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10 Best Poison Ivy Killers of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
Pete Ortiz
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When you’ve got a poison ivy problem cropping up in your yard, there’s no time to waste. You need a solution, and you need it fast. That poison ivy is a ticking time-bomb, just waiting to infect a member of your family.
Interestingly, you don’t even need to touch the poison ivy to get it. Your dog might run through the plant, unknowingly carrying the poison back to you. Poison ivy creates oils, and when those oils get picked up by your dog’s coat, you’re one good petting session away from being covered in an itchy rash.
So, what’s the best product to kill that pesky poison ivy before it infects you or your household? We wanted to know ourselves, so we set out to put the most popular products to the test and let them battle it out. The following ten reviews will share what we learned so that you can pick the right product the first time.
The BioAdvanced Brush Killer makes it simple and easy to kill that creeping ivy. It’s a ready-to-use formula, so you don’t need to dilute it or anything. Even better, this bottle has a battery-powered sprayer built right in. This makes it quick to get started and very easy to apply. But truthfully, the built-in sprayer is pretty pitiful and barely works.
That said, this formula definitely works, even if the sprayer doesn’t. We had great success after just a single application. This one is rainproof after just a few hours, so you don’t have to worry about a sudden storm washing off your weed killer.
Since this product kills more than 70 types of plants, you can take out more pests than just poison ivy. But you have to be careful because it will likely kill your lawn as well. But you should have great luck using BioAdvanced on many types of poisonous plants, not just poison ivy.
We were happy with how quickly this formula works. After just one application, we got visible results overnight, which is why the BioAdvanced Brush Killer tops our list.
If you’re looking for an easy solution to a poison ivy problem that hasn’t had a chance to grow out of hand yet, then we recommend the Bonide BND506 Poison Oak & Ivy Killer. It comes in a small spray bottle that’s not suitable for covering a large area. But it’s quick and effective when trying to treat a smaller area.
You don’t need to mix this down or add it to a sprayer. It comes in a spray bottle that makes it very easy to apply on the poison ivy. Just a few hours after application, this plant killer is safe from rain and won’t wash off.
Unlike many of the formulas we tested, this one doesn’t kill lawn grass. For us, this is a pretty substantial benefit. However, it does take about four weeks to fully kill the poison ivy. Still, it does kill the ivy completely, which is the most important factor for us. And it manages this for a lower cost than most of the weed killers we’ve tested, which is why we think it’s the best poison ivy killer for the money.
The Brushtox 75260 Brush Killer is by far the most expensive option we tested, costing several times what most competitors do. Despite the high price, it comes in a very small bottle of just 32 ounces. However, it’s a concentrated formula, and once diluted, that 32 ounces will treat an entire acre, killing more than 60 types of plants in the process.
In the end, the most important thing is that it kills poison ivy, and in our experience, the Brushtox Brush Killer certainly does kill poison ivy. We found this to be one of the most effective formulas, turning the poison ivy brown and wilting it with just one application. After another application and a few days of waiting, the poison ivy had receded a significant amount, which continued until the plants had died off completely.
This 32-ounce bottle of concentrated Roundup Poison Ivy Plus Tough Killer will cover an area of up to 1,500 square feet. Once applied, it will kill several types of poisonous plants, such as poison oak, poison sumac, and of course, poison ivy. It takes just 30 minutes to become rainproof and just 24 hours to start seeing results.
Though you’ll see results quickly, it will take several applications to fully kill the poison ivy. You can figure on it taking about a week to kill off the poisonous plants and leave you with a pest-free yard.
But you need to be careful when applying this formula to the poison ivy. If you overspray and get it on your grass, you can expect your lawn to die just as quickly as the poison ivy.
The Ortho MAX Poison Ivy Killer is a concentrated formula. Once properly diluted, the 32 ounces you get will make about eight gallons of spray-ready weed killer. But for the amount you get, we think this one is pretty overpriced. It costs quite a bit more than similar formulas with the same amount.
This product took several days to start working. At first, we thought it was a failure. But after a few days went by, we saw the ivy starting to turn brown. We continued to apply the Ortho MAX, and after several more days, the ivy was starting to truly die off.
We did find that this formula will kill more than just poison ivy. In fact, it will kill more than 60 different kinds of plants, though it is formulated to work specifically on poison ivy. Overall, it was an effective, albeit slow-working and overpriced solution to our poison ivy problems.
