TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- A weekend spent working in the yard can turn into an itchy, uncomfortable nightmare, if you don't steer clear of poisonous plants. In this Angie's List report, how to identify and remove poison ivy, oak or sumac.
Homeowner Shirley Branham says every summer for the past ten years, she's suffered through a horrible rash.
"I usually just noticed one or two little dots which eventually unfortunately then spread all the way up my arm or on my legs," she said.
The key to avoiding a rash? Know how to spot these poisonous plants.
Poison ivy grows in all areas of the continental U.S. Poison oak is most common on the West Coast, but it's also found in Southeastern states. Poison sumac grows in swampy areas of the Southeast.
"Poison oak and poison ivy look fairly similar, but poison sumac has much more leaflets, more leaves on the leaflet," explains horticulturist Emily Wood.
Birds often feed on the berries of these plants, spreading the seeds, so look for the plants in areas with a lot of birds.
The plants can grow to great lengths, so you may need help to get rid of them. Angie's List researchers found many lawn care companies won't go near these plants, but there are some that do specialize in removal.
"During the hiring process be sure to cover how the company is going to tackle the problem. Are they going to use chemicals to remove the plants? Are they going to dig the plants up? How long do they guarantee their work? Will they come back if the plant reappears? Also, don't forget these plants like to spread so if the plant is in your neighbor's yard you want to understand that problem as well," said Angie Hicks of Angie's List.
All parts of these plants have an oil that causes the rash, and it can stay on clothing and garden tools for up to five years. You should never burn these plants or use a weed eater or lawn mower to get rid of them; you'll just distribute the oil.
Remember you can catch the latest Angie's List report every Tuesday on WTXL Sunrise.
