Poison Ivy is a particularly challenging pest to have in your lawn. To tackle it, you need a reliable poison ivy killer.
One of the reasons that poison ivy is so important to control is that it actually poses a danger. Especially if someone is allergic, simply coming into contact with it can cause an unfortunate and itchy reaction.
As such, it’s important that you have a poison ivy weed killer you can trust. Luckily, we’re here to help!
In the following sections, we’ll break down what you should look for in a poison ivy killer. We’ll also answer some common questions and tell you about some of our favorite products.
Keep reading to find a product that will help you keep your yard safe from pests like poison ivy.
10 Best Poison Ivy Killers
1. RoundUp Ready-to-Use Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer
The RoundUp Ready-to-Use Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer is fast-acting and easy to use. All you have to do is point and spray to take care of poison ivy.
This is a completely ready-to-use product as well. In other words, you don’t have to worry about mixing or diluting it before use.
The bottle also comes with a spray wand for easy application. All you have to do is press the trigger.
Alongside poison ivy, you can rely on RoundUp to take care of poison oak and poison sumac. It also works for invasive shrubs and vines like wild blackberries and kudzu.
RoundUp uses their process as their slogan: they kill pests at the root. This means that when you exterminate poison ivy with RoundUp, you won’t have to worry about it growing back.
You also don’t have to wait long for results either. RoundUp starts to work in only 24 hours.
Poor weather doesn’t have to cause concern either. After about 30 minutes, this RoundUp product is completely rainproof.
2. Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate
The Spectracide Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate is used to kill weed and grasses: including pests like poison ivy. It also kills those pests to the root, so you won’t see them growing back in.
This is a concentrated option meaning that you need to mix it to dilute it before use. You’ll also need to put it in a tank sprayer to effectively and completely cover the leaves of the pest.
You can use this weed and grass killer in many different areas as well. It’s effective on driveways, fences, walkways, and other areas.
This also a great choice even if you have the challenge of rainy or unpredictable weather. After only 15 minutes have passed since the application, the solution becomes rainfast.
It also works quickly – you can see results in as few as three hours. If you had to remove essential plants out of the way for spraying, you can replant them the same weekend.
If you need to save plants that can’t be removed or replanted, just cover them with cardboard or plastic. However, you will want to do this while the air is calm.
3. Ortho MAX Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer
If you have tough-to-kill pests in your yard, you’ll want to consider Ortho MAX Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer. This formula targets more than 60 types of tough brush and weeds, poison ivy included.
It isn’t just made for plants like poison ivy and poison oak either. You can take care of woody plants like stumps with it as well.
This is another option that kills pests down to their roots. After one application, you’ll see pests leave and stay gone.
You can use it almost anywhere too. It’s made for areas around homes and other buildings as well as on trails and around fences.
You’ll also see it work quickly. You won’t have to wait weeks to see a change after you apply it where it’s needed.
Two hours past the application, this Ortho MAX formula will resist rain and watering without washing away.
The formula is also a ready-to-use option. This means that you don’t have to go to the lengths of mixing and diluting it, just spray the bottle.
4. Southern Ag Surfactant for Herbicides
The Southern Ag Surfactant for Herbicides is actually a surfactant for herbicides. This means that it’s actually a wetting agent used for herbicides.
In other words, if you add this to an herbicide, it will increase both its coverage and penetration. This will allow it to better work to penetrate the pests you need to get rid of like poison ivy.
You can use this with almost any herbicide you might want to as well. This includes options like brush killer, Trimec, Atrazine, RoundUp, and more.
The way that a surfactant works is that it decreases the surface tension of the water in your herbicide. This is done with the inclusion of 80% non-ionic surfactant.
When you use this surfactant, you do need to make sure that you dilute it correctly. For every gallon of water, you should use a teaspoon to a tablespoon of this surfactant for the best results.
The exact amount you’ll need to use per gallon of water depends on the herbicide you pair it with.
5. Southern Ag Crossbow Specialty Herbicide Concentrate
The Southern Ag Crossbow Speciality Herbicide Concentrate is a strong herbicide that’s great for handling common pests. This includes unwanted broadleaf weeds – like poison ivy – and even trees and brush.
You can also depend on this choice for similar pests to poison ivy. This includes problems such as poison oak, kudzu, and wild blackberry.
This is possible thanks to the powerful ingredients that this poison ivy killer relies on. This includes Garlon as well as 2,4-D.
This herbicide comes in a one-gallon bottle. However, this is a concentrate, so you’ll have to dilute it before use.
This also means that this stretches far further than a single gallon of ready-to-use herbicide would. If you need to take care of many pests or prepare in advance, this option will last you a while.
A single bottle will make up to 96 gallons of usable herbicide which is enough for even large yards.
