Q: I am highly allergic to poison ivy! How do I tackle it, and do you have any tips for managing it?

A: What a great discussion we had on the show recently about poison ivy. Boy, it’s a universal experience among gardeners!

First, to ensure you’ve properly identified the culprit, refer to this graphic I created years ago for Walter Reeves, the Georgia Gardener. I hope you find it helpful!

A selective herbicide that I have found effective for poison Ivy is BioAdvanced Brush Killer. Round Up of course is non-selective and works too. And remember, even in fall and winter when leaves fade, the oils are still there on the plant, so don’t let your guard down.

Listeners to the show shared some great suggestions for prevention and for soothing:

• Fels Naptha- a drying laundry soap, but use on your skin to dry the oils.
• Ivory soap- again, the drying agent gets to the oils.
• JR Watkins liniment oil- I haven’t researched this one, but shared by an old-timer.
• Jewelweed- a caller said its sap relieves the itch.
• Tecnu- has both cleansers and anti-itch products for prevention and relief.
• Rubbing alcohol- if you’re in a pinch, try this household staple!

Click here more info that dispels some of the common assumptions about poison ivy.

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