Poison Ivy - Leaves of Three, Let it be...

Our garden has few patches of poison ivy growing along and up the chain-link fence on the west side of the garden, between the garden and the school.  This weed is a potential allergen - leaves, stems, and roots all contains an oil capable of causing severe allergic dermatitis. Not everyone is allergic; moreover, allergies change over time. I used to romp in poison ivy as a child without getting a rash. I got poison ivy for the first time when I was in my 20s; now, I get it from my dogs when they brush up against it.  The last time I got poison ivy, in late July, I had blisters.    

The Park Service does not remove native weeds, such as poison ivy, because they enrich the habitat by providing food for wildlife. They will, however, cut back poison ivy, as they did in our garden, when it become hazardous for people. If you are any where near as allergic to poison ivy as I am, you really wish they would just spray it with herbicide, but they don't and they won't.and they are the landlord.  The best advice I can give is to learn to identify it, and avoid it.  There's an old saying,"leaves of three, let it be," Poison ivy leaves are shiny in the spring and scarlet in the fall.  

Poison ivy: leaves of three, let it be...

If you must work in poison ivy, wear long sleaves, long pants, closed toe shoes, and gloves.  Wash all of your clothing immediately.  I you touch it, wash thoroughly with Technu, a special product that removes the poison ivy oils from your skin.  It this doesn't work, and you get a rash, you can use a special astringent containing Aluminum sulfate to dry out the rash. This is sold under the tradename Dombrom, but CVS also carries a generic version.  

Remember, leaves of three, let it be!