Best Way to Get Rid of Poison Ivy

 About a week after the rain stopped we noticed that poison ivy was growing on our backyard fence.   We had to get rid of it because the entire plant can cause an itchy rash.

 

My husband said he would pull out the entire plant from its roots and dispose of it in a trash bag. This method will work but you may have to do it a few times.  

Before you begin you should put on protected glasses and cover your nose and mouth with a mask.  You will also wear long sleeve shirt and garden gloves. Be sure to wear pants and garden boots.   Best to not have any skin exposed to protect you from getting this toxic ivy oil on your skin and causing a rash.

Dispose of the poison ivy in a trash bag.  Don’t put in your compost because even dried poison ivy can cause you to get a rash and you don’t want to burn it either because it can cause lung irritation. 

 After pulling the poison ivy out by the roots it would be good to treat the area with a herbicide such as Ortho MAX Poison Ivy & Tough Brush Killer.

By treating the soil with an herbicide you will be preventing future growth.

Sunlight Requirements for Hosta Plants

 I grow hosta plants under trees but this year I noticed that the hosta plants were slow to grow and fill in the space. I watched the sunlight in this garden and sure enough, the plants were not getting enough morning sunlight.

 

My hosta garden under the maple tree thrived for many years, but that changed when the other trees grew in and blocked the morning sun.  Hosta plants are shade tolerant and will survive if they receive some sun throughout the day. 

Many of my hosta plants prefer 4 to 6 hours of morning sun with shade in the heat of the day, then partial sun at dusk.

Know that hostas have different sun requirements some plants thrive in direct sunlight and can survive a heat wave, while yellow and gold cultivars need 2 to 3 hours of early sun for the greatest color. Variegated hostas need at least 4 hours of direct sun per day to maintain their variegation.

Hosta plants transplanted to garden by the wall. This area will allow the plants to get morning sun and shade in the afternoon. 

Here is a photo poster of a white-tipped Hosta plant that I grew in the morning sun and shade in the afternoon.  The plant was very healthy and looked beautiful in my garden

 Hostas generally need at least 6 hours of shade during the hottest part of the day, especially from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.