Lisa acquired her quaint fixer-upper in coastal New Jersey with the idea of making her backyard a calm getaway with flower beds, a hammock, and maybe even a small garden. But her ideal rapidly turned into an itchy and painful nightmare when she got a rash just days after clearing brush along the back fence. Who did it? A dense, hidden patch of poison ivy.
Lisa learned one thing after going to urgent care and getting a round of steroids to treat the poison ivy rash: she would never touch that stuff again. That’s when she called Poison Ivy Free, a company that is known for getting rid of poison ivy professionally throughout the East Coast.
If you’ve ever had poison ivy, you know that the rash is no joke. It begins as a little irritation and gradually turns into blisters that can linger for weeks. Urushiol oil, which is found in the plant’s leaves, stems, and even roots, is what causes the reaction. What’s worse? It can get on your clothes, tools, garden gloves, and even your dogs long after you’ve left the yard.
Lisa didn’t even remember touching any plants that looked weird. But poison ivy isn’t always easy to spot. It can blend in with other plants and spread quickly by underground runners. That’s part of what makes it so hazardous and so hard to get rid of completely.
Here’s what makes getting rid of poison ivy by a pro different from doing it yourself:
Poison ivy often wraps around trees, hides behind bushes, and grows back from deep roots. Experts know where to look.
Specialized tools and clothing: Removal teams can safely deal with the problem without spreading oils over your home by using protective suits, filtered respirators, and decontamination gear.
Follow-up treatments: If even a small part of the root is left behind, poison ivy can grow again. Professionals often schedule follow-up appointments to make sure it doesn’t come back.
Lisa expressed it best: “They found vines I didn’t even know were there.” I can finally enjoy my backyard without fearing that I’ll get sick again.
Poison ivy may seem like a small problem, but for some people, the allergic reaction can be very bad, especially for kids, elderly adults, or anyone with delicate skin. Some even wind up in the ER after trying to remove it themselves.
And it’s not just about touching the skin. If you try to burn or mow down the plants, the urushiol can go into the air and hurt your lungs. You’re not alone if your first thought is to yank it up by the roots while wearing gloves. But even that can expose you if you don’t clean everything up afterward.
Another thing that homeowners don’t know? Poison ivy isn’t just a problem in the summer. The oil stays in the stems and roots even when the leaves fall off in the winter. People regularly clean up their yards in the winter and get exposed to the virus without ever seeing a green leaf.
That’s why you should always be on the lookout and have access to a reliable poison ivy removal service.
A lot of people have stories like Lisa’s. She didn’t see the risk until it was too late, like a lot of other homeowners. “I don’t usually ask for help,” she remarked. “But I wish I had done it sooner in this case.”
Getting rid of poison ivy professionally isn’t about going overboard; it’s about keeping your family, pets, and the outdoor settings you’ve worked hard to make safe.
If you’re sick of getting rashes that you can’t figure out or worrying about every plant in your yard, it might be time to call in the pros. Poison Ivy Free offers poison ivy removal services that are discreet, comprehensive, and effective to communities all across the East Coast. Visit their website to learn more or ask for a price, and then you can enjoy your yard without any rashes.