threat to other plants in the area, it is important that you try some natural and organic methods for eradicating this plant prior to using these commercial herbicide products.

If you suspect that a plant growing near your home is poison ivy, there are a number of field guides that you can consult in order to verify your suspicions. However, you should still be aware of the areas in which poison ivy is most likely to be found. Poison ivy grows near creek beds, at the base of trees, near old buildings or wood piles, or near pathways. Poison ivy is characterized by clusters of no more than three leaves, and it can grow up the side of trees in a vine-like manner or can appear low to the ground as a single plant. During certain times of the year, the leaves can appear red in color, but during the early spring time and throughout most of the summer, the leaves are green.http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/commonproblems/poison_ivy_identification.html

There are many other plants that are also in the ivy family that closely resemble poison ivy. One of the most commonly confused plants is a close cousin to poison ivy called Virginia Creeper. Although Virginia creeper grows in many of the same locations as poison ivy and is often found side by side with its cousin, this plant has five leaves instead of three. Virginia creeper is not poisonous, but some people have reported developing a dermatitis-like rash after contact with this plant. This may be due to the fact that these plants often grow so close together, or it could be attributed to the sharp hair-like fibers that can be found on the underside of the leaves.

To get rid of the poison ivy plants, there are many different methods that you can try first. One method involves smothering the plants in order to kill them. To do this, take a large black garbage bag and drape it over the area where the plants are growing. Anchor it down at each corner using tent stakes. It can take a few weeks for the plant to die, but it is unlikely that they will return for the rest of the season. One of the downsides to using this method is that you will also smother other plants growing in the same area. This method also does not kill the roots, so poison ivy may return the following year.

Another natural method for getting rid of poison ivy plants involves pulling them out of the ground by the [[roots] and discarding of the plants. This is the only way to effectively eliminate the roots of the plant and ensure that the plants will not return next year. However, you must properly protect yourself first. If you are extremely allergic to this plant, have someone that is immune to the allergic reaction do this for you. In order to protect your skin, wear cloves and a long sleeve shirt. You can also apply a hydrocortisone cream to the skin prior to removing the plants in order to prevent the oils from seeping into your skin. When you remove the plants, do NOT burn them! Place them in a tightly sealed trash bag and discard of them.

One other organic remedy for getting rid of poison ivy involves the use of household items that you have in your home. you can combine a cup of vinegar, a tablespoon of liquid detergent, and a tablespoon of salt and spray on each individual plant. This method will kill the plant for the time being, but it will not eliminate the root system.

Never pour diesel on poison ivy to get rid of it. This is a home remedy that has been used by some in the past for getting rid of poison ivy, but diesel can seep into the soil and contaminate ground water. [[Bleach] has been used by some to kill poison ivy plants, and it has been shown that bleach will evaporate before seeping into the ground water, so there is no risk of it affecting the ground water supply. However, bleach will also kill surrounding plants and should never be used near plants intended for human consumption, such as those in a vegetable or herb garden.

If you are not having any success at getting rid of poison ivy plants with natural and organic methods, there are a number of commercial herbicides that are very good at killing these plants. However, it should be noted that these herbicides also will not kill the root systems of the plant, and you may have to deal with the poison ivy again next year. These commercial herbicide products can also seep into the soil and potentially contaminate the ground water supply, which is one of the reasons why they should only be used as a last resort. Two of the best products on the market for killing poison ivy are Ortho Brush B Gone and Roundup. Both of these products may contain dangerous chemicals, so be careful when using them around small children or pets, and never spray on poison ivy on a windy day. The wind can carry these toxins to other nearby plants, some of which may be intended for human consumption or may be consumed by wildlife. If there are other plants growing near the poison ivy, these herbicides can kill those plants as well, so cover them with a plastic cloth when spraying.

There are two brands of commercial herbicides for getting rid of poison ivy available that are organic in nature. These products may be just as effective as the chemical-laden herbicides on the market. These brand names are AllDown and Matran. http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-poison-ivy.htm

If you are allergic to poison ivy and have developed a poison ivy rash, there are a number of things that you can do at home to treat the rash and prevent it from spreading. First, take a hot bath and wash the affected area with dish soap. Hot water opens up the pores, and the dish soap can help to release the oils from the skin. Also, you can take an oatmeal bath to help dry out the skin rash and apply over the counter Calamine lotion or other treatments intended specifically for poison ivy. Hydrocortisone cream is also effective for stopping the itch that is associated with the rash. Most importantly, you should avoid scratching the affected area and avoid close skin contact with other people until the rash clears, as this can cause the rash to spread. Poison ivy rashes are contagious amongst people who are allergic to the oils of the plant.

If the rash is spreading rapidly, there is no sign of improvement, or you are experiencing trouble breathing, seek medical attention right away. In people with severe allergic sensitivity, anaphylactic shock can occur. Also, people with asthma are susceptible to wheezing and difficulty breathing due to contact with poison ivy. In these instances, doctors can administer a cortisone injection or a shot of epinephrine to stop the allergic reaction. Your doctor may also prescribe a prescription ointment to help get rid of the poison ivy rash as well.