6. Image Brush & Vine Killer Concentrate
The Image Brush & Vine Killer Concentrate is great for many common pests in your yard. Other than poison ivy, you can also rid your lawn of poison sumac and poison oak.
It also works to kill the pests you need to rid your yard of completely. The formula kills down to the root and will even tackle tough stumps.
After you apply this Image Brush & Vine Killer to your pests, you’ll only need to wait a month to replant. This means that your yard will look attractive – and be safe to spend time in – in only 30 days.
However, it doesn’t take a full month for you to see the results. Rather, the plants will start to wilt within one to six weeks.
Each container is 32 fluid ounces. When you dilute this to a usable degree, it makes up to eight gallons of spray.
With eight gallons of herbicide for pests, you can cover up to 4,000 total square feet of space.
7. BioAdvanced Brush Killer Plus
If you need a targeted response to pests like poison ivy, the BioAdvanced Brush Killer Plus is a great choice. It’s also an answer to more than 70 other types of common pests.
The penetrating formula that this product uses is also incredibly effective at killing pests down to the root. This way, they don’t come back later in the season or the next season.
This is also a ready-to-use brush killer, so you don’t have to take on the task of diluting it. Since it comes in a specialized bottle, you can use it completely as-is without using a separate container.
The bottle features a ready-to-spray hose nozzle attachment. This allows you to simply point the bottle and spray it where you need it to go.
After only a few hours, this brush killer becomes rainproof. So, you don’t have to worry about weather getting in the way of your work in your yard.
8. Bite Blocker Ecoblender Weed Killer
The Bite Blocker Ecoblender Weed Killer is a unique choice that will take care of common yard pests. This includes problems such as poison ivy and poison oak.
It’s unique because it’s an organic weed killer. In other words, it won’t cause as many environmental problems as a weed killer that relies on harsh chemicals.
Instead of these chemicals, the product uses a herbal solution. This is derived from the fatty acids in plant oils.
There are other benefits of the herbal-based formula that this product uses as well. For example, it’s safe to use around children and pets who may come into contact with it.
The company also promises that the formula “disintegrates unwanted vegetation.” Put in plain terms, this means that it will kill these pests down to the root so they won’t come back.
The formula also helps to break down these pests into beneficial nutrients. This means it will help nourish the vegetation you love in your yard.
If you experience severe weather or have a lot of vegetation, it’s normal to have to reapply the solution.
9. Bonide Poison Oak & Ivy Killer
The Bonide Poison Oak & Ivy Killer is, as the name suggests, made to tackle two of the main pests in most people’s yards. Alongside this, it controls a wide range of other broadleaf weeds.
This includes pests such as ragweed, clover, thistle, dandelion, stinging nettle, and a range of other plants. However, it’s safe to use on grass, so you don’t have to worry about damaging your lawn.
The Bonide Poison Oak & Ivy Killer won’t easily wash away either. Within hours from the point of application, the formula won’t wash away thanks to rain or watering.
The formula also starts to work within 24 hours from its moment of application. Yet, to make a complete kill, it can take up to four weeks.
In the meantime, you’ll start to see the poison ivy you start to wilt and die away.
The formula isn’t concentrate either – you can use it right away. The spray nozzle on the bottle also makes it ready and easy to deploy where you need it.
10. Fertilome Brush Killer and Stump Killer
The Fertilome Brush Killer and Stump Killer depends on the main ingredient triclopyr to handle pest plants. This includes poison ivy, woody plants, and other vines.
You can use this formula in almost any area around homes, other buildings, trails, and fences. You should avoid crop areas as to not damage your crops.
This product is also suitable for keeping a fresh-cut surface free from pests. The company recommends tackling these areas by using the undiluted product and applying it completely with a paintbrush.
If you are using this for vines like poison ivy, though, you’ll want to cut the vines first. This will help the formula penetrate the plant completely to kill it thoroughly.
From there, you can apply the undiluted brush and stump killer as it’s directed for use on stumps.
There is a grand total of 16 ounces of product in each bottle. You can depend on this brush and stump killer to stretch quite a ways.
Best Poison Ivy Killer Buying Guide
When you’re looking for the best poison ivy killer spray, you need to know what to look for. As you first start looking around, what to look for might not seem clear.
Don’t worry! We’re going to break down a simple buying guide to help you find out what to include in your search.
Concentrates vs. Ready-to-Use Sprays
There are two primary options when you’re looking around for any type of herbicide. Those are herbicide concentrates and ready-to-use sprays.
Ready-to-use sprays are exactly what they sound like. These products are already at optimal strength and all you have to do is spray them where they’re needed.
