Knowledgebase
Removing Poison Ivy #923498
Asked January 11, 2026, 12:41 PM EST
Allegany County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
You can monitor the area and watch for signs of new growth to emerge as the weather warms, and then target spray or carefully hand-pull using protective gear. Technu is a soap brand that can be found in most pharmacies, suitable for washing skin, wiping tools, and use in laundry to remove oils.
If you used a systemic herbicide last year, that will have helped to kill the roots, but often it takes a few repeated applications to fully dissolve them. Horticultural vinegar will just burn the foliage and kill the top growth, so any food reserves that are in the roots will send up new growth. If you don't want to use a systemic herbicide, you can continue to apply the vinegar when new shoots appear, and eventually the roots will expend all their energy and die. For further information, you can refer to our webpage on Poison Ivy.
Emily
“A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.”
Edmund BurkeOn Jan 12, 2026, at 10:48 AM, Ask Extension wrote:
You're welcome!