Getting Rid of Poison Oak or Ivy Growing in Shrubs

I have either poison ivy or poison oak growing all through my forsithia which is all around my yard. My yard is approximately 4 acres. Needless to say, it's too large to wet just the leaves of the poison plants.

Any suggestion in how to get rid of it without killing my forsithias?

Hardiness Zone: 7a

By Sheila from Columbus, NJ

Answers: Getting Rid of Poison Oak or Ivy Growing in Shrubs

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By 06/09/2010

Birds -- they're so helpful in bringing in seeds!

I believe you can get herbicides that you can apply with a brush (included?). I would carefully cut the P.I. near the base and apply the herbicide to the stub. When the upper part of the plant has dried in the sun, carefully (the oils remain in the dead wood) dispose of it. This is not a quick cure, but keep working on it. Also, if you can hold cardboard between the forsythia and some of the P.I. you can sometimes spray on a windless day.

By the way, forsythias are tough enough that you can cut them nearly to the ground and have them come back. Something to keep in mind as a last resort.