Getting rid of poison ivy is a serious matter. Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do

Poison ivy poses a serious problem for many who come in contact with it.

Botanically known as Toxicodendron radicans, poison ivy contains oily chemical compounds called urushiols in its leaves, stems and roots.

According to the American Skin Association, about 85% of the U.S. population is allergic to urushiols, with roughly 10% to 15% of those considered “highly allergic.”

According to the American Skin Association, about 85% of the U.S. population is allergic to urushiols, with roughly 10% to 15% of those considered "highly allergic." That makes the plant concerning for most Americans, with 50 million people affected each year, the group says.

So, in most cases, it should be removed.

However, it's a Catch-22: You need to remove poison ivy because you're allergic, but the itchy, blistering and sometimes painful rash that affects most people who brush up against it can discourage efforts to tackle it.

Know how to identify it

Identification can be tricky, as poison ivy takes on different appearances at different times of year.

Most often, its leaves are composed of three leaflets apiece (as referenced in the childhood rhyme, "leaves of three, let it be"). The middle stem is longer than the stems of the side leaflets.

Larger, older vines, especially those climbing up trees, are hairy.

Leaf color can be green, red, pink-tinged, yellow or orange. Leaf shape can also vary, with smooth, lobed or toothed margins. Young foliage is shiny; older leaves are dull.

Consult with a poison ivy expert, bring a (bagged) sample to your local cooperative extension office , download a plant identification app or compare photos of your vine to those in books or on an educational website.

Then, either call in a professional or, if removing it yourself, carefully implement protective measures.

How to remove it safely

Wear long sleeves, pants, gloves and goggles, and don't touch anything, especially your face, during the process. Avoid contact with tools or clothing used during the job, and remove all clothing afterward so as not to allow it to come into contact with skin or other surfaces.

The best way to eradicate poison ivy is to pull it up by its roots. If you garden in a four-season area, the job will be easiest in early spring, after winter's freeze-thaw cycles softened the ground. Otherwise, waiting until after rainfall is best for the same reason.

The entire root system, which can grow up to a foot deep, also must be completely dug up to avoid a reoccurrence.

As you dig, you'll notice the plant also has runner roots that grow horizontally under the soil surface and can extend up to 20 feet from it. Remove them, too.

How to clean up

Proper disposal of all plant parts is critical. Place them in a tightly sealed, heavy black plastic bag and set it out with the trash. Never burn poison ivy, because the smoke would contain toxins that could be fatal if inhaled.

When you're finished, don't touch anything. This is easiest if you have someone to open the door, put your clothes into the washer, etc.

If not, take care to do things in the proper order to avoid cross-contamination: Strip naked, remove your gloves then wash your hands with a liquid cleanser specially formulated to remove traces of the resins. One is Tecnu, which also can be used to launder contaminated clothing.

Then, bring the bottle into the shower with you. Avoid bathing with ordinary soap because it can spread the oils to other parts of your body.

Urushiols can be transmitted to people via gardening tools, footwear, clothing and pets for as long as a year or two after contact, so anything that touched the plant should be thoroughly cleaned, too.

Then, wash your hands again. You can’t be too careful.

Sprouts likely will reappear, so repeated pulling and digging may be required over the next several seasons.

Consider an herbicide

Herbicides containing triclopyr or glyphosate can be used to kill the plant but I do not advocate the use of these chemicals except in extreme circumstances. If you are severely allergic, I consider poison ivy removal in that category.

These herbicides will kill every plant they come in contact with, including grass. They also have toxic properties that remain in the soil for some time. Use them only on a windless day to avoid overspray and take care to directly target only the poison ivy. Apply to leaves as directed, following precautions on the package label.

Plants should wilt within 24 hours, turn brown within three days and die in a couple of weeks, at which point they can be removed. Take the same precautions as above, as dead and dormant plants still contain toxins. Repeat applications may be necessary.

Just because you're not allergic today doesn't mean you won't be tomorrow, so always protect yourself.