Gardening and Horticulture - Poison Ivy growing all around my shallow well...

...so I used bleach today instead of roundup like I do around the rest of my yard.

Since I do believe my well is shallow and bleach is used to disinfect the well in itself I didn't see what the big deal was although people say that bleach is bad for people.

I really didn't have enough time to get at the roots and don't know when I will be able to.

I am actually a little bit reluctant to mess with the roots. My entire family including myself are pretty sensitive to this plant.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

RoundUp would not have been effective on poison ivy,it is a different class of plant from what RoundUp is formulated for.Poison Ivy requires products known as brush killers to do the job properly.I don't know if bleach would work but I have doubts beyond leaf kill off.

Hi jj, first if I'm correct, a shallow well would not mean surface water. If you suspect that well is running on surface water, get it tested as it may not be drinkable. Not a pro, just been there. As for the Poison Ivy, it is a stinker to get rid of and I agree with your reluctance to use poisons near the well, even if it is deep water. Once it dies in late fall, very soon at least mine is dying, then I would excavate the area, discard the soil and roots and refill with new soil. The other option might be to build up your confidence in something that will kill the plant and not pollute the soil/well. I don't know what that may be. If you remove the plants manually, be a hawk in spring as the new shoots show up and you can slow it's progress.

Good Luck
Bud

Yes, as one who is also ultra sensitive to the stuff...pulling it up is the most effective way to rid of it. But it is also one of the easiest ways to come into contact.

Use gloves that you will throw away. Be careful with the roots, because they are loaded with oil. Any tools that you touch with your gloves need to be cleaned. Rubbing alcohol is the best cleaner for your tools, then rinse. Then, just to be safe, wash your hands and forearms well with alcohol, then wash with soapy water and rinse well.

Whatever you do, don't wipe your brow with your gloves while working and don't, please don't, take a leak outside (been there, done that). Good luck, let the battle begin.

First, bleach is composed of chlorine, which will dissipitate quite quickly. Shouldn't be a concern to leach down. Though I don't believe it will kill poison ivy. Try taking a good brush killer and a paint brush. Wearing disposable gloves, long sleeves, long pants with socks over the cuff, cut the vine about 2-4 inches above ground level, then 'paint' the product on the stump(s). This should work, but doing it now (in the fall) will prove almost useless. Need to do it when plant is actively growing.

I removed a old poison ivy plant last weeknd with my back hoe, the root was about 4 foot long and about 12" around. I will use a commercial grade brush killer to take care of the rest of the property.
Short of digging it as some one said, this time of the year you will have a very hard time preventing it from coming back next year.
For years my father used a long potato fork to grab it and pull it out to minimize contact. If you and your family have allergies related to it I suggest you do not touch it in any way, hire someone to remove it. I have heard stories of people getting it bad enough to kill them or put them in the hospital for quite awhile, its just not worth it!