I’m a gardening expert and I found three hacks to get rid of your poison ivy for good

POISON ivy is a pesky plant to effectively kill, but one gardening expert is sharing three hacks to make it easier.

There are multiple methods to the madness that is poison ivy, but by learning about the plant, you may be able to get rid of it for good.

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Michelle Slatalla of Gardinista shared her three poison ivy hacks, which many might find helpful as gardening season rapidly approaches.

For starters, the roots of the poison ivy plant must be killed or dug out. The same goes for the stems and leaves.

But if not handled properly, this could lead to contact with the plant and result in a painful rash.

The gardening expert says that identifying the plant is the first step to get rid of it for good.

That’s because it’s actually easier said than done to recognize poison ivy in a yard.

Poison ivy, while known for its clusters of three pointy leaves, can also be mistaken for similar plants like raspberry leaves or Virginia creeper.

The best way to identify poison ivy in your yard is to gear up with the proper personal protective equipment and cut a sample. From there, you can examine the leaves and compare to photos easily available on the internet.

If you’re having trouble determining what type of plant you’ve cut from your yard, you can always take it to your local nursery to be examined.

Poison ivy is a tricky plant, as it not only looks like other similar plants, but can grow alongside them as well.

You might find poison ivy in the sun or the shade. It might be on tree trunks or fences. And it will likely become intertwined with other plants, like ferns, in wooded areas.

By learning how it interacts with other plants, and where it tends to grow, you’ll have an easier time weeding it out of your property.

Finally, there tend to only be two ways to eradicate poison ivy: naturally or chemically.

Going the chemical route may work faster. The natural method may be more labor intensive, but could also be successful.

While both are effective, it’s best to choose whichever option you’re most comfortable with.