3 Ways To Effectively Kill Poison Oak And Reclaim Your Backyard

It’s that time of the year when poison oak and poison ivy are making their existence known. Here’s the best way to kill poison oak from your yard.

Poison oak is a plant that grows wild in many areas, including the backyard and garden areas of many homeowners. If you’re allergic to poison oak, it can generate a severe reaction that causes an itchy rash. This rash can be very uncomfortable and it can spread easily to other parts of your body. For this reason, you need a fast easy way to get rid of this annoying plant.

What Is The Best Way To Kill Poison Oak

1. Physically remove the poison oak yourself

If you don’t have a lot of poison oak in your backyard, it would probably be best to remove it yourself. One of the first things that you’ll want to do is prepare well.

Wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, socks, and shoes. Find a good pair of gloves that won’t let any of the oils seep in. Be careful to not let the plant rub up against your face.

Your goal is to be able to remove the poison oak without having to deal with a massive outbreak. Remember to wash your clothes separately when the task is completed as well.

Now that you’re prepared, start pulling the plants out of the ground by their roots. This is a daunting task that won’t be much fun, but neither is spending your summer covered with an itchy rash.

Poison oak has long runners under the ground: make sure to dig them all up. You can use a shovel to make sure you get all of these. If you manage to get all of the roots up, you won’t have to worry about the plant growing back.

2. Kill the poison oak with herbicides

Another option would be to use herbicides. The most effective herbicide for controlling the growth of poison oak is called Glyphosate. If you choose this method, make sure you read the label. In order to be effective, you need to apply the glyphosate at a certain time during the life of the plant.

3. Hire a professional to remove the poison oak from your yard

If neither one of these removal ideas seem to suit you or if there are lots of plants in your backyard and garden, you can always hire a professional to do the job for you. It will cost a little more but you won’t have to worry about coming in contact with the plant. The hard work involves pulling them up by the roots or disposing of the plants. But you will soon be able to enjoy a poison oak free lawn and garden.

Yield: Removes poison oak

How To Kill Poison Oak

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 1 hour 30 seconds

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes 30 seconds

Difficulty: medium

Estimated Cost: $0 to $500

Learn how to kill poison oak from your yard.

Print

Materials

• long pants
• long sleeve shirt
• socks
• shoes
• garden gloves

Tools

• shovel

Instructions

1. Pull out the poison oak by the roots: make sure you are well covered up (long pants and shirt, garden boots and gloves), and wash your clothes separately after finishing.
2. Use herbicides to kill the poison oak: if you don't mind chemicals, buy some herbicides and spray the affected areas.
3. Hire a professional: if you'd rather not risk getting a poison oak rash, and don't want to handle the herbicides yourself, there's always professional help 😉

Recommended Products

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Poison Oak Prevention & Treatment

If by any chance you come in contact with the poison oak, don’t despair. You CAN avoid getting the poison oak rash if you take some precautions. Wash your skin that came in contact with the poison oak with water and soap (this soap worked wonders for my daughter).

The trick is to scrub your skin well, with a washcloth or loofah, several times, until the Urushiol oil from the poison oak (or ivy) is completely removed from your skin. Watch the video below to learn how to do it properly.

Zanfel Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Sumac Wash (1 Oz. tube)Tecnu Original Poison Oak & Ivy Outdoor Skin Cleanser, 32 OunceMaries Original – Poison Ivy / Poison Oak All Natural Relief Soap – 2.9 oz

You are now hopefully equipped to kill poison oak in your garden and keep your skin safe even if you touched it.

You might need this too:

• how to kill poison sumac
• ways to get rid of poison ivy

Adriana Copaceanu

Website | + posts

Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:

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