Alternatively, you have the option of using a concentrate. These are strong formulas that need dilution with water before they’re safe and ready to use.
These might seem like they sit as a disadvantage but there are some upsides. Namely, since less product is used per use, you can make them stretch further.
This is because, with a concentrate, you use less product at once than a ready-to-use spray. Alternatively, ready-to-spray options save on the effort it takes to prepare and use the herbicide.
Down-to-the-Root Elimination
Poison ivy is often a hard pest to kill because it needs total elimination. If it isn’t totally eliminated, it can easily grow back in your yard post-application.
That’s why you’ll want to look for an option that specifically says that it kills down to the root. This will kill the poison ivy in totality so that it can’t return later.
Rainproof and Weatherproof
Another problem that homeowners may run into when they’re trying to spray herbicide is the elements. The last thing you want is to spray it only for it to rain an hour later and negate everything.
To avoid this, look for an option that advertises as either rainproof or weatherproof. This will keep the spray from washing away shortly after application.
Usually, it does take some time for a rainproof or weatherproof herbicide to dry fully and stay. This can take as little as a half-hour, though, which is a short enough time for most environments.
Remember, this is an especially important feature to look for if you live in a climate with rainy or unpredictable weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Poison Ivy Killer?
We love all the products on our lists and they cater to different needs. This means that the perfect poison ivy killer can differ from person to person.
However, if you’re looking for something fast-acting and effective, RoundUp has the answer. The RoundUp Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer shows results in as little as 24 hours.
It’s also ready to use. This means that you don’t have to worry about diluting it or buying other equipment to apply it.
It’s also a fairly versatile choice. This includes killing similar pests to poison ivy like poison sumac and poison oak.
What Kills Ivy Permanently?
If you want to kill poison ivy permanently, it’s a good idea to lean towards an herbicide. However, there are many different options to choose from.
First, you’ll want to look for a product that is specifically formulated for pests such as poison ivy. This indicates that it has the ingredients to tackle this particular pest and that it won’t fall through the cracks.
You’ll also want to look for an option that says it kills down to the root. This means that it kills the plant completely and won’t leave anything below the surface.
This is crucial because poison ivy will grow back easily if it isn’t taken care of completely. Again, you won’t want to rely on a product that you’ll have to reapply frequently to keep the results.
Will Vinegar Kill Poison Ivy?
Yes, you can technically use vinegar to kill poison ivy. Specifically, you will want to use white vinegar for this purpose.
To do this, you’ll need a garden sprayer full of white vinegar. Do not dilute it – a diluted solution won’t have the necessary strength.
Once you apply it, you won’t notice the results right away. It might take a few days for the vinegar to do its job and kill the ivy.
You need to make sure to spray only the plants that you want to take care of. At all costs, avoid soaking the ground with vinegar.
Vinegar will increase the acidity in your soil. This can disrupt life for the vegetation you want to keep in your yard.
Does Poison Ivy Killer Kill Grass?
The answer to this question is a bit more complicated. All in all, it depends on the herbicide you use to kill the poison ivy.
Many herbicides are meant to kill any vegetation that they come into contact with. There are also plenty that will kill pests but won’t damage most lawn grasses.
When it comes down to it, you need to carefully look into the particular product you are considering. You should also make sure that the grass in your lawn is listed under their “common lawn grasses”.
Make sure to work with caution around other vegetation you want to keep as well. Many poison ivy killers recommend replanting or covering additional vegetation around the poison ivy before application.
What Kills Poison Ivy the Fastest?
The RoundUp Ready-to-Use Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer is the fastest choice on this list.
Many poison ivy killers take up to a few weeks before you see lasting results. Yet, with RoundUp, you will start to see a noticeable decrease in the poison ivy volume within 24 hours.
It’s also a ready-to-use option meaning you don’t have to do any prep work either. It’s already diluted and it comes with a want for easy application.
It also becomes rainproof very quickly. Within a half-hour, the formula will dry where it’s sprayed and rain won’t wash it away.
Will RoundUp Kill Poison Ivy?
Yes, RoundUp will kill poison ivy. That’s why we’ve included it on our list of favorite poison ivy killers!
RoundUp products rely on one common ingredient: glyphosate. This targets an enzyme that plants need to grow healthy.
This actually makes RoundUp a generally useful herbicide. However, it also makes it particularly hard on the vegetation you want to keep.
For poison ivy, it’s best to opt for RoundUp Brush Killer. This is specifically made to help address traditionally tough-to-kill pests.
Conclusion
With the information we’ve covered here, you’ll have no problem finding a product that works for you.
From the information we’ve given you, it’s easy to find a poison ivy killer that works for you. Keep these tips and suggestions in mind and you’ll have a clear and safe yard in no time.