Spring time is almost upon us. This means that the area around your home is soon going to be bursting with green plant life. Unfortunately, poison ivy may be among them. If your property has had problems with poison ivy in the past, it’s best to be prepared. Here are some of the best new poison ivy killers for you to consider.
Great Value for Your Money: Roundup Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer Concentrate
The new Roundup Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer Concentrate is a good budget formula that contains all of the elements you need to get started. It’s specially formulated to achieve rainproof status in 30 minutes. This formula kills poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, among other dangerous and irritating weeds.
There are no real drawbacks to speak of. It should be noted that this particular formula doesn’t come with a sprayer. Otherwise, it has major advantages such as producing visible results in a very short period of time, usually under 24 hours. It contains multiple brush-killing ingredients and is excellent for household use.
Pros
- Works fast
- Very strong formula
- Reasonably priced
- Quickly rainproof
Cons
- Does not come with a sprayer
Easy Spray Action: Bonide (BND506) – Poison Oak and Ivy Killer
The Easy Spray Action: Bonide (BND506) – Poison Oak and Ivy Killer may be perfect for people who don’t have the skills to mix their own poison ivy killing formula. The easy spray action nozzle allows you to quickly direct the formula at the area that is infested. It also lets you direct the spray away from your lawn, garden, and pets.
A major advantage of this product may be that it has been designed to kill poison ivy and oak while sparing your lawn. The formula has been adjusted to achieve this result in a matter of hours. A possible drawback is the fact that it may take a bit longer – up to 4 weeks – to complete destroy a poison ivy infestation area.
Pros
- Comes with a handy sprayer
- Cost effective price
- Quickly rainproof
- Designed to kill multiple species
Cons
- Can take quite a while to fully work
Maximum Strength Formula: Ortho 0475010 MAX Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer
The new Ortho MAX formula is fast acting with a very effective and wide range. It quickly and painlessly destroys poison ivy, poison oak, kudzu, and wild blackberries. However, it also kills up to 50 additional types of poisonous pests that can cause problems around your home.
The fact that it is perhaps the formula with the widest range of killing power is a major advantage. It is very reasonably priced and also comes with an easy to use spray nozzle. A possible disadvantage is that the formula is so strong that it needs to be used very carefully and kept well away from children, pets, and harmless plants.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Very wide range of killing power
- Fast acting
- Includes handy spray nozzle
Cons
- Formula needs to be used carefully to avoid killing other plants
Large Sized Savings: Ortho MAX Poison Ivy And Tough Brush Killer
The new Ortho MAX Poison Ivy And Tough Brush Killer may be a family-sized solution to your poison ivy problem. It can kill over 60 types of poisonous weeds and brush, including poison ivy, sumac, and various types of brushy weeds and even woody plants. It’s priced very reasonably considering its larger size.
At 32 ounces, this is a larger concentrate of formula that may be perfect for larger homes or homes with a larger lawn or garden area. Because this is a somewhat stronger formula than most brands, it will take a bit longer to rainproof. It may also take a little longer to begin producing easily identifiable results.
Pros
- Good price
- Extra strength formula
- Wide application of uses
- Very fast acting
Cons
- Takes longer to rainproof and produce results
Industrial Sized Poison Ivy Eradicator: Ortho MAX Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer
If you need to go all out to kill tough clumps of poison ivy and other pests, you may as well size up to the industrial level. The Ortho MAX Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer gives you 1.33 gallons. The formula has been created to kill 60 types of weeds, including tough woody plants, kudzu, sumac, poison oak, and poison ivy.
A possible drawback is its heavy size. At 12.3 pounds, it may be a bit of a burden for some people to bear. However, the formula is rainproof in 2 hours and is considered to be very fast acting. Results will normally be noted within a period of 24 hours after your first use.
