Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Manual removal
• Method 2 of 3: Chemical control
• Method 3 of 3: Natural alternatives
• Tips
• Warnings

Poison oak may seem harmless, but the rash it causes can lead to very nasty itching, blisters and even skin poisoning. The plant is mainly found in deserted areas, along footpaths, in woody areas and on farms where Christmas trees are grown. If you want to remove the plant, you can do this by hand, or by using natural methods or herbicides.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Manual removal

1. Identify the plant. The plant has shiny green leaves that turn red in the fall and die back in the winter. The leaves are firm and have a crumpled surface. They resemble oak leaves and grow in groups of three. Under the open sun, the plant grows in shrubs. In areas with shade, the plant looks more like a thicket growing on trees and tree trunks.
   • The plant can be found along footpaths, at the edges of forests and in deserted places.
   • If no one does anything about it, the plant can grow very large and branch off. In that case you need to look closely at the leaves to identify the plant.
   • Incidentally, the plant is poisonous even without leaves.
2. Cover yourself completely if you want to manually remove the plant to make sure you don't get urushiol (the toxin) on you. Wear several layers of clothing and gloves, socks, and boots. Some people cannot even stand the air around the plant and are wise to cover their faces as well. This is the most effective but also the most dangerous strategy.
   • This method is not recommended for people who are allergic to the plant and it is therefore better to find someone who is immune (15% of the population is immune and can touch the plant without unpleasant consequences) or to use another method.
   • Be aware that if you've had a mild rash in the past, this time it will be much worse than the first time.
   • Be careful when taking off your clothes. The poison is still on your clothing, it is important to wash your clothes well after removing the plant.
3. Dig out the plant completely. Smaller plants can be pulled out of the ground by hand, but the larger ones require a shovel. It is important to get the whole plant (including the roots) out of the ground to prevent the plant from growing back later.
   • The plants are easiest to remove in the spring when they are green and the soil is soft. If you wait until the soil is too dry or too cold, it will be more difficult to remove the roots as the plants will break down.
4. Discard the plants. When you have removed all the plants and their roots, put them in garbage bags (or in the green container) and throw them away. The dead plants are also poisonous so don't leave them where other people may come into contact with the plants.
   • Do not use the plants as compost.It is too risky because the oil that causes rashes is still in the plants.
   • You must not burn the plants! The smoke coming from the plant is very dangerous.

Method 2 of 3: Chemical control

1. Smear chemicals on the plants, you can use glyphosate, triclopyr or a combination of both to get rid of the plants. Do this while the plants are still green, the plant will absorb the chemicals and can be removed when they are dead.
   • Wrap yourself up from head to toe. Even if you don't touch the plants directly, you have to be careful.
   • Use long garden shears to cut the plants so that only the trunk is a few inches above the ground.
   • After you cut the plant, apply the chemicals to the plants with a tube or paintbrush.
   • Make sure the stumps are sprayed all over with chemicals. When the plant starts to grow again, you have to spray chemicals on it again.
   • When the trunk turns brown a few days later, dig out the dead roots with a shovel.
   • Do not use or burn the dead material as compost, discard it as it can still cause a rash.

   Be careful with products with glyphosphate, such as the product Roundup. At home you can use crop protection products with glyphosate in the garden. In agriculture, farmers and growers are allowed to use crop protection products containing glyphosate. But other professionals, such as gardeners and water boards, are not allowed to do that. In short, the reason is that although experts agree that it is better not to use the product due to damage to nature, the environment and the health of the user, there is not always a viable alternative available. See here which products are allowed for use in the Netherlands. See here for a list of resources that are no longer allowed, but that you may still have at home, including certain types of Roundup.

   
   
2. Use a herbicide that contains triclopyr. This chemical is most effective in the spring and summer when the plants are growing quickly.
   • You should especially not spray on a windy day because then the chemicals will spread and the plants around the plant that you want to poison will also be affected, it is also risky because the wind may blow the substances into your own face.
   • Do not spray the chemicals on trees.
   • Only spray when the weather is dry and windless. It takes about 24 hours for the herbicide to take effect.
3. Use a glyphosate herbicide. You should spray this on the plant if it already has flowers and green leaves. Use a 2% glyphosate solution, spray this directly on the leaves. Glyphosate causes damage and kills almost any vegetation in the area so be careful when spraying this substance.
   • Never spray on a windy day. The chemicals kill the plant and all other plants around the plant in question and the wind can blow the chemicals into your face.
   • Never spray trees.
   • Only spray when the weather is dry. The herbicide takes about 24 hours to work.
4. Consider hiring a professional. If you don't want to get close to the plant, it is better to hire someone who can do that for you. A licensed professional will always use a good herbicide such as imazapyr to eradicate the plant. This is best done in the spring or autumn.

Method 3 of 3: Natural alternatives

1. Cover the plants with plastic. This works best if you cut the plant to within an inch or so above the ground, the dead roots should then be removed to prevent the plant from growing again.
2. Use boiling water. Use your kettle to boil the water and then pour it over the roots of the plant. Boiling water kills the plant, but even with this method, you still have to remove the roots. This method works best with small plants. Larger plants do not suffer from boiling water.
   • When using this method, make sure you don't inhale the steam that creates the boiling water!
3. Let a goat do the work for you! Goats love this plant and are immune to the poison, they also always have an appetite, so if you let a goat in your garden you can get rid of the plants in no time. This is a good natural way to get rid of the poisonous plants. Find out if there is a farm with goats nearby, it is becoming more and more popular to use goats for these types of purposes.
   • If you choose this option, you will also need to dig out the roots to prevent the plants from growing back, or you will need to rent a number of goats each spring to maintain your garden.
   • Interestingly, goats can eat these plants and then produce milk without poison.
4. Try to use vinegar. This method is especially worthwhile for smaller plants. Fill a bottle with white vinegar and spray it over the leaves and stems of the plants in your area. After a few days, the plants die. Then remove the roots to prevent the weeds from returning.
5. It is possible to prevent the arrival of this plant by planting other plant species. The plant is mainly found in areas with empty soil, so if you ensure that there are no open spaces in your garden (or wherever), these plants cannot just grow.

Tips

• You can prevent the plant from growing by allowing sheep and goats to graze in an area. Deer and horses also eat the plant, but only before it is in bloom.

Warnings

• You can even get a rash from touching a plant that has been dead for years, so always wear gloves.
• Urushiol can get through latex gloves and remains active on unwashed clothes and tools for over a year.
• Never burn this plant. The smoke, if inhaled, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening damage. Burning this plant is more dangerous than touching it.
• Bulldozers and rakes are not suitable for removing the plant because the roots are often deep in the ground. Mowing and plowing is also not good because it spreads pieces of the plant over a larger area.
• Working with herbicides is very dangerous. So always make sure you follow the instructions on the herbicides carefully regarding use, storage and waste.