If you don’t have pets or children that play in your yard, then any poison ivy killer should be safe for you to use. But if you do have kids, pets, or both, then you’re likely concerned about the effect that these plant-killing chemicals might have on your loved ones. This is specifically the type of situation that the ECO Garden PRO Weed Killer is made for.
This product is made with all-natural, organic ingredients and it’s completely safe for animals and people. It will kill the poison ivy and even your lawn grass, but it won’t hurt your kids or pets if they happen to get some on them.
Of course, you’ll be paying a premium for that extra layer of safety as this is one of the most expensive formulas we tested. Still, you can’t put a price on your loved one’s health.
That said, the ECO Garden PRO formula didn’t rank very high on our list because it’s not the most effective treatment. We the first signs that it was working fairly quickly, but progress halted pretty quickly as well. It took quite a few applications and over a week to finally start killing the poison ivy.
Like many of the concentrated formulas we tested, this one comes in a 32-ounce bottle. But this one will treat up to 4,000 square-feet once diluted. It’s strong enough to kill tree stumps, so it’s definitely strong enough to take out some poison ivy.
In our testing, it did kill the poison ivy we applied it on. It also killed the grass underneath and a nearby bush that we didn’t realize was getting hit by the overspray. Problem is, we had to keep applying this product over and over. After many applications, the plants all died, but it took the entire bottle. It did what we hoped, just not as quickly or efficiently as we’d like.
Pros
Treats up to 4,000 sq. ft.
Strong enough for killing tree stumps
Cons
Very slow working
Takes a lot of product and several applications to work
The Southern Ag CROSSBOW32 Weed & Brush Killer is a heavily concentrated formula that will produce several gallons of weed killer once diluted. It will kill many types of plants, including several poisonous plants like poison ivy and poison oak. However, it doesn’t discriminate much when it comes to killing plants, so if you get overspray on any nearby plants, they’ll likely die as well.
That said, you will have to apply this brush killer repeatedly to see the effects. A single application probably won’t kill the poison ivy, though it might slow it down and wilt the plants. Even with several applications, expect it to take a few weeks to put an end to your poison ivy problem.
One thing worth mentioning is that product is not intended for use on residential turf areas. It’s meant for use on rangeland and permanent grass pastures, but not residential lawns, which is why we don’t recommend it.
Pros
Concentrated formula makes several gallons
Will kill many types of poisonous plants and weeds
Advertised as a brush and stump killer, Ferti-lome should be strong enough to kill any poisonous plant. After all, it’s strong enough to kill trees.
We diluted it according to the instructions and sprayed it on the poison ivy. Unfortunately, after three days we still hadn’t seen any results. So, we sprayed it a few more times with the same outcome. Then, we decided to apply it straight, without diluting it. This did manage to kill the poison ivy after a few days and a couple of applications.
Problem is, this bottle is very small and pretty pricey for the tiny amount you get. This is even worse when you have to apply it without diluting it to get the effects you’re looking for. It’s simply not a cost-effective way to kill poison ivy, though it does work if you apply it in concentrated form.
Most of the poison ivy killers we tested will become rainproof within a few hours, but the Monterey LG5367 Brush and Vine Killer takes a full 24 hours to become protected from the rain. If it rains before the 24 hours has passed, everything you applied will just be washed off.
Like most of the concentrated formulas, this one comes in a 32-ounce bottle, but it’s a bit more expensive than most of the products we tested. That would be ok if it were highly effective at killing poison ivy. During our testing, that’s not how things turned out. This one bottle should make 4-8 gallons of sprayable weed killer according to the instructions, but that dilutes it too much to be effective.
Even after several heavy applications of the Monterey Brush and Vine Killer, our poison ivy still looked healthy and strong. So, we really flooded it with this formula to see what would happen. After a couple of days, a lot of the poison ivy had died off, but there was still plenty that wasn’t killed. Altogether, it’s a costly and ineffective solution, which is why it’s in the last position of our list.
Pros
Makes 4-8 gallons of sprayable weed killer
Cons
Takes 24 hours to become rainproof
Not the most cost-effective solution
Didn’t kill all of the poison ivy
Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Poison Ivy Killers
While any of these plant killers can help to take care of that pesky poison ivy, they do so with varying degrees of effectiveness. So, how do you choose a single product to trust with your money?