Pros
- Great price
- Larger sized
- Kills over 60 different types of poisonous weeds
- Great for larger properties
Cons
- Can be too much for the average household
Buyer’s Guide
The purpose of buying any of the models on this list is to kill poison ivy and other poisonous weeds. There are certain characteristics that you should look for when choosing the model that is best for your needs. Some of these can be noted below in our special Buyer’s Guide.
It’s Best to Choose a Fast Acting and Rainproof Poison Ivy Killer
The first thing you should look for in a poison ivy killer is how fast it’s supposed to be. In other words, how long does it take for the poison coating to be rainproof? Most reputable brands, such as the ones on this list, will guarantee rainproof status within a period of one or two hours. Any longer and you may not get good results.
You also need to choose a poison ivy killer that is quick acting. You want to know that the poison coating you have given these pests will begin to destroy them within 24 hours. The products on this list usually show results within this time. Some may take longer but are vetted to work on larger areas with thicker poison ivy growth.
Make Sure You Choose a Formula with a Wide Application
It’s an excellent idea to choose a formula that kills as many pests as possible. This includes poison ivy, poison sumac, kudzu, wild blackberries, and thick woody weeds. Some of the formulas on this list have been noted as being able to kill over 60 different types of poisonous weeds. The wider the application, the better the formula.
Depending on the size of your property and how close you are to the problem area, you may need a different kind of formula. Always make sure that the poison ivy killer you choose is designed to kill as many different kinds of weed as possible. This way, you can stop a major infestation before it has a chance to get any worse.
Make Sure the Formula You Choose is Safe to Use
Another important detail to ensure is that the poison ivy killer you buy is safe for you to use. Depending on the strength of the formula, you may need to wear special protective gear. This can include such items as a body suit, chemical mask, shoe covers, and gloves.
While most of the formulas on this list will not require such elaborate precautions, it is a good idea to make sure you are completely safe. Even a relatively weak poison ivy killer still continues plenty of ingredients that can cause a severe reaction. Keep your poison ivy formula well away from children and animals.
You also need to be sure that the formula you are using is lethal to poison ivy and poison sumac but not to other plants in your general area. You don’t want to be spraying in too wide of a circle while accidentally doing damage to your lawn, trees, or house plants. You’ll need to be extra careful if poison ivy is near your garden.
Make Sure the Roundup from Your Poison Ivy Killer is Effective
One of the biggest questions that people have concerning poison ivy killers is how the roundup works. The roundup is basically the excess poison that is left over after most of it has been absorbed by the plants you are killing. The formulas on this list are designed to leave enough of a roundup to kill any new specimens that may emerge.
For example, you may have sprayed your landscaped area over the winter, then mowed it close. With the formulas on this list, there will usually still be enough roundup left to destroy any stray poison ivy or sumac plants that may attempt to germinate. This means that you may not have to spray as often or as intensely during the spring.
Make Sure the Formula You Buy is Cost Effective
The final thing to consider when buying a poison ivy killer is that the brand you buy needs to be cost effective. This means that the purchase needs to result in an item with real value for the money you spent. While the items on this list are reasonably priced, it’s still a good idea to make sure that they fall safely within your budget.
There is little point in buying a heavy industrial-sized gallon drum if you only have a few spare patches of poison ivy. Always make sure that the size you buy is right for your specific needs. A larger size is perfect for a bigger property with a lot of problem poison ivy patches.
It’s also important to make sure that you don’t end up causing more damage to your property than the purchase price of a poison ivy killer will justify. If you have a prized patch of garden vegetables or azaleas, it’s probably best to choose a gentler formula. You don’t want to destroy months’ worth of work to spite a few sumac plants.
Video Tutorial: Poison Ivy Tough Weed Killer Challenge- 3 Different Sprays
Conclusion
All of the products on this list have been chosen for their quality and cost effectiveness. It should be noted that these represent some of the most efficient models on the current market. The future will no doubt bring major improvements in most of the features listed here. Watch this space for further details as they emerge.
