* Mowing plant will eventually kill it but be sure to use a mower with a collection bag and don't touch remains when emptying it. This method will take several years to completely eradicate plant from your yard.

* Don't use a weed-eater as that will only spread broken pieces of plant everywhere. Dried poison ivy is just as poisonous as fresh. It is said that even 100 year old leaves can still cause a reaction.

* Suffocation with black plastic has been known to work. This too takes time.

* An organic method consists of spraying plant with salt water. A ratio of one cup salt to a gallon of water with a few drops of liquid soap added to help mixture adhere to plant.

* Broadleaf herbicides work but will kill any neighboring plants. Usually poison ivy is intertwined among plants that you want to keep, including trees. Using selective herbicides like Roundup can be applied to plant stems as they are cut off to prevent resprouting.

No matter what control method you use, be careful to avoid exposing your skin to plant. Wear gloves, long pants, socks and shoes, and a long-sleeved shirt.

For more information about ridding your yard and garden of this pesky plant:

http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/poisonivy.htm

Small lawns with little thatch can be easily aerated by walking over them wearing a pair of spiked shoes. The least expensive type of aerator is a spiked pole, which you push into ground. However, most effective type of lawn aerator is a core aerator. If you have large areas of turf, this is type of aerator that will do best job. In addition, core aerators can be purchased to attach to most riding mowers and lawn tractors.

The disadvantage of core aeration is that it does leave plugs of earth scattered about your lawn. However, plugs can be removed, broken up, or will quickly decompose under heavy spring rainfalls.

Linda is a leading author of Lawnmower Guides All about Lawnmowers and Lanwcare

Linda is a leading author of Lawnmower Guides All about Lawnmowers and Lawncare