This short buyer’s guide was written to help you do precisely that. It’s going to arm you with the knowledge you need to make the right choice about which products to employ to put an end to that patch of poison ivy.
Concentrate vs Ready-to-use Formulas
The first decision you’ll have to make when deciding between poison ivy killers is whether you want to use a concentrate or a ready-to-use product. But, what’s the difference?
Concentrates
Concentrates come in small bottles, generally 16-32 ounces. But they’re meant to be diluted since they’re extremely strong in concentrated form. That small bottle will turn into many gallons of sprayable weed killer once it’s properly diluted.
Some concentrated formulas we tested could make 4-8 gallons of diluted spray that would cover an area of approximately 1,500 square feet. But others could make enough to treat several times that. One of our favorites can actually treat an entire acre, which is more than 40,000 square feet.
Keep in mind, the more you dilute a concentrated formula, the less potent it is. It might cover a lot more area, but then you might need several applications to really kill the poison ivy.
Ready-to-use Formulas
As implied by the name, ready-to-use formulas are already ready-to-use when you get them. They don’t need to be diluted or mixed. Often, they don’t even need to be transferred to a sprayer.
Many of these products come in spray bottles. One of our favorites comes with a battery-powered spray nozzle that makes it easy and quick to start killing poison ivy without the need for any extraneous steps.
On the other hand, ready-to-use formulas are more expensive. It’s already diluted, so you can’t stretch it out by diluting it further. You also can’t make it stronger by opting to dilute it less.
Image Credit: docter_k, Shutterstock
Choosing Between Them
So, how do you pick between a concentrated formula and one that’s ready-to-use?
First, think about how much area you have to treat. If you have to treat a large area, you’d be better off with a concentrated formula. It will cover a lot more area and it’s a far more cost-effective method than the ready-to-use sprays.
But, if you’re more concerned with being able to quickly kill the poison ivy without devoting much time or effort to it, then you might go for the ready-to-use formula instead. All you have to do is point and spray; no mixing and no extra steps.
Time Until Results
Another important factor is how long it takes to start seeing results after your first application. Some of these products took several days to show signs that they were working. This can be frustrating when you hope to see the poison ivy dying but it seems to be taking a very long time.
Other products we used provided visible results after just 24 hours. But that didn’t necessarily mean they were going to kill the poison ivy that fast. Still, it was encouraging to see that the work we did was working.
Image Credit: john a. shaw, Shutterstock
Time Until Success
Seeing a sign that your treatment is working is great, but how long will it take to kill the poison ivy? Some weed killers take just a few days to fully kill the problem plants. Others took several weeks to finally eradicate the infestation.
You can expect that it’s going to take at least a week to kill off the poison ivy. But with some products, it can take several times longer.
Total Area to Treat
How much poison ivy do you have to kill? How large of an area is it covering? These are important questions to answer before you choose a product. If you have just a few plants, then you have many open possibilities to choose between. But if you have a large area that needs treatment, certain options are not going to be optimal.
If you know you have a large area to rid of poison ivy, you’re going to want to choose a concentrated product that can treat a large area once diluted. Pick the wrong product, and you might end up using several bottles to treat an area that could be treated with a single bottle of a different product.
Conclusion
Many of the products we tested while writing these reviews produced shoddy results at best. But three of these poison ivy killers proved to be very effective, and they’ve earned our recommendations.
Our pick for the best poison ivy killer overall is the BioAdvanced Brush Killer. This ready-to-use formula kills more than 70 different plants, including several types of poisonous plants. It doesn’t need any diluting and thanks to the built-in sprayer, it’s ready to start killing poison ivy the second you get it home.
When it comes to the best poison ivy killer for the money, we think the Bonide Poison Oak and Ivy Killer is pretty hard to beat. Since it’s in a spray bottle already, applying this formula is as easy as simply pulling the trigger. And unlike most of the formulas we tested, this one won’t kill your lawn grass.
If you’re looking for a premium product that is sure to solve your poison ivy problems, then the Ragan And Massey Brushtox Brush Killer is the best choice for you. This concentrated formula will treat an entire acre, killing more than 60 types of plants. Most importantly, it’s extremely effective on poison ivy, eradicating it once and for all.
Featured Image Credit: April DeBord, Shutterstock
Contents
Writer
Pete Ortiz
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
